15 more accused on 3-day remand as bomb blasts
A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed 15 more accused, including leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations, on three-day remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over crude bomb blasts and alleged sabotage in the capital’s Gulshan area.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jewel Rana passed the order after hearing a police petition, said Sub-Inspector Moktar Hossain of the Dhaka Metropolitan Prosecution Division.
The accused include Chhatra League activist Nirab Khan, 22; Thakurgaon City Awami League member Md Saiful Islam, 52; Patuakhali Sadar Upazila Jubo League member Md Jewel Sikder.
33; Bhatara Thana Jubo League member Md Sahed, 37; Khilkhet Thana Ward 17 Jubo League member Shanto Sheikh, 28; Ward 20 Awami League member Md Harun Maizbhandari, 55; and Lakshmipur District Matsyajibi League Joint Convener Khaled Mahmud Foysal, 40.
The others are Dhaka North City Ward 13 Awami League Religious Affairs Secretary Md Shafikur Rahman, 50; Chandpur District Awami League member Billal Gazi, 35; Tarail Upazila Chhatra League President Ismail Siraji, 32; Cantonment Thana Chhatra League activist Md Arifur Rahman Dipu, 27; Bangladesh Awami Matsyajibi League President Md Idrisul Alam, 55; Badda Sramik League General Secretary Zainal Abedin Mamun, 50; Bhatara Thana Ward 3 National Sramik League Member Secretary Jayanta Kumar Baroi, 43; and Awami League Cultural Affairs Sub-committee President Md Mozammel Haque, 75.
Earlier, Gulshan Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Ruhul Amin, the investigating officer in the case, sought seven days’ remand for the accused after producing them before the court.
In the remand petition, police said they needed to interrogate the accused and conduct operations with them to obtain important information for the investigation. The petition said the remand was necessary to identify and arrest the alleged planners, gather information about the financiers and arrest other suspects involved in the incident.
Defence lawyers sought cancellation of the remand and bail for the accused, while the prosecution opposed the pleas.
After hearing both sides, the court granted three days’ remand for each of the 15 accused.
According to the case statement, leaders and activists of various affiliated organisations of the Awami League, whose political activities are currently banned, along with activists of the banned Chhatra League, gathered in the Gulshan Police Station area at around 11:45am on September 11.
The statement alleged that they gathered to chant anti-government and anti-state slogans and create disorder, with the intention of undermining the image of the elected government and putting it in a difficult position.
It further alleged that crude bombs were exploded at the scene and nearby areas, creating panic among local residents.
The case statement said unidentified accused, described as activists and supporters of the banned organisations, exploded crude bombs with the alleged intention of damaging the government’s image, state property and public life and property, while creating disorder and chanting anti-government and anti-state slogans.
When police moved to disperse the gathering, the unidentified accused allegedly threw crude bombs at them, creating panic in the area.
Police fired two rounds of rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, after which the participants dispersed and fled, according to the case statement.
Five crude bombs were also seized from the scene.
Gulshan Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Mahbub Hossain filed the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act, naming 118 people and 80-100 unidentified people as accused.
