Five arrested over ‘Joy Bangla’ slogans, alleged chaos at Rajbari court premises

Police have arrested five people on charges of attempting to create disorder at the Rajbari court premises after slogans of “Joy Bangla” were shouted while a banned student organisation leader was being taken back to jail custody.

According to police, Shahin Sheikh, 33, president of the Rajbari district unit of the banned organisation Chhatra League, raised the slogan while leaving court after a hearing.

The incident allegedly led to a brief attempt to create chaos by his supporters.

The arrests were confirmed on Sunday evening (25 Jan) by Rajbari Additional Superintendent of Police (administration and finance) Md Shamsul Haque, who later issued a press statement around 11:00pm.

Police said Shahin Sheikh is accused in multiple cases, including one over attacks on students during the July Uprising.

He was arrested last Friday by police at the immigration checkpoint of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

On Sunday afternoon, police produced Shahin Sheikh before a court after bringing him from jail.

After the hearing, as he was being escorted from the courtroom and placed into a prison van, party leaders, activists and supporters allegedly chanted “Joy Bangla” and attempted to create disorder.

Police quickly moved Shahin Sheikh away from the court premises in the prison van, after which the supporters dispersed.

Following the incident, police conducted a raid in the Char Lakshmipur area of Rajbari Sadar Upazila on Sunday evening and arrested five individuals.

The arrestees were identified as Sazzad Hossain, 21, son of Abdul Hakim Molla of Char Lakshmipur New Bazar area; Parash Ali Sheikh, also known as Shanto, 20, son of Abdul Hamid Sheikh; and three juveniles.

Police said all of them are activists and supporters of Chhatra League.

Shahin Sheikh, a resident of Char Lakshmipur village under Rajbari Sadar Upazila, has been serving as the district Chhatra League president since March 2022.

He had been in hiding since the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024.

Police said four cases have been filed against him, including charges of attacking students, opening fire and attempting to murder participants of the July Uprising.

Rajbari Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khondaker Ziaur Rahman said the five Chhatra League activists and supporters were arrested on Sunday evening on charges of attempting to create disorder at the court premises.

He added that police are preparing to send them to court after showing them arrested in a previously filed case related to attacks on the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on 30 August 2024.