15 sent to remand over alleged preparations for sabotage

A Dhaka court on Tuesday placed 15 accused on remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over alleged anti-state activities and preparations for sabotage in the capital’s Uttara area.

Of them, 14 accused were placed on three-day remand, while another accused, Farzana, 21, was placed on one-day remand.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sefatullah passed the order, said State Prosecutor Shamsuddoha Sumon.

The accused on three-day remand are Md Yakub Hossain Rajib, 26, Arafat Mia, 22, Rifat Hawladar, 19, Hridoy Hasan, 21, Fahim, 19, Rajib Hossain Rana, 24, Md Firoz, 26, Md Arif, 28, Md Omar Faruk, 21, Abdullah Al Aman, 19, Md Abdullah Al Noman, 21, Md Sohanur Hossain Shahin, 22, Md Hasib, 19, and Md Hasib Mia, 23.

During the hearing, Shamsuddoha Sumon pleaded in favour of the remand, while defence lawyers Morshed Hossain Shahin and others sought cancellation of the remand and bail for the accused.

The state prosecutor said the accused had gathered to implement a “blueprint” to bring back ousted autocrat Sheikh Hasina and were preparing for destructive activities.

Defence lawyer Morshed Hossain Shahin, however, claimed that the accused had gathered to cut a cake on Sheikh Hasina’s birthday and hold a milad mahfil, and that such activities could not be considered acts of terrorism.

Earlier on Monday afternoon, police detained them during a raid on a house belonging to former Awami League MP Shaukat Hasanur Rahman Rimon in the Uttara West Police Station area.

Police produced the accused before the court on Tuesday and sought seven days’ remand. Sub-Inspector Iqbal Hossain of Uttara West Police Station filed the remand petition.

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According to the petition, activists of the banned Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League were allegedly preparing to commit anti-state offences and terrorist activities with the aim of destabilising the state and destroying state infrastructure.

Police claimed that they recovered several documents from the house containing the logos of the Awami League and Swechchhasebak League, photographs of Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the slogans “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu”.

A case was subsequently filed with Uttara West Police Station under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The remand petition said the accused needed to be interrogated to uncover the circumstances of the case, identify the masterminds and leaders, obtain information about the financiers, and arrest the fugitives.