Staff Reporter:
A Dhaka court on Thursday ordered former Desh TV Managing Director Arif Hasan to be shown arrested in a murder case filed over the killing of private car driver Babul during the 2024 mass uprising.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ripon Hossain passed the order following a hearing, said State Prosecutor Harun Or Rashid.
Earlier, the case investigation officer, Sub-Inspector Md Abu Sayed of Airport Police Station, submitted a petition seeking to show Arif Hasan arrested in the case. The accused was present in court during the hearing.
During the proceedings, Assistant Public Prosecutor Harun Or Rashid argued in favour of the petition, claiming that Arif Hasan had financed the Awami League and played a role in suppressing the July movement. He said the accused’s name had surfaced during the investigation.
Defence counsel Tahmina Sultana opposed the petition, arguing that Arif Hasan is a businessman and former MD of Desh TV with no involvement in politics. She sought dismissal of the plea, stating that her client is seriously ill and has undergone the placement of four heart stents.
According to the case statement, private car driver Babul sustained critical gunshot injuries in the capital’s Uttara on 18 July 2024 during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
He died the following day while undergoing treatment at Uttara Women’s Medical College Hospital.
Babul’s wife, Surma Begum, filed a murder case with Airport Police Station on 22 July last year over the incident.
