Shah Ali shrine attack: Court places 3 accused on 2-day remand
The case was filed over an attack during an Urs programme at Hazrat Shah Ali Baghdadi shrine in Dhaka's Mirpur area, where devotees were allegedly assaulted and property vandalised.
A Dhaka court has placed three accused on a two-day remand in a case filed over the attack on the shrine of Hazrat Shah Ali Baghdadi Shrine during an Urs programme in the capital's Mirpur area.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman passed the remand order today (17 May), following a police plea. Dhaka Metropolitan Prosecution Division Sub-Inspector Gautam Sarkar confirmed the matter.
The accused sent on remand are Md Azam, Sheikh Md Sajjadul Haque Rasel and Arman Dewan.
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The attack took place around 1am on 15 May at the Shah Ali shrine during the Urs programme. According to the case statement, a group armed with sticks suddenly entered the shrine premises and assaulted devotees.
The case was filed by an individual named Resmi Begum on 15 May. Police later arrested the three accused from the Uttar Bishil area under Shah Ali Police Station yesterday.
Investigation officer and Shah Ali Police Station Inspector Tarikur Rahman produced the accused before the court and sought a three-day remand for interrogation.
Defence lawyer Md Kamal Uddin appealed for cancellation of the remand and sought bail for the accused, while the prosecution opposed the plea. After hearing both sides, the court granted a two-day remand.
According to the case statement, the accused, along with 100 to 150 unidentified individuals alleged to be affiliated with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its associate bodies, entered the shrine carrying sticks and chanting "Allahu Akbar".
The case alleges that the group launched an unprovoked attack on devotees engaged in ziyarat and mannat activities, injuring several people.
The attackers also allegedly tore red cloth tied around a sacred tree inside the shrine compound and vandalised candle-lighting plates, actions the complainant described as a severe blow to religious sentiments.
The complainant further alleged that when she and others tried to resist the attackers, they were assaulted indiscriminately.
She also accused the attackers of sexually harassing her by pulling and tearing her clothes during the incident.
The case statement also claimed that one unidentified individual vandalised stoves and cooking pots used for preparing khichuri for shrine offerings, causing an estimated Tk30,000 in damages.
In addition, the accused allegedly looted around Tk6,000 from the complainant and approximately Tk90,000 from devotees present at the shrine.
