Monir Ahmed, Cox’s Bazar

The Chakaria court has granted an 18-day remand to former Cox’s Bazar-1 MP Zafar Alam in seven murder and explosive cases. Chakaria Senior Judicial Magistrate Senior Judge Md. Anwarul Kabir granted the remand on Wednesday (June 18) morning. Earlier, he was brought to the court in a district police prison van shortly after 7 am. Former MP from Cox’s Bazar-1 constituency, Zafar Alam, was brought to Cox’s Bazar District Jail on the evening of June 16 (Monday) under tight security from law enforcement agencies from Dhaka to appear before the Chakaria Senior Judicial Court. After the fall of the Awami League government, Zafar Alam went into hiding for several months. Later, intelligence agencies arrested him in Dhaka. After this, he was imprisoned in Dhaka Prison due to multiple cases against him, including the murder case of Jubo Dal leader Shamim in Dhaka. He has several cases against him in Chakaria-Pekua. He was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning in seven cases, including murder. Remand hearings were held in seven cases today. After the hearing, Senior Judge Md. Anwarul Kabir granted a total of 18 days of remand in seven cases. Remands are given for two to four days in these cases. Of the cases, five are in Chakaria Police Station and two in Pekua Police Station. According to court sources, strict security measures were tightened in and around the court premises in view of the remand hearing. Joint forces were deployed across an area of ​​about half a kilometer. During the hearing, several lawyers participated in the court on behalf of Zafar Alam. On the other hand, the court’s APP Advocate Md. Moin Uddin conducted the hearing on behalf of the state. He confirmed the matter to the media. Chakaria Upazila BNP convener Alhaj Enamul Haque said that during the previous Awami League government, Jafar Alam, surrounded by terrorists, committed numerous crimes, including shooting and killing 7 BNP members. Thousands of people in Chakaria Pekua held a protest march and formed a human chain demanding his execution, demanding justice for these killings. Local people said that Zafar Alam has become the owner of several hundred crores of taka in a short period of time by committing various crimes including shrimp farming and land grabbing. There are various markets and establishments on the land he forcibly occupied. Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Shafiqul Islam said that former MP Zafar Alam has been produced on the court’s order. There are various cases against him, including murder.