Anis Alamgir placed on 5-day remand
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order
Highlights:
- Anis was produced in court around 5pm
- He was picked up by DB from Dhanmondi yesterday and later shown arrested
- Three others, including Meher Afroz Shaon, are also accused
- Allegations involve provocative comments on TV and social media
- Case filed by Ariyan Ahmed at Uttara West Police Station
- Remand sought to identify and arrest other alleged suspects
A Dhaka court today (15 December) granted a five-day remand for journalist Anis Alamgir, who was arrested in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Uttara West Police Station.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order after a hearing in the case this evening.
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Anis was earlier produced in court, and the police had sought a seven-day remand.
The request was submitted by Investigation Officer Inspector Md Moniruzzaman of Uttara West Police Station.
Anis' lawyers requested the cancellation of the remand, while Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Farooqui opposed the plea on behalf of the state.
After hearing both sides, the court approved a five-day remand.
Anis Alamgir arrested in anti-terrorism case, 3 others including Shaon accused
Anis Alamgir was taken into custody by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) from Dhanmondi yesterday (14 December) and later taken to the DB office for interrogation.
He was arrested in an anti-terrorism case filed today (15 December) at Uttara West Police Station by Ariyan Ahmed, who claims to be a central organiser of the July Revolutionary Alliance.
Three others — actor Meher Afroz Shaon, model Maria Kispotta and media personality Imtu Ratish Imtiaz — have also been accused in the case.
What the remand application states
According to the remand application, Anis Alamgir allegedly made comments during a Somoy TV talk show about a month ago, stating that "the unpublished leaders of the Awami League have caused the government to shiver".
It also states that Meher Afroz Shaon posted a comment on her verified Facebook page on 26 November, describing the recovery of items from Sheikh Hasina's locker as "absolutely a magic trick".
Another accused, Imtu Ratish Imtiaz, allegedly made a similar remark on his verified Facebook account, referring to the recovery of gold as "this is science".
The case statement alleges that the accused, acting in collusion with others, made provocative posts and statements on their verified Facebook pages and YouTube channels at different times, which allegedly endangered public safety and involved incitement and conspiracy related to serious offences.
It further states that the complainant filed the first information report after consulting acquaintances and collecting links to the accused's online comments.
Police said that due to time constraints Anis Alamgir could not be interrogated after he was arrested by the DB.
The remand application says custodial interrogation is necessary to identify and arrest other absconding suspects allegedly linked to the case.
The case statement
According to the case statement, following the anti-discrimination student movement in July 2024, supporters of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina allegedly went into hiding and engaged in activities aimed at destabilising the country and damaging state infrastructure.
The allegations further state that since 5 August 2024, the accused have participated in television talk shows and social media activities with the alleged aim of reviving a banned organisation, and that such activities encouraged members of the banned Chhatra League and Jubo League to engage in conspiracies and violent acts.
After filing the case, Ariyan Ahmed wrote in a Facebook post that he had lodged the complaint through legal channels against the four accused, citing what he described as their continued remarks and commentary related to the Awami League and the July Uprising.
