Police have arrested a 40-year-old man at the Akhaura International Immigration Checkpoint in Brahmanbaria while he was allegedly attempting to travel to India. The man, identified as Idris Ali, is an accused in two murder cases filed with Ashulia Police Station in Savar.
Idris was arrested at around noon on Tuesday, 8 September, after immigration officials detected information about the cases during routine checks of his travel documents and personal details.
He is the son of Ali Ahmed and a resident of Jampur village in Ashulia. Following his arrest, he was handed over to Akhaura Police Station for further legal proceedings, according to Mohammad Shariful Islam, the officer in charge of immigration at the checkpoint.
Immigration police said Idris arrived at the checkpoint at around 10.30am with his younger sister and nephew. The group was reportedly preparing to cross into India when officials examined their documents as part of the standard immigration process.
During the verification, officers found information indicating that Idris was facing multiple murder cases at Ashulia Police Station. Authorities also found that he was subject to a restriction on leaving the country because of the cases. He was subsequently detained and arrested following instructions from senior officials.
His sister was not detained because no case or travel restriction was found against her. She and the nephew were subsequently allowed to leave.
According to information obtained during the inquiry, the cases against Idris relate to allegations arising after 5 August 2024. He has reportedly been accused of involvement in attacks on participants in the anti-discrimination student movement, as well as allegations concerning the possession and display of illegal firearms.
There are also allegations against him of using political influence to establish dominance in the local area and involvement in corruption. These allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.
Following his arrest, Idris was asked about whether he had links with the Awami League. He denied having such an association.
Mohammad Shariful Islam, the sub-inspector responsible for the Akhaura International Immigration Checkpoint, said Idris had arrived in the morning intending to travel to India. His details were checked against the relevant database, where information about multiple murder cases was found. The authorities then arrested him on the instructions of senior officials and handed him over to Akhaura police.
The incident highlights the role of immigration screening in preventing people subject to court or other legal restrictions from leaving Bangladesh. Passenger information and travel documents are routinely checked before international journeys are authorised, allowing officials to identify individuals facing legal barriers to travel.
Idris’s arrest followed the discovery of such information during the immigration process. His subsequent legal status and the next steps in the murder cases will depend on proceedings by the relevant police authorities and courts.
The allegations against Idris, including those relating to the student movement, weapons and political influence, have not been established as proven facts merely by his arrest. Their validity will have to be determined through investigation and judicial proceedings. Under the principle of due process, the accused remains legally presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a competent court.
