Home
+
Published : 16 Jun 2026, 05:31 PM
A Dhaka court has placed 13 of the 14 arrested activists of the banned organisation Bangladesh Chhatra League on a three-day remand for questioning in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Banani Police Station.
However, one of the accused was identified as a juvenile, and the court ordered authorities to send him to a Juvenile Development Centre.
The order was issued on Tuesday by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jewel Rana. The activists had been arrested on allegations of preparing to organise a procession for a banned organisation.
The accused sent on remand are Motaher Hossain Shuvo, Maruful Islam, Tanvir Ahmed Sani, Waliullah Faruk Ador, Samir Chowdhury alias Leon, Imon Ali Khan, Yasin Arafat Abir, Sifat Rahman, Yasin Arafat Nihad, Nazmul Sarkar, Abir Hossain, Toukir Tarek Ayaz, and Habibur Rahman.
The information was provided by Sub-Inspector Moktar Hossain of the prosecution department.
The activists were arrested on allegations that they were preparing to hold a procession marking the “Homecoming Day” of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted from power during the July Uprising in 2024.
On Aug 15, 1975, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were assassinated. Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana survived because they were abroad at the time. Nearly six years later, on May 17, 1981, Sheikh Hasina returned to Bangladesh. The Awami League has since observed the day as Sheikh Hasina’s Homecoming Day.
After the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5, 2024, during the rule of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, the party’s student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League, was banned over allegations of violence. Later, restrictions were also imposed on the activities of the Awami League itself.
According to the case, the activists were preparing to hold a procession in the Banani area on May 16.
The investigating officer, Sub Inspector (SI) Saiful Islam of Banani Police Station, produced the accused before the court and sought a seven-day remand for interrogation.
One defence lawyer, Saifur Rahman Sumon, argued that one of the accused was a minor. Another lawyer, Ehsan Kabir, representing the remaining accused, sought cancellation of the remand request and applied for bail.
During the hearing, the defence lawyer stated, “They were travelling in a microbus from Mirpur to the 300 Feet Road area to watch a game. On their way back, their vehicle developed a problem near the Navy Headquarters. That is why they were standing there. They are not involved in politics and do not hold any political positions.”
On behalf of the prosecution, Muhammad Shamsuddoha Sumon argued in favour of remand, saying: “The area near the Navy Headquarters is relatively isolated, and they deliberately chose that location. During Dr Yunus’s tenure, Awami League leaders and activists and those of its affiliated organisations used that area to organise processions and meetings.”
He further alleged, “The accused were chanting ‘Joy Bangla’ slogans from inside the microbus. They were acting on behalf of some agent. They chanted slogans such as ‘the Sheikh’s daughter will return.’ They are all Chhatra League activists. If placed on remand, all the information will be divulged.”
According to the case statement, at around 4:10am on the day of the incident, the accused unlawfully gathered on the northbound lane of the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway opposite the Navy Headquarters, within the jurisdiction of Banani Police Station. Police arrested one individual at the scene, and later the remaining 13 accused were also arrested in connection with the same case.
The complaint states, “The arrested individuals are active members of a banned organisation. They had gathered there to prepare for a procession marking the Homecoming Day of their leader, Sheikh Hasina.”
It further said, “Acting in collusion and through conspiracy and incitement, they were distributing leaflets and posters containing anti-government slogans with the intention of damaging public and government property and overthrowing or destabilising the current government.”
The case also states that during the operation, law enforcers recovered 24 PVC posters featuring messages related to Sheikh Hasina’s Homecoming Day and photographs of party activists, a TVS RTR motorcycle, and several mobile phones from the accused.
