Indian national on fresh 3-day remand over espionage allegations

A Dhaka court on Thursday placed Indian national Rabiul Islam on a fresh three-day remand in a case filed with Uttara West Police Station over allegations of espionage.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasib Ullah Piash passed the order after investigation officer Inspector Md Nur Alam of the Ramna Detective Branch sought a seven-day remand.

State prosecutor Shamsuddoha Sumon confirmed the matter, saying Rabiul has so far been remanded for a total of 18 days in four phases.

Police detained Rabiul from a house on Road 13 in Sector 11 of Uttara West on 23 September, acting on a tip-off about his alleged involvement in a cognisable offence and suspicious activities in Bangladesh.

Later, he was shown arrested under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and placed on remand twice. Police subsequently filed a case against him under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, based on findings made during the remand.

According to the case documents, Rabiul had entered Bangladesh more than 15 times, using tourist and business visas, but failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the frequent visits.

Police claimed that the accused had attempted to send photographs of important government infrastructure and prohibited areas, as well as important government documents and information, to foreign intelligence agencies.