Court denies bail to three arrested for playing 7 March speech

A Dhaka court today (9 March) denied bail to three individuals, including former Slogan ’71 general secretary Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi, who were arrested after playing Bangabandhu’s 7 March speech through a loudspeaker in Dhaka.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Didarul Alam passed the order after hearing their bail petitions in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station.

The two other accused are former employment affairs secretary of Shahidullah Hall unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League at Dhaka University, Mohammad Asif Ahmed Saikat, and Abdul Al Mamun.

During the hearing, lawyer Monir Hossain sought bail for Emi, lawyer Tariqul Islam represented Saikat, and lawyer Golam Rabbani moved the plea for Mamun.

The prosecution opposed the petitions. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail applications. Lawyer Golam Rabbani confirmed the matter.

According to the case statement, the three were detained on Saturday afternoon at Chankharpul intersection in the capital while playing Bangabandhu’s 7 March speech through a loudspeaker.

The following day, the court ordered that they be sent to jail.

The case alleges that the accused chanted “provocative slogans” using loudspeakers facing a mosque and attempted to revive activities of the banned organisation Bangladesh Chhatra League as part of an alleged anti-government conspiracy. They are also accused of obstructing police duties and attempting to snatch Asif from police custody.

At the time of the incident, a group of students led by Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) representatives AB Jubayer and Mohammad Mosaddek detained Abdul Al Mamun and Sheikh Tasnim Afroze Imi and handed them over to the police.

Police later filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act with Shahbagh Police Station.