Bangladeshi singer Asif Akbar has been acquitted in a long-running case involving the alleged possession of foreign liquor, bringing an end to an eight-year legal battle. Following the court’s verdict, the popular musician expressed relief and described the allegations as being “based on falsehood”.
The ruling was delivered on Monday by Judge Ayesha Akter Mousumi of the Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court in Dhaka. The court cleared Asif Akbar of charges that he had illegally kept foreign liquor in his possession. The singer was present in court when the verdict was announced. His defence lawyer, Pradip Kumar Debnath, later confirmed the decision to the media.
Reacting to the judgement, Asif Akbar said he felt vindicated after years of attending court proceedings. “Alhamdulillah, the allegation was built on a false narrative,” he remarked. “Interestingly, the sequence of the case began during the month of Ramadan, and the verdict has also come during Ramadan. I am satisfied and happy that justice has been served.”
The singer added that throughout the lengthy legal process he had chosen not to exert any influence or turn the matter into a political issue. Instead, he maintained faith in the judicial process. “For eight years I appeared in court regularly. I never attempted to use influence. I only wanted justice and tried to defend myself through legal means,” he said.
Speaking further about his approach, Asif noted that he comes from a legal family background. “I am the son of a lawyer, so I have had respect for court procedures since childhood. That is why I refrained from making public statements about the case for so long. But these eight years were difficult for my family, my fans, and the people who support me. Today’s verdict brings joy not only to me but also to my loved ones.”
According to the case documents, members of a law enforcement agency claimed to have recovered four bottles of foreign liquor from the singer’s office in the capital on 6 June 2018. Possession of alcohol without the required licence is restricted under Bangladesh’s regulations governing alcoholic beverages.
More than a year later, on 23 July 2019, a case was filed at Tejgaon Police Station by Sub-Inspector Prashanta Kumar Sikder of the Cyber Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department. The charge alleged that the singer had kept foreign liquor in his possession without a licence.
After completing the investigation, the authorities submitted a charge sheet on 13 October 2019. However, formal charges in court were framed several years later, on 25 November 2024, marking the start of the trial proceedings. During the hearing, testimonies from three witnesses were recorded before the court delivered its final judgement.
Below is a brief timeline outlining the major developments in the case:
| Key Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Alleged recovery of foreign liquor from office | 6 June 2018 |
| Case filed at Tejgaon Police Station | 23 July 2019 |
| Charge sheet submitted by investigators | 13 October 2019 |
| Court formally frames charges | 25 November 2024 |
| Final verdict delivered, acquittal granted | 9 March 2026 |
Asif Akbar is widely regarded as one of the most prominent voices in modern Bangladeshi music. Since rising to fame in the late 1990s, he has released numerous popular songs and albums, earning a devoted fan base across the country. The court’s ruling brings closure to a case that had cast a shadow over his public life for nearly a decade.
With the acquittal, the singer now appears ready to move forward, expressing gratitude to supporters who stood by him during the prolonged legal ordeal.