32 leaders, activists of banned AL, affiliates sent to jail in cases filed under anti-terrorism law
The 32 were arrested in different parts of the capital on Sunday.
Courts in Dhaka have ordered 32 leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations to be sent to jail in separate cases filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Yesterday evening (10 November), five separate metropolitan magistrates in Dhaka issued the orders after hearings, according to court sources.
Earlier, investigating officers in six separate cases produced the accused before the courts and sought orders to keep them in jail. The judges then granted the pleas.
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No defence lawyers were present during the hearings.
In the petitions, police said preliminary investigations found sufficient evidence of the suspects' involvement in the incidents under investigation.
As probes are underway, their detention is necessary to prevent them from fleeing or obstructing the investigation, they said, adding police would later seek remand for interrogation.
The 32 were arrested in different parts of the capital on Sunday (9 November).
According to the case statements, during interrogation the arrestees admitted to being involved in the politics of the banned Awami League and its affiliate, Chhatra League.
Police allege that they took part in processions shouting Awami League slogans during their recent programmes to create instability, spread fear and disrupt order.
They filed six separate cases under sections 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009 (amended 2013) at Shyampur, Gulshan, Mirpur, Motijheel, Jatrabari and Demra police stations.
