Syeda Monalisa Islam Arrested in New Murder Case Linked to Student Protests
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Syeda Monalisa Islam, vice-president of the Jubo Mohila League central committee and wife of former State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, has been formally arrested in connection with the murder of businessman Abdul Wadud. The Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court issued the order on Wednesday following a petition filed by the police.
Magistrate Arifur Rahman presided over the hearing, during which Islam was produced before the court via a virtual link. Defense lawyer Tarikul Islam confirmed the judicial development, noting that his client’s release remains stalled due to the new filing.
The case pertains to the death of Abdul Wadud, who was fatally shot during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement near Gate No. 1 of the New Market area on July 19, 2024. Following the incident, the victim’s brother-in-law, Abdur Rahman, filed a murder case against 130 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.
Inspector Amjad Hossain Talukdar of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch, the investigation officer for the case, submitted the application to formally arrest Islam on August 7. The court scheduled the hearing for Wednesday, resulting in the current order.
Tarikul Islam stated that his client had previously secured bail from the High Court in eight separate cases filed in Meherpur and a corruption case initiated by the Anti-Corruption Commission in Dhaka. He alleged that authorities have repeatedly filed arrest petitions in new cases whenever Islam nears eligibility for release from prison.
Islam has been in custody since being apprehended by police during a late-night raid at a residence in the capital’s Eskaton Road area on February 16, 2025. She remains incarcerated following the court’s latest ruling.
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