Syed Almas Kabir, the former President of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) and CEO of Metronet, was not arrested but rather questioned by the Detective Branch (DB) of the police. According to sources, he remained at home from Monday night until Tuesday afternoon.
Sources confirmed that Syed Almas Kabir’s name appeared among the 82 accused in a case related to the death of day laborer Akhtar Hossain during the Quota Reform Movement in Mohammadpur. However, rather than being arrested, he voluntarily appeared at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s (CMM) Court on Tuesday afternoon and obtained bail. He also submitted proof of being abroad at the time of the incident.
Reports indicate that Almas Kabir had been abroad during the time of the incident and returned to the country after completing his overseas tour. The court granted him bail, acknowledging that he had no direct involvement in the case.
The investigating officer, Sub-Inspector (SI) Maidul Islam from Mohammadpur Police Station, submitted a forwarding report, following which Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Belal Hossain granted bail to Syed Almas Kabir. The investigating officer had requested his detention until the investigation was complete, but the defense lawyer argued that Kabir was abroad during the event. After the hearing, the court approved bail upon a bond of 5,000 BDT.
In the morning, rumors of his arrest spread, but when contacted via WhatsApp, Syed Almas Kabir confirmed that the information was misleading. This incident has sparked outrage and mixed reactions within the country’s technology sector, raising concerns that individuals not present during the crime may have been implicated in an effort to protect the actual culprits.
In response to this situation, BASIS has called for a protest rally on Wednesday at the Helmet Hall of RAOWA Club in Mahakhali, Dhaka. Current BASIS President Russell T. Ahmed expressed his frustration over the incident. An emergency meeting was held at the BASIS office in Kawran Bazar, attended by Senior Vice President M. Rashidul Hasan, Vice President Syed Mohammad Kamal, and other BASIS leaders. The meeting expressed concerns over the harassing lawsuit filed against Syed Almas Kabir, who had previously served two terms as BASIS President, was a former director of FBCCI, and former President of the Malaysia-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce.
