'Conspiracy to overthrow interim govt': US citizen Enayet, his associate put on 5-day fresh remand
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Saraha Farzana Haque passed the order this afternoon (17 September) after a hearing.
A Dhaka court has granted five days' fresh remand for Enayet Karim Chowdhury, a US citizen of Bangladeshi origin, in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over suspicious movements and alleged conspiracy to overthrow the interim government.
Meanwhile, his associate SM Golam Mostafa Azad also placed on five days remand.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Saraha Farzana Haque passed the order this afternoon (17 September) after a hearing.
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The investigation officer of the case, Md Akhtar Morshed, an inspector of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), produced the accused before the court and sought a seven-day remand.
Public prosecutor (PP) Omar Faruq Faruqi argued in favour of remand, while the defence lawyer Farhan Md Araf appealed for cancellation of remand and bail. After hearing both sides, the court granted five days' remand for each.
Enayet was arrested on 13 September under section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for suspicious movements in a car around Dhaka's Minto Road, known for residences of ministers, around 10:30am. He was later produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka and sent to jail.
Later, on 15 September, the court granted a two-day remand under the Anti-Terrorism Act for interrogation.
After completion of that remand, investigators again sought further interrogation citing "incomplete findings." Enayet's associate Azad, who was arrested from the airport area, was also produced in court for a fresh remand.
During the hearing, the public prosecutor Faruqi said two iPhones were seized from Enayet. "Important information was retrieved from the devices, showing he came to Bangladesh as an agent of a foreign intelligence agency. He was attempting to support efforts to form a new government in Bangladesh on behalf of India," he told the court.
According to Faruqi, Enayet confessed during police interrogation that he was acting as a foreign agent, with Azad assisting him. "They have links with banned militant groups and conducted financial transactions through Azad. Their statements remain inconsistent and vague. For the sake of national security, further interrogation is required," the PP added.
On the other hand, defence lawyer argued that the allegations were baseless and politically motivated. He said Enayet had arrived in Bangladesh on 6 September and was scheduled to return on 14 September, but was picked up in Minto Road and shown arrested under Section 54.
"Later, a terrorism case was fabricated. Even the FIR failed to provide his passport number. He has already been interrogated in previous remand, yet police now seek more. He is an elderly, sick, religious man and incapable of terrorist activities," he told the court.
According to the case statement, Enayet allegedly entered Bangladesh as an agent of a foreign intelligence agency to destabilise the country, undermine public safety, and harm national sovereignty, with the aim of overthrowing the interim government.
