Former MP Shown Arrested Over Bangabazar Market Arson Case

A Dhaka court on Monday formally ordered the arrest of Afzal Hossain, a former Member of Parliament for the Kishoreganj-5 constituency, in connection with the devastating arson case at the iconic Bangabazar Market, which caused damages estimated at £33 million (500 crore BDT).

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana passed the order following a formal petition submitted by the investigation officer of the case. The Awami League politician was produced before the court under tight security, where the police sought permission to show him arrested to facilitate a comprehensive interrogation regarding his alleged involvement in the incident.

According to the police petition, preliminary investigations have uncovered crucial evidence linking the former lawmaker to the catastrophic fire. The seasoned investigator argued before the court that keeping the suspect in custody under a formal arrest warrant is vital for uncovering the true motives behind the incident and identifying any potential co-conspirators. State Counsel Muhammad Shamshuddoha Suman confirmed the court’s decision to journalists shortly after the hearing concluded.

The case stems from a massive fire that tore through the historic Bangabazar clothing market in the capital on 4 April 2023. The inferno, which took hours to bring under control, completely gutted thousands of shops, leaving countless small-scale traders and business owners destitute overnight. Following the disaster, a formal complaint was lodged by the complainant, Md Kamal Hossain Ripon.

The case names 17 individuals, including the former Awami League MP, alongside another 20 to 30 unidentified suspects. Law enforcement agencies have reiterated their commitment to conducting a thorough probe, as the legal proceedings now shift towards uncovering whether political rivalries or land disputes played a part in one of the city’s worst commercial disasters.