A close associate of the prime accused in the attempted murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman bin Hadi told a Dhaka court on Tuesday that he had no knowledge of the attack, claiming he only accompanied the accused to Banglamotor and Inqilab Cultural Centre.

Kabir, an aide of main suspect Faisal Karim Masud, was produced before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasibuzzaman in the afternoon following his arrest in attempted murder case involving Osman Hadi, a prospective independent candidate from Dhaka-8 constituency.

During the remand hearing, Kabir told the court that he was unaware of the incident and denied any involvement. “I don’t know anything about the incident. I only went with Faisal to Banglamotor and Inqilab Cultural Centre; nothing more,” he said after receiving the court’s permission to speak. Kabir appeared without legal representation.

The investigating officer, Detective Branch (DB) Inspector Faisal Ahmed, sought a 10-day remand for further interrogation. After the hearing, the court granted seven days’ remand.

Opposing the defense, Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) Kaiyum Hossain Nayan told the court that Kabir is a close associate of the prime accused and had allegedly supplied weapons used in the attack.

The prosecutor also said investigators need to determine whether any foreign intelligence agency, including India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), was involved.

He added that Kabir has knowledge of illegal arms transactions and is a joint convener of Awami League’s Swechchhasebak League in the capital's Adabar area.

When asked by the court about the motorcycle used in the crime, Kabir claimed it had been purchased by his friend Mainul Islam Shuvo using Kabir’s national ID card.

“The ownership is his, but it was bought using my ID,” he said.

When the court asked whether the vehicle was registered in his name, Kabir replied in the negative.

The attack occurred last Friday, a day after the election schedule was announced, when assailants fired at Osman Hadi from a moving motorcycle on Box Culvert Road at Old Paltan while he was traveling in a rickshaw.

Hadi, who was campaigning as an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 seat, sustained a gunshot wound to the head and remains in critical condition.

He was flown to Singapore by air ambulance on Monday for advanced treatment.

Following the incident, a case was filed with Paltan Police Station on Sunday night by Inqilab Mancha joint secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, naming Faisal as the prime accused.

Police have since arrested Faisal’s wife Saheda Parvin Samia, his brother-in-law Wahid Ahmed Shipu and his friend Maria Akter Lima, who were placed on remand on Monday.

Earlier, Abdul Hannan, identified as the motorcycle owner, was detained under Section 54 and placed on a three-day remand.

Sun News/ra