DU Chhatra League leader, driver placed on remand over demonstrating for reviving AL
Farhan Tanvir Nasif, 24, is a student of the 2019-20 session of the Linguistics Department at the University of Dhaka.
A Dhaka court today (11 May) placed Farhan Tanvir Nasif, Chhatra League's organisational secretary of AF Rahman Hall and microbus driver Md Rubel Mia, on a one-day remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act with Shahbagh Police Station over bringing out a procession demanding withdrawal of ban on activities of Awami League.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Ehsanul Islam passed the order following a police plea, confirmed State prosecutor Shamsuddoha Sumon.
Earlier, investigation officer and Shahbagh Police Station Sub-Inspector Manmath Haldar produced the two accused before the court and sought a seven-day remand for each.
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According to the remand petition, the police said the accused engaged in provocative activities to revive the banned organisation and spread public confusion, adding that remand was necessary to reveal their motive and prevent them from absconding.
Defence lawyer Tarikul Islam opposed the remand plea and sought bail for the accused, while the prosecution argued for the maximum remand. After hearing both sides, the court granted one day of remand for each accused.
Farhan Tanvir Nasif, 24, is a student of the 2019-20 session of the Linguistics Department at the University of Dhaka and a resident of room 209 at AF Rahman Hall.
According to the case statement, a group of 20–25 activists brought out a brief procession between 6:10am and 6:15am from the metro rail station area to the Raju Sculpture on the university campus under the Shahbagh Police Station jurisdiction.
They chanted slogans demanding the withdrawal of the ban on the Awami League and its affiliated bodies and called for the repeal of what they termed "black laws".
Acting on information, police launched a drive and arrested Nasif and Rubel along with a microbus used during the procession. Others managed to flee the scene upon sensing police presence.
Shahbagh Police Station Sub-Inspector Mainul Islam filed the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the incident.
Earlier in the morning, the university's proctorial team detained the two and handed them over to Shahbagh police.
Dhaka University Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed said, "Around 6am, a few members of the Chhatra League brought out a procession. Our mobile team immediately detained two people and handed them over to Shahbagh police. A microbus was also seized from the spot."
According to a video circulating online, the procession was obstructed near the Raju Sculpture as it approached from the Shahbagh-TSC road. At that point, several activists quickly boarded a black microbus and left the area.
The proctorial team then detained the driver of another microbus present in the TSC area and the Chhatra League leader before handing them over to the police.
