Youth confesses to ‘lack of sniper’ comment targeting PM

An individual who was arrested over a Facebook comment hinting at a sniper attack on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has given a confessional statement before a court.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana recorded the statement on Sunday, said Sub-Inspector Wazed Ali of the Prosecution Division.

Earlier, accused Abu Bokor Siddique was produced before the court after the completion of his seven-day remand. Subsequently, Investigation Officer of the case and Sub-Inspector Yasin Paik of the Detective Branch’s (DB) Cyber and Special Crime Division, filed a petition seeking to record his confessional statement.

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Youth on 7-day remand over ‘lack of sniper’ comment on FB post concerning PM's tour

According to the case documents, three photographs of a bus carrying the prime minister were posted in a Facebook group named “The Beauty of Rajshahi” on 21 October.

The caption questioned why a bus belonging to Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) had been used to transport the prime minister in Rajshahi instead of a red-and-green bulletproof bus.

The post received a comment from a Facebook profile named “MD Abu Bokor Siddique”, saying, “What a great opportunity it was! There was only a lack of a sniper.”

Police later identified the user of the account and arrested Abu Bokor from the Gholharia Dakshinpara area under Paba police station in Rajshahi.

Sub-Inspector Md Manik Hossain of the DB’s Cyber and Special Crime (North) Division filed a case over the matter with Ramna police station in Dhaka under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

On 23 October, a Dhaka court sent the accused to jail following his arrest. Later, on 25 October, he was placed on a seven-day remand.