Satkhira AL leader Nazrul Islam sent to jail after being shown arrested in five murder cases

Former Satkhira district Awami League general secretary Md Nazrul Islam has been shown arrested in five separate murder cases and sent to jail after a court rejected his bail petitions in four of the cases.

The order was passed by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Bilas Mondal of Satkhira on Monday afternoon following a hearing in which investigators sought to show the former district council chairman arrested in the cases.

According to court sources, the cases relate to the alleged killings of Abir Hasan of Old Satkhira in 2014, Ahid of Dhulihar in 2020, Agardari Union Parishad chairman Anarul Islam in 2013, Islam Morol of Patharghata village in 2014, and Hafizur Rahman, a van driver, in 2013.

Nazrul Islam, 73, son of Abdul Jabbar of Uttar Fingi village in Satkhira Sadar upazila, is a resident of Sultanpur in Satkhira town. He was the last chairman of the Satkhira District Council.

Court sources said Detective Branch (DB) police arrested Nazrul from the Bashundhara area of Dhaka on July 27 in connection with a murder case filed in Dhaka. He was subsequently brought to Satkhira for showing him arrested in the cases filed with Satkhira Police Station.

Investigating officers of the five cases had applied to the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court last Wednesday to show Nazrul arrested as an accused named in the cases. He was subsequently brought from a Dhaka jail to Satkhira Jail last Thursday.

Nazrul was brought from Satkhira Jail to the court at around 9:30am on Monday. Around noon, he was produced before the court, which allowed investigators to show him arrested in all five murder cases.

His lawyers also sought bail in four of the cases. Following hearings, the court rejected all four bail petitions.

Police Sub-Inspector Majedul Islam conducted the cases on behalf of the state, while Advocate Sahed and around 25-30 other lawyers represented Nazrul.

Satkhira Court Police Inspector Moinuddin said Nazrul was sent to jail under special security at around 1pm after the court rejected his bail petitions.

Family members present at the court said Nazrul had recently fallen seriously ill and undergone open-heart surgery. He had been receiving treatment in Dhaka.

-MZR/HIS