Babunagari taken on fresh 22-day remand
Investigator says cops need to quiz him to know motive for Hefajat violence
A Dhaka court yesterday placed Hefajat-e Islam Secretary General Junaid Babunagari on remand again, this time for 22 days in three cases.
One of the cases was filed against him for involvement in the killing of Sub-Inspector Md Shahjahan during a clash between Hefajat activists and law enforcers in the capital's Motijheel on May 5.
The other two cases were filed on charges of attacking police and obstructing their work, torching vehicles and blasting cocktails in Motijheel area during the May 5 rally of Hefajat.
Police had sought 26 days' remand for Babunagari -- 20 days in the murder case and six days in the other two cases.
The three cases were filed with Motijheel Police Station on May 6.
In the murder case, the investigation officer said he obtained important information from Babunagari about the Islamist group and its motives. Therefore, he needed to be remanded to gather more information about the incidents centring the rally.
In the other two cases, the investigation officers said Babunagari needed to be remanded in order to find out vital clues about the financiers of Hefajat's plans to topple a democratic government.
Earlier on May 7, Babunagari had been remanded for nine days in the killing case. He was yesterday produced before the court on completion of that remand period.
Defence lawyers submitted three petitions for his bail and the cancellation of the two remand prayers, saying that their client was not implicated in the cases.
After hearing both the sides, the magistrate rejected the bail petitions and placed Babunagari on remand -- for four days in the murder case and 18 days in the other two cases.
Police arrested Babunagari near the Dhakeshwari Temple on May 6 after thousands of Hefajat activists resorted to violence in downtown Dhaka during and after the rally, causing widespread damage.