Journalist Md Azhar Ali Sarkar has been shown arrested in a case filed under the Anti‑Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka.
Sub‑inspector Amirul Islam filed the case on charges of conspiring to push the country towards armed struggle.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jewel Rana issued the order following a petition filed by the police on Monday.
After the hearing, Azhar told reporters, “I am innocent. I have been unjustly implicated in this case. I was never involved with ‘71 Mancha’. I have been shown arrested in a false case.”
He also said he was physically unwell.
Earlier, on 18 June, Inspector Md Akhtar Morshed, investigation officer of the case, filed the petition to show Azhar arrested.
The petition alleged that Azhar was directly and indirectly involved with former minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui and other accused in a deep conspiracy to erase the history of the Liberation War, through association with the organisation “Mancha 71.”
The group, under the guise of resisting conspiracies against national achievements, was accused of preparing for sacrifice with dishonest intent to mislead people. As part of this preparation, they organised a roundtable meeting on 28 August, attended by 16 named accused and 70–80 unidentified individuals, the petition said.
The petition further stated that under Siddiqui’s leadership, Azhar committed offences by attempting to destabilise the country, inciting hatred against the interim government, staging flash processions and terrorist activities to spread fear, and planning its overthrow.
Preliminary investigation found evidence of his involvement. Police argued that showing Azhar arrested was essential for fair investigation and justice.
Additional Public Prosecutor Shamsuddoha Suman, supporting the arrest, told the court, “On 5 August, a group named ‘Mancha 71’ emerged with the aim of erasing the nation’s achievements and the spirit of the Liberation War. Azhar was present at the event.”
Defence lawyer Md Ripon opposed the petition, saying that the accused is ill, suffering from kidney and liver complications, high blood pressure, and diabetes. No one has yet proven his involvement in terrorist activities. While bail in one case is pending, he is being shown arrested in another, he added.
At 12:20pm, Azhar was brought to the CMM Court in a wheelchair.
Azhar was arrested from Banasree area of Rampura on 10 October last year. He was later remanded in several cases.
