New Gini Properties vandalism: Ex-Maj Gen placed on 3-day remand
Around 50 people allegedly stormed the project on 26 September, firing roughly 50 rounds, looting cash and equipment, and later shooting at police.
A Dhaka court today (1 October) placed retired Major General Golam Mohiuddin Chowdhury on a three-day remand in a case filed over the alleged vandalism, assault and looting at a New Gini Properties housing project in South Manikdi near ECB Chattar in the capital's Cantonment area.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Monirul Islam passed the order after the Detective Branch (DB) of police filed a remand petition.
Detective Branch Inspector Mohammad Jehad Hossain, the investigating officer, produced Golam Mohiuddin before the court and sought a five-day remand.
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Prosecution Department Sub-Inspector Tarekur Rahman confirmed the matter to The Business Standard.
Lawyer Anisur Rahman Babul argued for the remand on behalf of the complainant. Defence lawyers Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan, president of the Dhaka Bar Association, and Abul Kalam Khan sought cancellation of the remand and bail for the accused.
During the hearing, Anwar Zahid said New Gini Properties was a "land grabber" and had even occupied roads used for movement. He described the case as "planned" and said Golam Mohiuddin had been made accused No. 4.
He also questioned an allegation that Golam Mohiuddin had taken Tk7,000 from the pocket of a man named Parvez.
"He is a retired major general and a doctor. And he would take Tk7,000?" the lawyer said, describing the case as based on false allegations and seeking bail.
Lawyer Abul Kalam Khan also said Golam Mohiuddin was not at the scene of the incident.
He further said his client had previously served as general secretary of the Chhatra Dal's Mirpur Government Dental Hospital unit and is currently working at Evercare Hospital.
After hearing both sides, the court granted three days' remand.
Yesterday, DB arrested Golam Mohiuddin from a house in Segunbagicha under Ramna Police Station.
On the same day, the court granted three days' remand to three people, including Mizanur Rahman, son-in-law of Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker of Kushtia-2 Abdul Gafur, for questioning.
According to the case statement, around 50 people allegedly entered the New Gini Properties Ltd project area in ECB Chattar, South Manikdi, on 26 September.
They allegedly fired around 50 rounds and attacked people with machetes, knives and sticks, seriously injuring site engineer Md Parvez and several others.
The attackers also allegedly looted cash, laptops, computers, BRB cables, cameras and professional media equipment from the project area and vandalised vehicles, according to the complaint.
The complaint says the incident caused the company around Tk1.42 crore in damage and that goods worth Tk1.50 crore were stolen.
The attackers also entered, vandalised and looted popular content creator Salman Muqtadir's "Brown Fish" studio, located at the project site, it added.
Police from Cantonment Police Station went to the scene after receiving information about the attack. The attackers then opened fire at the police, who fired five shotgun rounds in self-defence and to bring the situation under control.
Two named accused were arrested from the scene, while another was later arrested during a subsequent raid. Police also recovered locally made weapons and bullet casings from the arrested men, the complaint says.
Saiful Islam Bhuiyan, an official of the project, filed the case with Cantonment Police Station.
The case names 10 people as accused and includes another 150-200 unidentified individuals.
