In a dramatic development linked to last year’s July-August Mass Uprising, a Dhaka court today (18 June 2025) placed former law minister Anisul Huq on a five-day police remand in connection with the murder of garment waste trader Monir Hossain.
The order was passed by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate M Mejbah Ur Rahman, after law enforcement requested a 10-day remand for interrogation. Police produced Anisul Huq before the court with claims of his direct involvement in the incident.
Anisul Huq, a former high-ranking government official, was arrested on 13 August 2024 from Sadarghat, Dhaka. Authorities reported that he and Salman F Rahman, another notable figure, were attempting to flee the city using a river route when they were apprehended.
Read More: Google Pay Launching in Bangladesh Next Week: A Bold Step Toward Cashless Living in 2025
The arrest followed months of speculation surrounding their suspected roles in the violent suppression of protests last year. The case centers on the tragic death of Monir, a garment waste trader who joined a student-people solidarity rally in the Shahbagh area on 5 August 2024.
According to case documents:
-
The peaceful rally was attacked around noon.
-
Monir was shot and killed on the spot during the chaos.
- His widow later filed a formal complaint on 14 March 2025 with Shahbagh Police Station, naming several individuals, including Anisul Huq.
The remand of a former cabinet minister in such a high-profile murder case has sent shockwaves through both political and legal communities. The case is being seen as a litmus test for the rule of law and judicial independence in Bangladesh.
Legal analysts note that remand periods are often used in Bangladesh to extract detailed information and verify evidence, specially in cases involving multiple actors and politically charged incidents.
