New Market clashes: BNP leader Makbul remanded

PBC News:  Former President of New Market Thana BNP leader Advocate Makbul Hossain was placed on a three-day remand by a court in Dhaka on Saturday, April 23, 2022

Former President of New Market Thana BNP leader Makbul Hossain Sarder was placed on a three-day remand by a court in Dhaka on Saturday, April 23, 2022

A court in Dhaka on Saturday placed BNP leader Advocate Makbul Hossain on a three-day remand in a case filed over obstructing police to perform duties and vandalising shops during clashes between traders and students at New Market area.

The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mamunur Rashid placed him on the remand on Saturday morning after New Market Police Station inspector (Operation) Halder Arpito Thakur produced him before the court and sought to place the accused on a seven-day remand.

It was narrated in the remand prayer that from 12:45am to 2:35am on April 19 last, some 600 to 700 unidentified Dhaka College students and about 200 to 300 unidentified traders and employees obstructed police to discharge their duties in front of Chandrima Market under New Market Police Station.

In the afternoon of April 22, Makbul was arrested from his Dhanmondi residence. He was former president of New Market Thana BNP and a member of Dhaka City South BNP Convening Committee.

Makbul Hossain has been made No. 1 accused in the case filed by the police.

Makbul is also the owner of two fast food shops — Welcome and Capital. The clashes ensued when the employees of these two fast food shops got involved in clashes.

On Monday midnight, clashes between the Dhaka College students and New Market shopkeepers broke out. In sequel to it, there were clashes in New Market area throughout the day on Tuesday (April 19) which lasted until Wednesday (April 20).

Nahid Hossain and Mohammad Morsalin, a delivery man and a shop employee respectively, died receiving multiple head injuries in the clashes. Besides, more than 50, including 15 journalists, were injured.

Md Nadim Hossain, father of delivery man Nahid, filed a murder case with New Market Police Station being the plaintiff, while Mursalin’s brother filed another murder case.

Police also filed two seperate cases being the plaintiff. A case was filed under the Explosive Act and another on charge of attacking police. In two cases, some 1,200 New Market traders, employees and Dhaka College students were made accused.