The former director of the Defence Intelligence and Security Agency (DGFI), retired Lieutenant Colonel Md. Afzal Nasser, has been placed on remand for a further four days in connection with the high-profile murder case of BNP activist Mokbul Hossain, filed at Paltan Police Station in Dhaka.
Following the completion of a three-day remand, Nasser was produced before the court on Wednesday. The case’s investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Toffazzal Hossain of the DB Police Motijheel Zonal Team, petitioned for an extended seven-day remand to conduct additional questioning. After hearing submissions from both sides, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka, Md. Sefatullah, approved a four-day remand.
Legal Arguments
Representing the prosecution, Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruki argued that the accused had been a collaborator and beneficiary of the previous government. He stressed that further interrogation was necessary to uncover critical evidence and ensure a comprehensive investigation.
In contrast, Afzal Nasser’s lawyer, Helal Uddin, sought to cancel the remand, contending that the charges were vague and primarily involved the naming of the accused without substantive allegations. He highlighted that Nasser had already undergone three days of questioning and suggested that any further inquiry could be conducted within the prison premises if required.
Arrest and Previous Remands
Nasser was initially arrested late on 29 March 2026 from the Mirpur DOHS area by the intelligence police. Earlier, he had been granted a six-day remand in connection with the murder case of Delwar Hossain, which occurred during anti-discrimination student protests. Subsequently, in the Mokbul Hossain case, he was placed on a three-day remand starting last Sunday. In total, Nasser has now been remanded on three separate occasions.
| Date | Location / Incident | Remand Duration | Notes / Case Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Mar 2026 | Mirpur DOHS, Dhaka | Initial arrest | Intelligence police took Nasser into custody |
| 30 Mar 2026 | Court hearing | Six days (Delwar Hossain case) | Investigation into student protest-related death |
| 6 Apr 2026 | Court hearing | Three days (Mokbul Hossain case) | Initial remand for questioning in murder investigation |
| 8 Apr 2026 | Court hearing | Four days (Mokbul Hossain case) | Extended remand for additional interrogation |
Case Background
According to the case record, on 7 December 2022, police conducted a raid at BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan following a demonstration demanding a series of party demands. During the operation, Mokbul Hossain was shot and killed. Subsequently, on 30 September 2024, Mahfuzur Rahman filed a case at Paltan Police Station against 256 individuals, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, citing their alleged involvement in the incident.
The ongoing proceedings have intensified public and political attention, as law enforcement continues its investigation into the roles of high-profile figures and government officials linked to both the student protests and subsequent political violence.
This latest remand highlights the judiciary’s approach to ensuring a thorough investigation while balancing legal safeguards for the accused.