Singer, ex-AL MP Momtaz sent to jail after remand

A Dhaka court today sent promiment singer and former Awami League lawmaker Momtaz Begum of Manikgaj-2 constituency to jail after rejecting her bail petition in a case filed over the murder of Md Sagor in Dhaka's Mirpur during quota reform protests on July 19 last year.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Minhazur Rahman passed the order after police produced Momtaz before the court on completion of her four-day remand in the case, said a court staffer.

In the forwarding report, police said Momtaz gave important information about the incident. So, she needs to be confined in jail until the investigation is completed.

The defence submitted an application, seeking bail on grounds that their client was implicated in the case just to harass her politically.

Upon hearing both sides, the magistrate turned down the defence pleas and ordered to send her to Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.

On May 13, a Dhaka court granted a four-day remand for her after police sought seven days for interrogation.

Earlier, a Detective Branch team arrested Momtaz from Dhaka's Dhanmondi.

The case began on Oct 30 last year when the victim's mother, Beauty Akter, filed a murder case with the court against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 241 others.

Following the court's directive, Mirpur Model Police Station registered it as a first information report (FIR) on Nov 27.