Salman F Rahman, former private industry affairs adviser to Sheikh Hasina, and Anisul Huq, former law minister, were arrested today at Sadarghat in Dhaka.
Police, acting on a tip-off, detained them while they were attempting to escape by water. The DMP commissioner did not disclose their intended destination.
According to police sources, Salman and Anisul were arrested in connection with the murder of Sabuj Ali, a 26-year-old student from Dhaka College, who was killed on July 16. Sabuj’s brother, Nurnabi, filed a case on July 17 after identifying his body at the Dhaka Medical College morgue.
The initial report states that Nurnabi learned around 3:00 pm on July 17 that his brother had been beaten by BNP-Jamaat members and was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. When Nurnabi arrived, he found Sabuj’s body.
These arrests are the first of high-profile figures from Sheikh Hasina’s administration since it fell on August 5. The violent student protests, which turned into an anti-government movement, resulted in over 550 deaths, including students and police officers.
Salman F Rahman, a former MP from Dohar, is the vice-chairman of Beximco Group and chairman of IFIC Bank. He is also a key figure in many business associations and was a powerful influence within the Awami League government.
Anisul Huq, a well-known lawyer, served as law minister for three consecutive terms after 2014. Before that, he was the chief counsel for the Anti-Corruption Commission and the chief prosecutor for the Pilkhana carnage case. Anisul’s father, Serajul Huq, was a key organizer of the 1971 Liberation War.
Anisul also served as the Chief Special Prosecutor for both the Bangabandhu Murder Case and the Jail Killing Case. He was one of the few cabinet members who tried to calm the student protests over quota reform.
