No time to read? Just listen to the news!
TL;DR
- Former Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi was arrested in Dhaka’s Gulshan area by the Rapid Action Battalion.
- The arrest is linked to a murder case filed over the killing of a worker during protests in Rangpur on July 19.
- The case accuses 17 individuals, including prominent political figures like Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.
- Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, several leaders, including Munshi, have been arrested.
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has arrested former Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi in the Gulshan area of Dhaka. This arrest is connected to a murder case filed over the killing of a worker during mass protests in Rangpur on July 19. The arrest was confirmed by Rab’s legal and media wing officials to The Daily Star.
The murder case was lodged by Dilruba Akter, the wife of the victim, Muslim Uddin Milon, with the court of Rangpur Metropolitan Magistrate Raju Ahmed Babu on August 27. The case lists 17 individuals, including high-profile figures such as Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, as accused. Other notable accused include former lawmakers and police officials like Nachima Zaman Bobby, Abul Kalam Md Ahsanul Haque Chowdhury, and former Rangpur police superintendent Mohammad Shahjahan, among others.
The incident in question occurred on July 19, when a clash erupted between students and Awami League leaders during a quota protest in Rangpur’s City Bazaar area. According to the case statement, the situation escalated as police allegedly opened fire indiscriminately under the orders of the accused, resulting in Milon being fatally shot. He was subsequently declared dead at Rangpur Medical College and Hospital.
In a related financial move, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) had previously instructed banks to freeze the accounts of Tipu Munshi and his family members on August 22. This directive is to remain in effect for 30 days.
Tipu Munshi, a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s political landscape, served as the Minister of Commerce and has been an influential member of the Awami League. Born on August 25, 1950, in Gopalganj, Munshi has a long history of political involvement, including participation in the 1971 Liberation War alongside his father. He has held various political and business positions, including serving as the chairman of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
This arrest is part of a broader series of legal actions against Awami League ministers and MPs following the government’s fall on August 5, amid widespread protests and political turmoil in Bangladesh. The protests, initially sparked by a controversial job quota system, have led to significant political shifts, including the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the establishment of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
