Arrest Warrant Issued Against Amir Hamza

A court in Sirajganj has issued an arrest warrant against Mufti Amir Hamza, MP from Kushtia-3, on Tuesday (21 April).

The warrant was issued in connection with controversial remarks he made about the transfer of the Kushtia Deputy Commissioner (DC). On 13 April, a legal notice was sent to him over allegations that the DC had paid Tk 20 to 30 crore for the transfer.

In a Friday prayer sermon at Haripur Jame Masjid on 27 March, Amir Hamza allegedly claimed that the current DC of Kushtia had spent a huge sum of money to get transferred to the district. The statement was widely circulated in media and social platforms, causing public confusion and damaging the image of the government, according to the legal notice.

The notice demanded that he publicly disclose the names of any person or institution from whom the DC allegedly received 20-30 crore taka within seven days.

Amir Hamza is already facing multiple defamation cases in Sirajganj court for allegedly calling Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku an “atheist” and “Islamophobic.” On 2 April, the court took cognizance of one such complaint and issued a summons against him.

Additional Public Prosecutor Advocate Humayun Kabir Colonel, who filed one of the cases, said the remarks were highly defamatory. Cases were filed under Sections 296, 500, and 504 of the Penal Code.

In another case filed by BNP leader Advocate Nazmul Islam, the court directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to probe the allegations. That case involves a claim of Tk 100 crore in damages.

More details to follow.