Former secretary Abu Alam sent to jail in Anti-Terrorism case

The order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Saifuzzaman on Monday

A Dhaka court has ordered Abu Alam Shahid Khan, a former senior secretary, to jail in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station.

The order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Saifuzzaman after a hearing on the investigation officer’s application on Monday.

Abu Alam’s lawyer, Obaidul Islam, said his client had signed the warrant but a bail hearing could not be held as the court had already ordered him sent to jail.

“We will hold a hearing after applying for bail later,” he said.

Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi said 16 people, including former minister Latif Siddique, were detained from a programme organised at Mancha 71 at the Dhaka Reporters Unity.

They were later sent to jail under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

“Abu Alam was present at the programme but could not be arrested then,” Faruqi said.

“After being arrested as a suspect, he was produced in court today. The court has ordered him to be sent to jail.”

The case’s investigation officer, Sub-Inspector Toufiq Hasan of Shahbagh Police Station, had earlier sought the court’s order to keep Abu Alam in jail.

Abu Alam was arrested at his house on Sunday night, according to a statement from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Media and Public Relations Division.