Former lawmaker of Netrokona-1 (Durgapur-Kalmakanda) constituency Mustaque Ahmed Ruhi has been sent to jail in a case filed over the death of Janani Courier Service employee Raju Ahmed during the July uprising in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin passed the order on Thursday following a petition by the investigation officer.
SI Mizanur Rahman of the prosecution department confirmed the matter.
Ruhi was detained by local leaders and activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal in Mohammadpur on Wednesday afternoon. Police later took him into custody and arrested him.
He was produced before the court on Thursday, when Mohammadpur Police Station SI Zahidul Islam Kabir and also the investigation officer in the case, sought an order to keep him in jail.
Defence lawyer Mostafizur Rahman Talukder (Dipu) sought bail, saying Ruhi was a two-time former MP and a former vice-president of Ananda Mohan College’s student union.
The lawyer claimed that an “interest group” had created a mob and handed Ruhi over to police. He said Ruhi was not accused in any other case related to the July uprising and had been made a suspect in the murder case.
Citing Ruhi’s health condition, the lawyer said he had received treatment at hospitals in the United States and was a heart patient. He sought bail on any condition, saying Ruhi would comply even with daily court appearances if ordered.
Prosecutor Harun-or-Rashid opposed the bail petition, saying the case involved a killing during the July uprising and that Ruhi was an Awami League lawmaker. He said the victim was killed by gunfire and urged the court to reject the bail plea.
After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail petition and ordered Ruhi to be sent to jail.
According to the case documents, protests were underway near Janani Courier Service in the Banshbari area of Mohammadpur on July 19, 2024. Raju, an employee of the courier service, was watching the protest when a bullet struck him.
He was taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
A case was filed with Mohammadpur Police Station on August 27, 2024, over the incident.
Ruhi was elected MP from the Netrokona-1 constituency on the Awami League ticket in 2008 and 2024. He also served as a central committee member of Jubo League and was elected vice-president of Ananda Mohan College’s student union as a Chhatra League candidate.