Economist Abul Barkat arrested in murder case, denied release

Economist Professor Abul Barkat was arrested on Tuesday in connection with a murder case tied to the July Uprising. This prevents his release from jail, even though he had previously secured bail in a separate corruption case.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Monirul Islam issued the order. Barkat's lawyer, Mohammad Shaheenoor Islam, confirmed that the professor will remain in custody until he obtains bail in the murder case. This case was filed over the killing of Abdul Wadud, a 45-year-old trader, in Dhaka's New Market area on July 19, 2024, during the quota reform protests.

Court documents reveal that Wadud's brother-in-law, Abdur Rahman, filed the murder case on August 21, 2024, at the New Market Police Station. The lawsuit names former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 129 others as defendants. Professor Barkat, a former president of the Bangladesh Economic Association and a Dhaka University faculty member, was later implicated in this case.

Barkat has been in jail since July 10, 2024. He was arrested from his Dhanmondi residence by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. The arrest was in connection with an Anti-Corruption Commission case alleging embezzlement of Tk 297 crore through AnonTex Group. While the High Court granted him bail in that case on May 11, 2024, and the Appellate Division upheld it on May 21, the new murder charge keeps him detained.

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Barkat will remain in jail until he secures bail in the murder case.