A Dhaka court has granted varying periods of remand for 14 leaders and activists of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), including Ripon Babu, secretary of Rangpur Chhatra League, and Md Naeem Bhuiyan, district president of Narail Chhatra League.
Metropolitan Magistrate Aowlad Hossain Mohammad Zonaid approved the remand orders on Monday. Among the accused, BCL leaders Ripon Babu, Naeem Bhuiyan, Md Robiul Islam, Dipu Mollah, Jubo League leader Miraj Hossain, Swechasebak League leader Nazmul Hasan Shohag, former organising secretary of Cumilla District North Workers’ League Md Al-Amin, Md Abdul Alim, Arif Hossain, and Md Rabiul Karim Konok were granted three-day remand.
On the other hand, Md Mozammel Hossain Ripon, Zakir Hossain Bepari, Shafiqul Islam Shafiq, and Mohiuddin received one-day remand.
The investigation officer, Sub-Inspector Md Abul Kalam Azad of Paltan Police Station, sought a 10-day remand for each person accused. Assistant Public Prosecutor Advocate Kaiyum Hossain Nayan represented the state, while the defense, led by Advocate Farzana Yasmin Rakhi, opposed the remand and sought bail. After hearing both sides, the magistrate denied bail and approved varying remand periods.
According to the case details, on the afternoon of May 18, members of the banned Chhatra League allegedly gathered near Baitul Mukarram Mosque and surrounding areas to carry out subversive activities aimed at destabilising the country.
Police initially detained eight suspects near the mosque’s south gate with public assistance. During interrogation, they revealed the identities of the others named in the case, leading to further arrests by the Detective Branch (DB) in subsequent raids.
Sub-Inspector Nur Mohammad Khan of Paltan Police Station filed the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, naming 140-150 unidentified individuals alongside those who were arrested.