Ex-DGFI official Manjil Haider remanded again in anti-terrorism case

A Dhaka court has placed former Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) official Manjil Haider Chowdhury on a four-day fresh remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act, following an earlier case over the killing of a businessman.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mehedi Hasan passed the order today (26 April) after a hearing, confirmed state prosecutor Shamsuddoha Sumon.

Earlier, investigation officer Sub-Inspector Md Amzad Hossain Talukdar of Ramna Detective Branch produced the accused before the court and sought a seven-day remand.

According to the remand application, Manjil, allegedly close to fugitive military adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Siddique of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, used his position as a military officer, based on their discussions and advice, to play a role in suppressing the anti-discrimination student movement.

It said that after the fall of the government, he, following their instructions, conspired in different parts of Dhaka with banned Bangladesh Chhatra League and the suspended activities of the Awami League and its affiliated bodies to activate their operations, destabilise the government and spread propaganda against the interim administration. He was also reported to have provided financial support and guidance.

The application further said he maintained contact with absconding accused. It added that his remand was necessary to identify locations of alleged meetings in Dhaka, determine the identities of unnamed accused and arrest those on the run.

Defence lawyer Kamal Hossain sought to cancel the remand and prayed for bail, while state prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha Sumon opposed the plea. After hearing both sides, the court granted a four-day remand.

According to the case, members of banned Bangladesh Chhatra League and the suspended Awami League and its affiliated bodies brought out a procession in front of Rupayan Tower under Ramna Police Station around 2:45pm on 12 September last year.

They chanted anti-government slogans and tried to carry out activities of the banned organisations, and spread propaganda against the state. Sensing police presence, the accused tried to flee, and several were detained at the scene.

Police filed the case the same day with Ramna Model Police Station under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Manjil was arrested on 9 April from Mohakhali DOHS in the capital. He had earlier been remanded multiple times and was in jail before this order.