Two more sent to jail over Salman Muqtadir’s studio vandalism

A Dhaka court on Monday sent two more accused to jail in a case filed over the alleged vandalism and looting at content creator Salman Muqtadir’s studio, “Brown Fish”, in the capital.

The accused are Md Shah Alam, 47, and Md Abul Ashem, 53.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman passed the order after a hearing, said Prosecution Department Sub-Inspector Tarekur Rahman.

Earlier, Cantonment Police Station Inspector Subrata Debnath, also the investigation officer of the case, produced the accused before the court and sought their detention in jail until completion of the investigation.

According to the detention plea, a preliminary investigation had found the allegations against the accused to be true and that their release on bail could hamper the investigation or lead them to abscond.

During the hearing, defence lawyers Md Jasim Uddin and Farid Uddin sought bail for the accused, while the prosecution opposed the petitions. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail petitions and ordered them to be sent to jail.

Earlier, three other accused in the same case were sent to jail on Monday.

According to the case documents, on 26 September, around 50 people allegedly entered New Gini Properties Ltd’s project area in West Matikata area.

They allegedly vandalised and looted Muqtadir’s “Brown Fish” studio, taking cash, laptops, cameras and other equipment, while several vehicles were also damaged.

The accused also allegedly fired shots and attacked people with machetes, knives and sticks, seriously injuring site engineer Md Parvez and others.

The case alleges that the attack caused damages worth Tk1.4 crore and the theft of goods worth Tk1.5 crore. Police said the attackers also fired at officers, prompting police to fire five shotgun rounds.

Project official Saiful Islam Bhuiyan filed the case, naming 10 people and accusing 150–200 unidentified others over the incident.