Court Suspends Bail For Former MP Singer Momtaz

The Chamber Court of the Appellate Division has suspended the bail granted to former Member of Parliament and popular folk singer Momtaz Begum in connection with two separate criminal cases. Justice Md. Rezaul Haq, the Chamber Judge, issued the suspension order on Monday following a hearing on separate petitions filed by the state seeking a stay on the bail previously granted by the High Court.

Legal Background and Court Proceedings

Prior to approaching the higher judiciary, Momtaz Begum had filed unsuccessful bail applications in the subordinate courts. She subsequently moved separate petitions before the High Court seeking bail in three distinct cases: a murder case and an attempted murder case recorded at Ashulia Police Station, and another murder case registered at Mirpur Model Police Station. Following a hearing on 15 June, the High Court issued rules and granted interim bail to Momtaz in all three cases.

The state subsequently submitted individual appeals to the Appellate Division requesting a stay on the High Court’s bail orders. On Sunday, the Chamber Court upheld her interim bail in the attempted murder case filed at Ashulia Police Station. However, the state’s petitions challenging her bail in the two remaining murder cases—one at Ashulia Police Station and another at Mirpur Model Police Station—were brought forward for a hearing before the Chamber Court on Monday.

During the court proceedings, Deputy Attorney General Nahid Hossain represented the state, whilst senior advocates Sara Hossain and Motahar Hossain Saju, accompanied by advocate Mst. Khairun Nessa, appeared on behalf of Momtaz.

Current Legal Status and Case Details

Following the conclusion of Monday’s judicial proceedings, Deputy Attorney General Nahid Hossain confirmed that the Chamber Court had suspended Momtaz’s bail in the two cases involving murder charges. Furthermore, the court directed the High Court to conduct hearings regarding the rule previously issued on the question of her permanent bail.

Mst. Khairun Nessa, one of the primary legal counsel representing the vocalist, stated that a total of six criminal cases have been registered against Momtaz Begum. Out of these six cases, her bail remains valid and effective in only one. Meanwhile, the High Court rules pertaining to the issue of her bail across all six cases are currently pending formal hearings.

Political Background and Arrest Records

Momtaz Begum, a widely recognised popular folk music artist, previously served multiple terms as a Member of Parliament representing the Manikganj-2 constituency (comprising Singair and Harirampur) on behalf of the Awami League, a political organisation whose operations are currently banned.

Following the collapse of the Awami League administration on 5 August 2024 amid a mass student and public uprising, Momtaz went into hiding. On 12 May 2025, detectives from the Detective Branch (DB) of the police apprehended her from a residential property located behind Star Kabab in the Dhanmondi area of the capital city, Dhaka. She was produced before a local court the following day, on 13 May 2025, and subsequently remanded to prison. Multiple criminal cases, including multiple counts of murder, remain pending against her in several police stations across Dhaka.