Former Appellate Division Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, who was detained while attempting to flee to India, was brought to court under tight security around 11:30am on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, he was handed over to Sylhet's Kanaighat Police Station by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
As of 12:30pm on Saturday, no formal complaint had been filed by the BGB or the police, according to Jahangir Hossain Sardar, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kanaighat Police Station.
He said: "After the BGB handed over the former judge to the police without filing a case, the police are bringing him to court under Section 54. The court will now decide on the matter."
Former justice Manik detainedAttempts to reach BGB-19 Commander Lt Col Khondaker Md Asadunnabi for comment were unsuccessful.
On Friday, Justice Manik was detained by the BGB while attempting to cross into India illegally through the Kanaighat (Dana) border in Sylhet.
A video that later went viral on Facebook shows the former justice offering money in exchange for help, saying his siblings could assist. He was heard saying: “Did I come to this country (India) with so much difficulty to go back to Bangladesh?”
Another video shows someone holding a towel around Justice Manik's neck while another person asks his name. Justice Manik identified himself and stated that his home was in Munshiganj.
During questioning, Justice Manik said: “I had British and Bangladeshi passports along with credit cards from several banks. I was leaving the country out of fear. Two young men told me they would help me cross the border for Tk15,000. After paying, they took me to the Indian border, beat me, and stole my mobile phone and Tk60-70 lakh. When I fell ill from the beating, they left me on banana leaves and fled.”
Local Union Parishad (UP) member Nazim Uddin said that Justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik attempted to flee to India illegally on Friday afternoon with the help of Saddam, the son of Rafiqul Hossain from Dana Patichhra village. He was later arrested by Dana BGB members and taken into custody. Saddam Hussain’s homestead is located near the Bangladesh-India border, and he has reportedly entered India illegally on various occasions.
