Former MP Kamal Mojumder’s son to be interrogated in custody for five days

A Dhaka court has placed Shaheed Ahmed Mojumder, the youngest son of former MP Kamal Ahmed Mojumder, on a five-day interrogation in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ziadur Rahman passed the order on Sunday.

Police arrested Shaheed in Gulshan on Saturday night. The following day, Sub-Inspector Abdus Salam of Gulshan Police produced him in court and sought 10 days to interrogate him in custody.

Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi argued in favour of interrogation, saying: “The suspect vandalised vehicles in the upscale Gulshan area on Sept 12 and shouted anti-government slogans.”

“They opened WhatsApp and Telegram groups to coordinate terrorist activities. The investigation has found his involvement in these groups.”

“With the election ahead, their fugitive leader is instigating from India, while they continue violent activities here with their followers.”

Defence counsel Shahabuddin Sheikh sought bail and cancellation of the interrogation plea, arguing that Shaheed’s name was not mentioned in the case statement.

“He has no link with the so-called Awami League. His father was involved in Awami League politics and is now in jail.”

“The allegation that he provided financial support is baseless, there are no details of when, how, or through what channel he provided the money.”

“Those arrested before him in this case did not mention him either. No evidence was shown of his involvement in those social media groups,” he said.

During the hearing, the judge asked the investigating officer whether Shaheed’s mobile phone had been seized. The officer replied in the affirmative.

When asked whether they found any evidence of his social media communication, the officer said the phone had been sent to a lab for forensic examination.

The judge told him not to come to court with half-baked information.

“If you think, you’ll bring an accused to court and secure remand, it won’t work. Be careful.”

According to the case details, on Sept 12, activists of the banned organisation Chhatra League gathered near Fazle Rabbi Park in Gulshan with banners, shouting provocative slogans.

They allegedly tried to vandalise vehicles to create panic.

Police arrested five men on the spot while others fled on motorbikes. Their seized mobile phones revealed the use of Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram groups, which police say were used to organise activities aimed at “destabilising the state and destroying national infrastructure”.

The case was filed on Sept 13 by Gulshan Police Sub-Inspector Mahbub Hossain under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Kamal, a former MP for Dhaka-15, was arrested in Gulshan on Oct 19, 2024, and has been in jail since.