Dhaka, Dec 21 (V7N) — Journalist Anis Alamgir has been sent to jail after the completion of a five-day remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The order was issued on Saturday, December 20, by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasan Shahadat, prosecution sources confirmed.
Sub-Inspector Shamim Hossain of the prosecution department said the investigating officer of the case, Detective Branch (DB) Inspector Kazi Shahnewaz, produced Anis Alamgir before the court after the remand period ended and sought his detention in jail.
During the hearing, defense lawyer Naznin Nahar, along with several other lawyers, submitted a petition seeking division facilities for the journalist while in custody. After hearing both sides, the court directed the jail authorities to take necessary measures in accordance with jail regulations.
Earlier, on the night of December 14, after 8:00 pm, a team of the Detective Branch took Anis Alamgir to the DB office, reportedly for questioning. Later that night, a member of an organization named the July Revolutionary Alliance, Arian Ahmed, filed a case accusing Anis Alamgir and three others of conspiring to destabilize the state and inciting banned organizations.
The other accused in the case are actress Meher Afroz Shawon, fashion model Maria Kispotta, and television presenter Imtu Ratish Imtiaz. The following day, the court granted a five-day remand for Anis Alamgir.
According to the remand application, Anis Alamgir was interrogated in police custody and investigators claimed to have obtained important information related to the case. The application stated that the information was being verified and that further remand might be necessary if its authenticity is confirmed. In the meantime, the investigating officer sought to keep him in judicial custody.
The case, filed at Uttara West Police Station, states that following the anti-discrimination student movement, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country. It alleges that her followers subsequently went into hiding and began conspiring to destabilize the country and damage state infrastructure through anti-state activities. The accused are alleged to have previously operated under the patronage of the Awami League and, since August 5 last year, have been spreading propaganda through social media and talk shows to revive banned organizations.
The complaint further alleges that on the night of December 14, at around 8:30 pm, the complainant noticed from a residence in Sector 11 of Uttara West that the accused were posting content on Facebook aimed at rehabilitating the Awami League. It claims that such posts inspired members of banned organizations, including Chhatra League and Jubo League, to engage in conspiracies and terrorist activities intended to destabilize the state and damage national infrastructure.
The case remains under investigation.
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