A video showing a lavish feast held inside the highly sensitive female ward of the Noakhali Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court, featuring two top Awami League leaders and their families, has gone viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage and criticism across the district. The incident occurred on Monday (January 19) inside the women’s ward with the assistance of on-duty police.
The leaders involved are Azam Pasha Chowdhury Rumel, president of the Companyganj Upazila Jubo League and former vice chairman of the Upazila, and Advocate Shaif Uddin Ahmed, president of Hatiya Municipality Awami League and general secretary of the Bangabandhu Lawyers Association. Both are currently in Noakhali District Jail facing multiple cases, including murder and explosives-related charges.
Recently, following discussions in jail, Azam Pasha Rumel’s daughter, Faliha Azam Chowdhury Orthi, married Shaif Uddin Ahmed’s son, Shaim Uddin Sakib, in a family ceremony on December 30. On Monday (January 19), when the two leaders were brought to court for a hearing, their families organized a feast inside the jail cell in the presence of police.
The female ward, reserved for women inmates, included Azam Pasha Rumel’s wife Khodeza Akter Sumi, daughter Faliha Azam Chowdhury Orthi, Shaif Uddin Ahmed’s son Shaim Uddin Sakib, and another young man.
Court sources confirmed that Azam Pasha Chowdhury Rumel faces multiple cases, including the killing of seven Islami Chhatra Shibir activists in Companyganj. Meanwhile, Shaif Uddin Ahmed is facing five cases, including explosives-related charges, in Hatiya, Charjabbar, and Kabirhat police stations.
Police officials told reporters on Tuesday (January 20) that the ward is typically used for changing clothes, meals, prayers, and for nursing infants of female inmates.
