Arrest of Developer Mortuza in False Case Protested

Nadira Mortuza, wife of SM Golam Mortuza, was speaking at a press conference at the Sagar Runi Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Tuesday demanding the release of his husband, who has allegedly been implicated in a false case.

The family of prominent real estate developer Engineer SM Golam Mortuza, who has allegedly been implicated in a false and conspiratorial case regarding the killing of students during the July-August uprising, has demanded his immediate release.

His wife, Nadira Mortuza, Principal of BAK Model Academy, made the demand in a written statement during a press conference held at the Sagar Runi Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Tuesday.

She alleged that a group of criminals, envious of her husband, continued to implicate him in a false case. Furthermore, she claimed that even after his arrest, her family has been threatened by terrorists.

“Golam Mortuza was never involved in the politics of the fascist Awami League. During the July-August uprising, he supported the student-public movement and extended a hand of cooperation,” Mrs. Mortuza said.

She called for a proper investigation to remove her husband’s name from the false case and sought the intervention of the Chief Advisor, Law and Justice Affairs Advisor, Home Affairs Advisor, and leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement for legal assistance and justice.

Mrs. Mortuza explained that a team from RAB-1 arrested Engineer SM Golam Mortuza at around 01:20 AM on Monday night, March 3, falsely accusing him of being an Awami League leader in a completely fabricated and conspiratorial case.

She emphasized that SM Golam Mortuza Sarkar, also the owner of Sarker Properties Limited, has never been involved with the Awami League or any of its affiliates. Instead, his family has traditionally supported BNP politics. His father, Kabil Sarkar, was the BNP-backed president of the Pallabi Muslim Bazaar Traders' Association for nearly three decades. Additionally, he renewed a membership receipt signed by Begum Khaleda Zia at the BNP central office on 07/09/2014. As a strong BNP supporter, he also filled out the “Information Collection Form” signed by Central BNP Leader Amanullah Aman and Metropolitan North BNP Leader Aminul Haque on 04/09/2021.

Referring to several photographs and video footage of SM Golam Mortuza’s participation in the July-August student-public movement, Mrs. Mortuza claimed that her husband actively supported the mass movement of 2024. He cooperated with the protesters in various ways, providing them with food and water, and encouraged them by supplying paint and brushes for graffiti.

She expressed regret that Mortuza is being harassed by being falsely linked to the Awami League's Convening Committee of Pallabi Police Station and named as a defendant in a case. “He is a businessman and social worker, not a politician. He has independently built schools, mosques, madrasas, and playgrounds in the area, with no political ambitions,” she added.

In response to a reporter’s question, Mrs. Mortuza suggested that there may be a land dispute behind this case, though she couldn’t elaborate further at that moment. However, she did mention that after her husband’s arrest, someone took possession of two of their properties in the dead of night. She also claimed that Golam Mortuza was falsely implicated in another similar case on Tuesday by vested interests, with the aim of further harassing him.

Former Organizing Secretary of the Cantonment Police Station BNP, Haji Md. Majnu Mia, BNP leader Md. Shah Alam, and businessman Akbar Dewan, who were also present at the press conference, all asserted that Golam Mortuza has no ties to the Awami League and is a dedicated supporter of BNP.