Bangladesh ex-Awami League MP Naimuzzaman Bhuiyan jailed in July 2024 protest killing case
Synopsis
A Bangladesh court has jailed former Awami League MP Naimuzzaman Bhuiyan over the alleged killing of a rickshaw puller during the July 2024 protests — one of 12 cases he now faces. The arrest is part of a sweeping crackdown on Awami League figures that has only intensified under the BNP administration, raising questions about due process in a deeply polarised political climate.
Key Takeaways
A Bangladeshi court on 6 October 2026 sent former Awami League MP Naimuzzaman Bhuiyan to jail over the alleged killing of rickshaw puller Al Amin during the July 2024 protests.
Naimuzzaman was arrested from his Kazipara residence in Panchagarh Sadar upazila following a tip-off-driven police raid.
Judge Mosharraf Hossain of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court ordered judicial custody after he was produced in court.
The case, filed on 10 November 2024 by Al Amin's father, names Naimuzzaman , former railways minister Nurul Islam , 17 others, and 150 unidentified persons as accused.
Naimuzzaman faces a total of 12 cases , including charges of vandalism and arson at a BNP office.
The arrest is part of a wider crackdown that has seen at least 53 Awami League leaders and activists detained in a single operation in Dhaka earlier this year.
A Bangladeshi court on Tuesday, 6 October 2026 sent former Awami League lawmaker Naimuzzaman Bhuiyan to jail in connection with the alleged disappearance and killing of rickshaw puller Al Amin during the July 2024 anti-government demonstrations in Bangladesh, according to local media reports. The former Panchagarh-2 constituency MP was arrested following a police raid at his residence in Kazipara, Panchagarh Sadar upazila, after authorities acted on a tip-off.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Inspector (Investigation) Ashish Kumar Shil of Panchagarh Sadar Police Station confirmed that officers carried out the early-morning raid and detained Naimuzzaman. He was subsequently produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court, where Judge Mosharraf Hossain ordered him to be remanded to judicial custody.
According to court and police sources cited by Bangladesh's The Daily Star, the original case was filed on 10 November 2024 by Md Manu, the father of the deceased rickshaw puller Al Amin, at Panchagarh Sadar Police Station. Named as accused in the case alongside Naimuzzaman are former railways minister and Panchagarh-2 MP Nurul Islam and 17 others, with 150 unidentified individuals also implicated.
Scope of Cases Against the Accused
According to police, Naimuzzaman faces a total of 12 cases, including the one relating to Al Amin's alleged disappearance and killing, as well as separate charges involving alleged vandalism and arson at a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) office, Bangladeshi media outlet Views Bangladesh reported. The multiplicity of charges signals the breadth of allegations being pursued against him in the post-July 2024 legal reckoning.
Broader Crackdown on Awami League
The arrest is the latest development in an escalating crackdown on Awami League leaders and activists that gained momentum during the previous Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and has continued under the current BNP administration. The pattern reflects a systematic effort to hold Awami League figures legally accountable for violence allegedly carried out during the July 2024 protests.
Earlier this year, as many as 53 Awami League leaders and activists were arrested by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) from a building in the Bashundhara residential area of Dhaka. According to a DMP press release, those detained had reportedly gathered to organise a preparatory meeting and a flash march connected to the 15 August mourning day — a date of deep significance for the party as the anniversary of the assassination of founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Officers from Bhatara Police Station conducted the operation and took the group into custody, leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo reported.
Awami League's Response
Following the wave of arrests, the Awami League strongly condemned what it described as a politically motivated crackdown, asserting that little space remained in Bangladesh for democratic rights or the freedom to observe religious and national occasions. Critics argue the successive arrests reflect a deepening political vendetta against the party, while the current administration frames the actions as legitimate legal accountability for documented violence.
What Comes Next
Naimuzzaman's case is likely to proceed through trial, with his co-accused former minister Nurul Islam also facing legal exposure. The broader prosecutorial drive against Awami League figures shows no sign of slowing, and rights observers are watching closely to assess whether due process protections are being upheld amid the politically charged environment.
Point of View
Police, and the ruling party appear aligned in a prosecutorial drive that critics say blurs the line between accountability and political elimination. The Awami League's own record during the July 2024 crackdown is under scrutiny, but rights observers are equally concerned about whether defendants are receiving fair trials or being warehoused in remand as a tool of political pressure. Bangladesh's democratic credibility will ultimately be judged not by how many Awami League MPs are jailed, but by whether the process withstands independent legal scrutiny.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was former Awami League MP Naimuzzaman Bhuiyan arrested in Bangladesh?
Naimuzzaman Bhuiyan was arrested on 6 October 2026 in connection with the alleged disappearance and killing of rickshaw puller Al Amin during the July 2024 anti-government protests in Bangladesh. Police raided his residence in Panchagarh Sadar upazila following a tip-off, and a court subsequently ordered him to be sent to jail.
Who filed the case against Naimuzzaman Bhuiyan?
The case was filed on 10 November 2024 by Md Manu, the father of the deceased rickshaw puller Al Amin, at Panchagarh Sadar Police Station. Along with Naimuzzaman, former railways minister Nurul Islam and 17 others are named as accused, with 150 unidentified individuals also implicated.
How many cases does Naimuzzaman Bhuiyan face in total?
According to police, Naimuzzaman faces 12 cases in total, including the one related to Al Amin's alleged killing and additional charges involving vandalism and arson at a BNP office.
What is the broader context of the crackdown on Awami League in Bangladesh?
The arrests of Awami League leaders began during the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government following the July 2024 protests and have continued under the current BNP administration. In one operation earlier this year, 53 Awami League leaders and activists were detained in Dhaka's Bashundhara area while reportedly gathering to organise events linked to the 15 August mourning day.
How has the Awami League responded to these arrests?
The Awami League has strongly condemned the crackdown, arguing that it leaves little room for democratic rights or freedom to observe religious and national occasions in Bangladesh. The party has characterised the arrests as politically motivated, though the government frames them as lawful accountability for violence during the July 2024 protests.
