The family of Engineer SM Golam Mortuza, a real estate developer, has protested his arrest in what they claim is a false and conspiratorial case related to the July-August student uprising.

They have also demanded his immediate release.

At a press conference held at the Sagar Runi Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city on Tuesday, Mortuza’s wife, Nadira Mortuza, Principal of BAK Model Academy, accused a group of criminals, motivated by envy, of fabricating the charges against her husband.

He further claimed that even after his arrest, her family continues to receive threats from miscreants.

“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 offered his cooperation,” Mortuza stated in her written statement.

She called for a proper investigation to clear her husband’s name and requested the intervention of the Chief Advisor, Law and Justice Affairs Advisor, Home Affairs Advisor, and leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement for legal aid and justice.

According to Mrs. Mortuza, a team from RAB-1 arrested her husband at around 01:20 AM on March 3, accusing him of being an Awami League leader in a completely fabricated case.

She emphasized that Mortuza, also the owner of Sarker Properties Limited, has never been involved with the Awami League or any of its affiliates. His family has traditionally supported BNP politics, and his father, Kabil Sarkar, served as the BNP-backed president of the Pallabi Muslim Bazaar Traders' Association for nearly 30 years.

She also referred to several photographs and video footage showing Mortuza’s active participation in the July-August student movement of 2024. Mortuza had assisted protesters with food, water, and supplies, including paint and brushes for graffiti.

Mrs. Mortuza expressed regret that her husband is being harassed by being falsely implicated in a case linked to the Awami League’s Convening Committee of Pallabi Police Station. She insisted that Mortuza is a businessman and social worker, not a politician, and that he has independently supported local development, including building schools, mosques, madrasas, and playgrounds.

Responding to a question from reporters, Mrs. Mortuza speculated that a land dispute could be behind the case but refrained from elaborating further. She did mention, however, that after her husband's arrest, two of their properties were taken over in the middle of the night. She also claimed that Mortuza was falsely implicated in a similar case on Tuesday by vested interests with the intent to further harass him.

BNP leaders, including former Organizing Secretary of the Cantonment Police Station BNP, Haji Md. Majnu Mia, and businessman Akbar Dewan, attended the press conference and reiterated that Mortuza has no ties to the Awami League and is a committed BNP supporter.