Young Man Arrested with Toy Pistol Near Shahbagh

A young man detained with a toy pistol near the site of a political sit-in at Shahbagh in the capital has been sent to prison, prompting renewed discussion about public safety, mental health, and the misuse of false identities in sensitive public spaces.

The individual, identified as Arafat Jaman, was arrested from the vicinity of the Inqilab Mancha protest programme at Shahbagh on Monday evening. According to police sources, demonstrators became suspicious of his behaviour and discovered what appeared to be a firearm in his possession. He was subsequently handed over to Shahbagh Police Station for further investigation.

On Tuesday, 30 December, Shahbagh police formally showed him arrested under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and produced him before the court. Following the hearing, the court ordered that he be sent to jail. Police officials have stated that discussions with the detainee’s family indicate that he has been suffering from mental health issues.

Confirming the matter, Inspector (Investigation) Md Asaduzzaman of Shahbagh Police Station said that Arafat Jaman had been remanded to custody under Section 54 and that further legal procedures were currently under way.

Police sources revealed that the incident occurred at approximately 8:30 pm on Monday, while the protest at Inqilab Mancha was ongoing. Arafat Jaman’s presence and movements raised suspicion among the protesters, who reportedly noticed a pistol-like object on him. Subsequent forensic examination by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) confirmed that the recovered object was, in fact, a toy pistol.

However, this is not the first time Arafat Jaman has drawn the attention of law enforcement. Previously, he was accused of impersonating a military officer and threatening police personnel. A case related to that incident was filed at Ramna Model Police Station.

According to police and family sources, Arafat Jaman hails from Arannyapasha village in Nandail upazila of Mymensingh district, although he had been residing in the Dhanmondi area of Dhaka. He is an educated individual who reportedly completed Chartered Accountancy from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom before returning to Bangladesh.

His father, who served as a country manager for a large industrial group, passed away in 2022, while his mother is currently employed as a college lecturer. Family members claim that following his marriage in Cumilla and subsequent divorce—after his wife moved to the United States—his mental health began to deteriorate.

Earlier, on 4 October, police detained him in the Paribagh area after finding him standing with what appeared to be a weapon at his waist. During questioning, he introduced himself as Major Md Arafat Jaman of the DGFI, claiming he was assigned to security duties around the Chief Adviser’s residence, ‘Jamuna’. He failed to produce any valid identification and allegedly became aggressive, issuing verbal threats to police officers on duty.

Despite later producing a card resembling an intelligence agency ID, police verification found no evidence to support his claims. A criminal case was subsequently filed against him.

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