Court sends 24 accused to police custody while another is jailed pending a hearing on his claimed juvenile status
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Representational Image/Collected.
A Dhaka court today (12 September) placed 24 people on 10 days’ remand in a case filed over alleged crude bomb explosions and acts of sabotage in the capital’s Gulshan area.
The court also ordered that another accused, Arafat, be sent to jail after defence lawyers claimed he was a juvenile.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque passed the orders after a hearing this evening, Sub-Inspector Moktar Hossain of the Dhaka Metropolitan Prosecution Division said.
A total of 25 arrested accused were produced before the court. Gulshan Police Station Sub-Inspector Ruhul Amin, also the investigation officer, sought 10 days’ remand for all of them.
He told the court that the accused needed to be interrogated to ensure a proper investigation, uncover details of the incident, identify and arrest the alleged mastermind, and determine those involved in the alleged conspiracy and financing.
The investigating officer also sought their remand to gather information about other suspects and help arrest those who remain absconding.
Defence lawyers opposed the remand plea and sought bail for their clients. The prosecution opposed the bail petitions.
After hearing both sides, the court granted 10 days’ remand for 24 accused.
As the defence claimed Arafat was a juvenile, the court fixed Sunday for submission of relevant documents and a further hearing. He was ordered to remain in jail until then.
According to the case statement, leaders and activists of various affiliated organisations of the Awami League, whose activities have been suspended, and the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League gathered in the Gulshan Police Station area around 11:45am yesterday (11 September).
The gathering was allegedly organised to chant anti-government and anti-state slogans, create disorder and carry out activities aimed at undermining the image of the elected government and putting it in a difficult position, the case statement said.
It further alleged that crude bombs were exploded in and around the area, creating panic among the public.
According to the statement, members of a banned organisation carried out the explosions with the alleged intention of damaging the government’s image and causing damage to state property and people’s lives and property.
When police attempted to disperse the gathering, the accused allegedly threw crude bombs at them.
Police later fired two rounds of rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, prompting the group to disperse and flee, according to the case statement.
Police seized five crude bombs from the scene.
Gulshan Police Station Sub-Inspector Mohammad Mahbub Hossain filed the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The case names 118 people as accused and includes another 80–100 unidentified people.
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