Court rules arresting Barrister Ahsan Habib under anti-terrorism act unlawful, orders investigation
According to the Gulshan Police Station case, on 12 September, activists of Awami League’s banned student wing Chhatra League, carrying banners, chanted provocative slogans near Fazle Rabbi Park in Gulshan, and attempted to vandalise vehicles, and caused public alarm
The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka has declared the arrest of Barrister Ahsan Habib Bhuiyan, identified by police as the assistant secretary of the Awami League Central Subcommittee, as contrary to existing laws.
Ahsan was arrested from a house in Gulshan on 4 October and sent to jail the next day in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
After four days in custody, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman issued an order on Wednesday, stating that both the arrest and the case against Ahsan were "inconsistent with the Constitution."
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The arrested Ahsan Habib Bhuiyan is the assistant secretary of the Awami League Central Subcommittee. He is the son of Awami League leader MA Sattar Bhuiyan. He was arrested on charge of aiding fleeing Awami League leaders and being involved in anti-government activities
The order said, "A review of the case documents shows that the accused, Barrister Ahsan Habib Bhuiyan, played an active role in support of students during the student-public movement in July 2024. It would not have been possible [for him to take] such a role if he were involved with the alleged political party [Awami League]."
During the hearing, the defendant's lawyer alleged that Ahsan was wrongfully detained at the instigation of Brigadier (retd) Atiqur Rahman, Ahsan's former father-in-law.
The court noted that the allegation of wrongful detention was serious and required investigation.
It also observed that when a Supreme Court lawyer tried to meet Ahsan at Gulshan Police Station after his detention, the police did not allow the meeting, which violated his constitutional rights.
The court directed the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner to assign an officer of deputy commissioner rank to investigate whether police had acted under outside influence. It also instructed necessary actions based on the findings.
Ahsan was later granted interim bail on a Tk5,000 bond until submission of the police report.
Following his bail, police applied to show him arrested in another case filed at Banani Police Station under the same Act.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ziadur Rahman set Monday for the hearing with the accused present.
State Counsel Muhammad Shamsuddoha Sumon said Ahsan will not be released from jail due to the application to show him arrested in another case.
According to the Gulshan Police Station case, on 12 September, activists of Awami League's banned student wing Chhatra League, carrying banners, chanted provocative slogans near Fazle Rabbi Park in Gulshan, and attempted to vandalise vehicles, and caused public alarm.
Police detained five individuals from the scene and seized their mobile phones, later claiming that the accused had used messaging apps to coordinate activities aimed at destabilising the state. The case was filed the next day under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
A separate case was filed on 20 September with Banani Police Station, where a group identified as activists of the Awami League and its associated organisations allegedly attempted to carry out sabotage while chanting anti-government slogans.
Police suspect Ahsan Habib to be involved in these cases.
TBS was unable to reach Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Sazzat Ali for comments on the court's ruling on Ahsan's detention.
However, Gulshan Police Station OC Hafizur Rahman told TBS, "The arrested Ahsan Habib Bhuiyan is the assistant secretary of the Awami League Central Subcommittee. He is the son of Awami League leader MA Sattar Bhuiyan. He was arrested on charge of aiding fleeing Awami League leaders and being involved in anti-government activities."
