A court in Dhaka has ordered 27 accused to be sent to prison the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on charges of creating an unstable and chaotic environment by entering the central office of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) in Paltan and chanting “Joy Bangla” slogans.
The court of Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order on Sunday following an application submitted by the investigating officer.
The investigating officer, Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Najmul Islam of Paltan Model Police Station, produced the accused in court.
He submitted an application requesting their detention in prison in the interest of a fair investigation, verifying accuracy of the accused’s names and addresses, and unearthing core mystery behind the incident.
The accused were brought to the court lock-up at around 7pm. Defence lawyers filed bail applications on their behalf, but the court kept the applications on record and scheduled hearing for Monday.
According to the police detention application, while on special law-and-order duty on Saturday at 4:10pm, police received information that a group of people inside Jasad central office in Paltan was creating an unstable situation by chanting “Joy Bangla” slogans.
Upon receiving the information, police detained them from the spot with the assistance of accompanying forces and local residents. During preliminary interrogation, the detainees failed to provide any satisfactory or legal explanation for the incident.
As it was initially suspected that the accused might be involved in cognisable offences, police said their detention in prison was necessary for a fair investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
The 27 accused sent to prison are: Md Didarul Alam Tuhin, 50, Iman Ahmed Imon, 45, Molla Md Shahjahan Siraj, 38, Joy Sarkar, 31, Md Miraj Ahmed, 19, Md Miraj Malikha, 39, Md Rabiul Islam, 28, Milon Kumar Mahanta, 49, Md Kawsar Hossain, 55, Shree Anjan Shil, 50, Jalal Uddin Mondal, 52, Abdul Latif, 49, Shamim Ahmed, 55, Ahammad Ahsan Habib, 43, Md Sujan Ali, 32, Md Tosikul Islam, 37, Md Saifullah Sayek, 42, Nayan Ali Sajidul Islam Tuhin, 40, Tajul Islam, 34, Niskar Samrat Hossain Talukdar, 43, Anwar Hossain, 32, Md Alamgir Hossain, 42, Md Al Amin Hawlader, 39, Md Tushar Ali, 50, Md Rashidul Haq, 44, and Mir Muktisur Rahman, 51.
Jasad and BSD demand release of remaining activists
Earlier on Sunday morning, police released around 250 leaders and activists who had been detained from the Jasad central office in Gulistan on Saturday afternoon. However, 27 party activists were shown arrested and sent to prison by the court.
Paltan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (Operations) Md Alauddin confirmed the information to TIMES on Sunday morning, adding that 19 individuals were still being held for verification.
Police officers said over 200 people were initially detained from the office on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Sunday, the home minister said police had released around 250 leaders and activists detained from Jasad central office, while 27 remained in police custody.
He added that forensic examinations of their mobile phones and interrogation would be conducted.
Party sources revealed that Jasad’s central representative meeting commenced on Saturday morning opposite GPO in Gulistan, attended by nearly 400 party leaders and activists from across the country.
Jasad leaders said they had sent a letter to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on 24 September requesting permission to use a sound system and seeking necessary security for the event.
According to police officers, around 12pm on Saturday, Awami League leaders and activists brought out a flash procession in Dhanmondi, during which several cocktail explosions occurred.
Some participants from Dhanmondi procession subsequently took shelter in Jasad office in Gulistan.
Around noon, Central Joint General Secretary of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal Rabiul Islam Nayan led Jubo Dal activists to besiege Jasad office. Police arrived as a mob situation developed and subsequently detained attendees from inside the office.
DMP Media and Public Relations Division Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Akhtar Hossain said police conducted the operation on suspicion that Awami League leaders and activists were present, following reports that numerous outsiders had gathered inside Jasad central office to hold a meeting and chant “Joy Bangla” slogans.
Police added that the raid was carried out based on information that leaders and activists of the activities banned Awami League and its affiliate organisations had gathered to prepare for acts of sabotage.
Jasad strongly denied the allegations, maintaining that the attendees were present for a pre-scheduled central representative meeting organised after prior notification to the DMP commissioner, Motijheel Division DC, and Paltan Police Station OC.
Jasad Office Secretary Sajjad Hossain demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the remaining detained leaders and activists without harassment.
Meanwhile, Socialist Party of Bangladesh (BSD) also demanded the release of the detained Jasad activists. In a press statement issued on Saturday night, BSD Central Committee General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz condemned the detentions during a political meeting.
BSD said Jasad is not a banned organisation and that legal action should only be taken if specific charges or cases exist against individuals, emphasising that attacking political party events and detaining activists is unacceptable.
