‘Joy Bangla’ slogan lands Sunamganj lawyers in jail

An act of homage has turned into legal trouble in Sunamganj, where two lawyers have been taken into custody after shouting “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu” while paying floral tributes at the Shaheed Minar.
A Sunamganj court passed the order on Friday afternoon, hours after they were arrested in their houses, reports bdnews24.com.

Sunamganj Sadar Police chief Ratan Sheikh said the duo shouted the slogan on Thursday, marking the Independence Day and the National Day.

The arrests were made under a case filed through the Anti-Terrorism Act, which names 25 people, including the two lawyers, and another 50–60 unidentified individuals in connection with the incident.

The detained lawyers, Manish Kanti Dey Mintu and Mizanur Rahman Shamim, are leaders of a pro-Awami League lawyers’ association.

The case was filed by Sub-Inspector Anwarul Haque following the arrests, officer Ratan said.
According to the complaint, the lawyers had paid tribute at the Shaheed Minar on the District Collectorate premises while shouting the slogan. Police said raids are ongoing to arrest additional suspects, including a former public prosecutor and current and former leaders of the District Bar Association.

The Sunamganj arrests come in a string of similar incidents elsewhere.
In Dhaka on Friday, Shimu Akter Brishti, popularly known as Misty Subhash, was placed in police custody for interrogation for two days under terrorism charges after she and one other shouted “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu” while paying tributes at the National Memorial in Savar.

They were holding portraits of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina at the time.

On Thursday, a woman and her three children were also detained at the Savar National Memorial for shouting the same slogans during their Independence Day tribute.