Former Speaker arrested: Lawyers chant ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan in court

BD Digest Report
Former Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has been arrested in a case of attempted murder and vandalism of a young man named Ashraful Islam (Fahim) during an anti-discrimination student movement in the capital’s Lalbagh. DB police arrested him from a house in Dhanmondi late on Monday night (at 4:30 am). However, the arrest process, time and lack of a warrant have raised strong criticism and legal questions in the conscious circles.

DB police said he was arrested from a house on 8/A Road in Dhanmondi around 4:30 am on Tuesday. However, prominent figures have questioned why a high-ranking person like the former speaker was arrested late at night without any specific warrant. Samakal’s assistant editor Saifur Rahman Tapan, in an analysis, called it ‘arbitrary detention’.

It is worth noting that after the mass uprising on August 5, 2024, Dr. Shirin Sharmin was in safe custody at the cantonment, according to an earlier ISPR statement. There is confusion in the public mind about how she came from army custody to her private residence in Dhanmondi. The DB police claimed that she was hiding in various places.

He was produced before the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court under tight security on Tuesday afternoon. The investigating officer applied for a two-day remand for questioning in the interest of a fair investigation into the case.

Speaking for the state, Public Prosecutor (PP) Advocate Omar Faruk Faruki said in the hearing that Dr. Shirin Sharmin is one of the collaborators of the past fascism and is the third accused in this case. It is important to take her on remand to identify those who planned and ordered the murder during the movement.

On the other hand, Barrister Mamun, in his defense, argued for bail that Dr. Shirin Sharmin is a female lawyer with a clean image and that she resigned on her own accord. There are no specific charges against her in this case, filed 10 months after the incident.

After hearing both sides, the court rejected both the remand and bail applications and ordered him to be sent to jail.

‘Joy Bangla’ slogans in the court premises
After the court order, Dr. Shirin Sharmin was being taken away in a prison van, an unprecedented scene was seen there. The pro-Awami lawyers present in the court premises suddenly started chanting ‘Joy Bangla’ slogans. At that time, they were seen shouting ‘Shirin Sharmin is not afraid, I have not left the road’. In the current political situation, such slogans in the court premises create a huge sensation among the common people and lawyers present.

On July 18, 2024, during the quota reform movement, Md. Ashraful (Fahim) lost his eyesight permanently in a shooting inside the Azimpur Government Colony. A case was filed against 130 people, including Sheikh Hasina and Dr. Shirin Sharmin, in this incident on May 25, 2025. Investigating officers claim that the violence took place on his indirect orders as one of the key decision-makers of the then government.

Analysts say that it is important to uphold the rule of law in a democratic system. According to Samakal’s assistant editor Saifur Rahman Tapan, such an ‘arbitrary’ arrest could hinder the optimism that was promised to start a new chapter by ending the politics of revenge. Especially since the police have already submitted final reports in three of the six cases against him. Many are looking with suspicion at his arrest in this way in a new case.

Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury’s lawyers and supporters claim that uncovering the truth by letting the law take its course and avoiding harassing cases is now the state’s biggest challenge.