Former MP Sadek Khan arrested for the attack on the US ambassador

Sadek Khan, one of the accused in the case of attack on the former US ambassador in Dhaka, Marsha Barnikat, has been arrested by the police.

He was arrested on Saturday (August 24) evening.

Earlier, on the night of August 4, 2018, the then US Ambassador Marsha Barnikat attended a dinner at the Mohammadpur residence of Badiul Alam Majumder, the editor of Sujan. The attack took place when he was getting into the car after dinner. In March 2021, the court framed charges against nine people in the case. However, later on, the state requested further investigation. It is said in the application that five people including the complainant have given a statement in the court. Ishtiaq Mahmood, brother-in-law of Badiul Alam Mazumder, has been named as three of them as accused. But the investigating officer did not mention his name.

Later on October 1, 2023, the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective (DB) Police submitted a supplementary charge sheet to the court against nine people in connection with the attack on Marsha Barnikat's convoy. Mohammad Ishtiaq Mahmud, brother-in-law of Badiul Alam Majumder, editor of Citizen for Good Governance (Sujan) and Naimul Hasan alias Russell, president of Mohammadpur Thana Chhatra League, were accused. Many of the remaining accused are Awami League and Chhatra League leaders and activists.

Incidentally, Marsha Barnicut served as the US Ambassador to Dhaka from 2015 to 2018. The United States has repeatedly asked Bangladesh about the progress of the investigation into the attack on the vehicle carrying him. They demanded that the incident of attack be taken very seriously and an effective and impartial investigation be carried out in this regard. At that time, the US also sent a diplomatic letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeking justice for those involved in the attack on the ambassador's car.

Members of the ambassador's security team identified two of the attackers, the diplomatic note said. During the attack, the two men were shouting that Badiul Alam Majumdar was involved in anti-government activities. The assailants punched two members of the ambassador's security team when they were stopped as they approached the motorcade. As the convoy was leaving, the attackers hit two vehicles with sticks. Condemning the attack, the Bangladesh government at the time issued a statement calling it 'unfortunate'. It is assured to take appropriate measures after the investigation.

Bangladesh /KH