Ex-Cantonment OC Rakibul remanded for 5 days in sedition case

A Dhaka court today (24 September) granted a five-day remand for former officer-in-charge (OC) of Cantonment Police Station Rakibul Hasan in a sedition case, allegedly for spreading anti-state and provocative statements on social media.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Didarul Alam passed the order after a hearing, said defence lawyer Morshed Hossain Shaheen.

Earlier in the day, he was produced before it with a prayer for seven-day remand, said ABM Abdullah Khaled Sakib, the investigating officer of the case and inspector (Investigation) of the police station. 

Rakibul came under scrutiny after an audio clip purportedly featuring him circulated on social media.

In the recording, the speaker allegedly made various comments about the government, administration, army and police, including allegations of political affiliations among senior police officials and financial transactions in the posting of OCs.

The recording also included remarks about ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's possible return to Bangladesh, including the claim that "nothing will happen" if she returns in December and that police will not be able to stop her.

As the audio went viral on 17 September, Dhaka Metropolitan Police removed Rakibul from his post and attached him to the central reserve office under the DMP headquarters and administration division.

Several police sources had initially identified the voice in the audio as Rakibul's. He, however, claimed in a Facebook post that the recording had been generated using artificial intelligence (AI).

Rakibul was taken to the DMP Detective Branch office for questioning on the night of 17 September. The DMP also formed a three-member committee to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, the DMP appointed Inspector Mohammad Gias Uddin as the new OC of the police station on 24 September.