Ex-minister Farhad put on 5-day remand

A Dhaka court has placed Farhad Hossain, the former public administration minister and former Member of Parliament from the Meherpur-1 constituency, on a five-day remand in a case filed over the killing of garment worker Rubel in the capital. 

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanaullah passed the order after the investigation officer of the case, Inspector of Adabar police station Abdul Malek produced him before the court seeking a seven-day remand in the case.

Earlier on Saturday night, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested him in the Eskaton area of the capital and later handed him over to Adabor police station. 

According to the case statement, several hundred students and general people including Rubel brought out a protest procession at Ring Road area in the capital’s Adabar around 11am on August 5. At that time, police and the leaders and activists of Awami League, Chhatra League, Juba League, Swechasebak League, Sramik League, Tanti League, Krishak League and Matsyajibi League opened fire on them. Rubel suffered bullet injuries and was taken to a hospital where the doctors declared him dead. 

On August 22, Rafiqul Islam, father of the victim, filed the murder case with Adabor Police Station against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 155 others.