Anis Alamgir sent to jail after remand, to be granted division

A Dhaka court today ordered journalist Anis Alamgir to be sent to jail following the end of his remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Uttara West Police Station.

After a hearing in the evening, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasan Shahadat passed the order and also directed the jail authorities to take necessary measures regarding division facilities in accordance with jail rules.

Earlier, after completion of a five-day remand, the investigation officer of the case, Uttara West Police Station Inspector Md Moniruzzaman, produced Anis Alamgir before the court and sought his detention in jail.

In the application, the investigation officer said the accused had been interrogated in police custody and that important information related to the case had been obtained. The information is currently being verified, and if found valid, further remand may be required.

Meanwhile, the defence, including lawyer Naznin Nahar, filed a petition seeking division for Anis Alamgir.

The petition stated that the accused is a renowned journalist, teacher and writer and, therefore, is legally entitled to division facilities under the Bangladesh Jail Code. After the hearing, the court ordered that the accused be sent to jail and instructed the authorities to take action on the division request as per jail rules.

On 14 December, Anis Alamgir was taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police after he left a gymnasium in Dhanmondi-2. He was later taken to the DB office for interrogation. On 15 December, the court granted a five-day remand.

According to the case statement, despite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fleeing during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in July 2024, her followers allegedly remained in the country and continued conspiring to destabilise the state and damage infrastructure.

The complaint alleged that after 5 August 2024, the accused had been spreading propaganda through social media and television talk shows to revive banned organisations, thereby attempting to rehabilitate the Awami League. As a result, activists of banned organisations Chhatra League and Jubo League were allegedly encouraged to engage in anti-state activities, sabotage infrastructure and commit terrorist acts.

In connection with the incident, the case was filed on the night of 14 December by Arian Ahmed, a central organiser of the July Revolutionary Alliance, against four people, including actress Meher Afroz Shawon.

The other accused in the case are Maria Kispotta and Imtu Ratish Imtiaz.