Former Gazipur MP Akhtaruzzaman Arrested in Dhaka

Detectives have arrested former Member of Parliament for the Gazipur-5 constituency, Akhtaruzzaman, from the capital’s Gulshan area over his alleged involvement in recent activities associated with the Bangladesh Awami League.

Officers from the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) raided a residential property in Gulshan at around 10:00 pm on Wednesday night to apprehend the 73-year-old politician. According to an official press release issued by the DMP, several criminal cases, including charges of murder, are currently pending against him.

Akhtaruzzaman, a former organisational secretary of the Awami League, secured his seat in the 12th National Parliamentary Election held in January 2024 as an independent candidate. In a notable electoral outcome, he defeated the party’s official nominee and former State Minister for Women and Children Affairs, Meher Afroz Chumki. His victory showcased his strong local backing in Gazipur despite running without the official party emblem. Beyond his parliamentary tenure, he previously served as the Chairman of the Gazipur District Council (Zila Parishad), consolidating his influence within regional politics over several decades.

Before rising to national political prominence, Akhtaruzzaman was a distinguished figure in Bangladesh’s student movement during the late 1970s and 1980s. He was elected General Secretary of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) for two consecutive terms in 1979 and 1980, serving alongside Mahmudur Rahman Manna as Vice President. In 1981, he was elected DUCSU Vice President, with the late Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu serving as General Secretary. DUCSU leaders from that era played pivotal roles in shaping the country’s broader democratic landscape following independence.

Law enforcement authorities confirmed that Akhtaruzzaman was taken into DB custody following his arrest. Legal proceedings are currently underway, and police expect to produce him before a Dhaka court to seek a remand for further interrogation regarding the charges filed against him.