Dhaka Court Sends Suspect to Jail Over Quran Burning Incident Near University Campus

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A Dhaka court on Friday ordered the incarceration of Mehedi Hasan, who was arrested for allegedly setting fire to copies of the Quran near Dhaka University. Metropolitan Magistrate Albiruni Mir issued the order following a police petition, while also directing the investigating officer to submit a formal probe report by August 17.

According to police officials, the accused did not file a bail petition, and no request for remand was presented during the proceedings. As reported by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s prosecution department, the suspect was presented before the court under heavy security, although he was not brought into the courtroom gallery during the hearing.

The incident occurred early Thursday morning when bystanders apprehended the suspect at the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture. Witnesses reported that the man was attempting to burn three volumes of “Tafhim-ul-Quran,” a seminal interpretation of the Quran authored by Syed Abul A’la Maududi. Following the detention, police from the Nilkhet outpost arrived at the scene to take the suspect into custody. The individual was subsequently treated for minor injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, sustained during a confrontation with the crowd.

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The Nilkhet police outpost filed a formal case at the Shahbagh Police Station under Section 295-A of the Penal Code, which addresses deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings. In the petition submitted to the court, the investigating officer argued that the accused should remain in custody to ensure a transparent and thorough investigation, noting that a request for further remand would be filed at a later stage.