Hasnat shown arrested in Dhaka attack case

Former university teacher Hasnat Karim has been shown arrested in a case filed in connection with the militant attack at a Gulshan café in Dhaka on July 1.

Metropolitan Magistrate in Dhaka Imdadul Haque placed Hasnat on an eight-day fresh remand after showing him arrested in the case.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Magistrate Judge Golam Nabi granted a six-day fresh remand for Canadian university student Tahmid Hasib, who along with Hasnat was arrested under Section 54 on suspicion of having links with the Gulshan attackers.

Canadian university student Tahmid Hasib, who was arrested on suspicion of having links with the Gulshan attackers is sent to jail after completion of his 14-day remand. Photo: STAR FILE

On completion of their eight-day remand, Hasnat and Tahmid were produced before the courts today with ten-day and seven-day remand prayers for them respectively.

Police claimed that the two -- Hasnat Karim and Tahmid Hasib -- “instigated” the Gulshan café attackers.

Hasnat, who used to teach at North South University, was arrested from in front of Aarong in Gulshan around 7:25pm while Tahmid was held from Bashundhara Residential Area around 8:45pm on August 3 on suspicion of having links with Gulshan attackers, police said.

The arrests were made under section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

The attackers killed 20 hostages -- nine Italian, seven Japanese, two Bangladeshis, one Indian and one Bangladesh-born US citizen -- and two police officers who tried to end the standoff soon after it began around 8:40pm on July 1.

Tahmid went to the restaurant with two female students of a private university.

They both survived the attack

Islamic State took credit for the attack and published photos of the victims and the attackers within hours, but the government blames JMB, a banned militant outfit.

Hasnat, who is also a British citizen, went to the restaurant with his wife and two children, family members said, adding that they were celebrating the birthday of one of his daughters.

The attackers allowed the family to leave before army commandos stormed the café to end the country's deadliest militant attack and the first-ever hostage situation.

Hasnat gives important clues: IO 

In today’s remand prayer, DB Inspector Humayun Kabir, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, mentioned that Hasnat during his 8-day remand gave important clues about the Holey Artisan incident and barbarism on the victims.

Hasnat also gave significant information about the militants killed in gunfight with law enforces on that day. So, he needs to be remanded again to find out the fugitive militants responsible for committing such heinous offences, the IO told the court.

Besides, the defence lawyer submitted a petition seeking bail along with cancellation of the remand prayer.

A metropolitan magistrate Imdadul Haque rejected the bail petition and placed him on an eight-day remand.