Ivy's lawyer Kajol among 3 arrested after 'Joy Bangla' slogan at N'ganj court
Narayanganj Cultural Alliance condemns arrests, says representing Ivy in a professional capacity cannot be considered a crime.
Police have arrested three people, including Ziaul Islam Kajol, a lawyer for former Narayanganj City Corporation mayor Salina Hayat Ivy, after the "Joy Bangla" slogan was chanted at the Narayanganj District and Sessions Judge Court premises following a hearing on Ivy's bail today (14 October).
They were shown arrested in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act and produced before the court today. Senior Judicial Magistrate Saiful Islam ordered them to be sent to jail.
The other arrestees are Kajol's brother Atikul Islam, and another lawyer Mahabub Rahman.
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Additional Superintendent of Police Tarek Al Mehedi said police had sought a five-day remand for each of the accused in connection with the case. A hearing on the remand petitions is scheduled for tomorrow, Court Police Inspector Abdus Samad confirmed.
According to police, Kajal and his brother Atikul were arrested from their residence on Allama Iqbal Road in Narayanganj city late last night. Mahabub Rahman was arrested the same night from Garment Goli in the Pakka Road area of Deobhog.
The arrests followed a court hearing yesterday over Ivy's bail in the Tuhin murder case filed with Siddhirganj Police Station. After the hearing, the court granted her bail.
As Ivy was getting into her car after the court proceedings, her supporters chanted "Joy Bangla". Ivy joined them, saying, "Joy Bangla cannot be suppressed."
The incident triggered strong reactions among pro-BNP lawyers.
Speaking on his way to jail after his arrest, Kajol denied chanting the slogan and said his arrest over his professional role as a lawyer was unprecedented.
"We did not chant any slogans. The video footage will prove that," he said.
Kajol is a former president of the Narayanganj Cultural Alliance. He is also a lawyer representing the complainant in the widely discussed murder case of schoolboy Tanvir Muhammad Taqi.
Meanwhile, the Narayanganj Cultural Alliance condemned the arrests and expressed anger over the incident.
In a statement, the organisation's president Moni Supanto and secretary Dina Tajrin said Kajal and his brother had actively participated in protest programmes in Narayanganj during the July uprising.
"Being Ivy's lawyer for professional reasons cannot be considered a crime," the statement said.
