Ex-joint secretary Jaglul Pasha sent to jail over attempt on Khaleda’s life

A Dhaka court on Wednesday sent former joint secretary Syed Jaglul Pasha to jail in a case filed over allegations of attempting to murder former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia with “deadly pepper spray,” and obstructing her movement with trucks positioned next to her residence.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin passed the jail order following a hearing, said Prosecution Division Sub-Inspector Moktar Hossain.

The court also set Thursday for a hearing on a 10-day remand petition submitted by Gulshan Zonal Team Police Inspector Md Anwar Hossain.

Earlier on Wednesday, Jaglul Pasha was arrested from his residence in the Vatara Police Station area.

According to the case documents, in which a 10-day remand was sought, the accused allegedly gathered in front of Begum Khaleda Zia's residence in Gulshan on 28 December 2013, carrying deadly weapons.

They also allegedly assaulted leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations and carried out sabotage activities by blocking the road to prevent the public from moving freely and to stop Khaleda Zia from attending a scheduled rally, thereby obstructing democratic rights.

The complaint alleges that the accused created panic by blocking the road with sand-laden trucks and other vehicles when Khaleda Zia prepared to leave for the rally with her entourage at around 9:00 am on 29 December 2013.

The case further alleges that the accused used prohibited deadly pepper spray with the intention of killing her, during which the former prime minister and several accompanying leaders and activists were allegedly injured.

Shariful Islam Shawon, a former leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, filed the case against 11 named accused and 250–300 unidentified accused in October 2024 with Gulshan Police Station.