15 placed on 3-day remand in anti-terrorism case

A Dhaka court today (19 August) placed 15 people on three-day remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over allegations of planning sabotage and terrorist activities in the capital’s Bashundhara Residential Area.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin passed the order after a hearing, SI Kamal Hossain of the prosecution department confirmed.

Earlier, Vatara Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Hafizur Rahman produced the accused before the court and sought seven days’ remand for each of them.

After hearing both sides, the court granted three days’ remand.

According to police, acting on a tip-off that sabotage and anti-state activities were being planned in connection with 15 August, officers from Vatara Police Station raided a flat in Bashundhara Residential Area on the night of 13 August.

Police said the people inside the flat allegedly tried to flee when officers arrived. A total of 52 people were detained from the flat.

The following afternoon, 14 August, a court ordered that the detainees be sent to jail. Two of them were later sent to the Gazipur Juvenile Development Centre after being deemed children based on their age.

According to the case statement, the accused allegedly chanted anti-government slogans and were planning political programmes aimed at creating instability and fear in the country.

They were also accused of sabotage, aiding terrorist activities, conspiracy and attempting to commit offences.

Police filed the case over the incident.