Former MP Major (retd) Akhteruzzaman Arrested in Dhaka

Former lawmaker Major (retd) Mohammad Akhteruzzaman was arrested on Friday over allegations of creating disorder at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, obstructing government duties and assaulting an on-duty security official, police said.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (Detective) Shafiqul Islam confirmed the arrest. Akhteruzzaman was arrested from his residence in the capital’s Cantonment area on Friday.

A case was filed earlier in the day by airport security officer Mohammad Shahriar Alam Sajib with Airport Police Station under several sections of the Penal Code.

The allegations stem from an incident on Thursday involving 34 Jamaat-e-Islami representatives and their family members who arrived in Dhaka from Medina on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-338.

The flight landed at 8:55am. Tensions reportedly arose later in the baggage claim area over a shortage of trolleys and delays in the delivery of baggage and Zamzam water.

According to the case statement, Dhaka-5 MP Mohammad Kamal Hossain called airport Executive Director Group Captain SM Ragib Samad to the scene at around 10:40am to help manage the situation.

The complaint alleges that Akhteruzzaman confronted the airport executive director, used abusive language and threatened to assault him and have him removed from the airport. The executive director was subsequently moved to a safe location, according to the statement.

The case statement further alleges that people accompanying Akhteruzzaman were recording videos in a restricted KPI area. When security supervisor Warrant Officer Mohammad Kamal Uddin asked them to stop, Akhteruzzaman allegedly verbally abused and physically assaulted him.

He was also accused of behaving aggressively towards a Biman representative and throwing passengers’ Zamzam water bottles from a trolley.

Police said the case includes allegations of obstructing government duties, issuing threats, assault, using criminal force, intentional insult and intimidation.

Investigators are examining CCTV footage, witness statements and other evidence as part of the investigation.

A Dhaka metropolitan magistrate has taken cognisance of the case and directed the investigating officer to submit a report by November 10, according to the case proceedings.