Two former army officers placed on four-day remand

A Dhaka court on Monday placed two retired army officers--Lt Col (retd) Kazi Gulshan Ara and Lt Col (retd) Debashish--on a four-day remand in a case filed with Pallabi Police Station in Dhaka under several charges, including sedition.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Didarul Alam passed the order after a hearing, State Prosecutor Harun Or Rashid said.

Earlier, the duo were brought to the court lock-up around 5:00pm and produced before the court at around 5:50pm.

Police Inspector Sheikh Bashir Ahmed of the Organised Crime Investigation Team of the DB Cyber and Special Crime (South) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police subsequently filed the remand petition.

According to the petition, police showed the two arrested in a case filed on Monday under Section 124A of the Penal Code, Sections 18(1), 10, 11 and 12 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009, as amended by the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, and Section 25 of the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025.

During the hearing, Advocate Al Mansur Ripon, counsel for Debashish, argued that his client had not engaged in any activity that undermined the country's sovereignty or created disorder.

“There is nothing in the petition to suggest that he incited riots or disorder in the country or threatened the state's sovereignty,” the lawyer said.

Advocate Moshiur Rahman, counsel for Gulshan Ara, argued that the petition did not identify any specific content tht his cliemt publish through which she had allegedly caused instability.

“There is no adverse record against her during her service. Maintaining contact with retired army officers is normal,” he said, adding that operating a Facebook page and posting content did not, in themselves, constitute criminal offences.

Both defence lawyers opposed the remand plea and sought bail for their clients.

Opposing the defence arguments, State Prosecutor Harun Or Rashid alleged that the accused had engaged in activities against the government, collected funds and disseminated provocative content.

He further alleged that they had maintained contact with former army chief General (retd) Aziz Ahmed and a former home minister to carry out activities against the state and work towards the rehabilitation of the Awami League.

According to the remand petition, the accused and their associates were connected to WhatsApp groups named Bangladesh Awami League Supporters Alpha #1 and BBM Transparency.

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Police alleged that they collected funds and created and circulated digital content intended to incite violence through social media platforms.

The petition further alleged that Gulshan Ara conspired against the state and worked to rehabilitate the Awami League through Unity Care Public Parliament, a platform formed by retired army officers, through which, she allegedly maintained contact with General (retd) Aziz Ahmed, a former home minister and other fugitives.

Police also alleged that the accused used social media to conduct activities against the state and created a page named 'KalAjKal.com' to disseminate content intended to incite violence and instability.

The petition stated that on 27 November 2018, ahead of the national election, Gulshan Ara visited Ganabhaban with more than 150 retired army officers and publicly expressed solidarity with and allegiance to then prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

It further alleged that the accused and 101 associates formed a committee named Bangabandhu Sena Parishad and served as active officials of the organisation which spread hatred among different social groups and incite riots and disorder.

Its members allegedly participated in creating unrest, undermining the country's sovereignty and spreading hatred and contempt towards the government through social media and television talk shows, the petition added.

The petition also alleged that the accused had links with domestic and foreign spies and had conspired against the government and Bangladesh, while conducting what police described as defamatory propaganda with their associates since 5 August 2024.