Three Students, Including Imi, Jailed in Anti-Terrorism Act Case for Broadcasting March 7 Speech

BD Digest Report

A court has sent three people, including Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Imi, former VP of DU’s Shamsunnahar Hall Parliament, to jail in a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act for playing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s historic March 7 speech in front of Shahbagh Police Station in the capital.

On Sunday (March 8), Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana’s court ordered them to be sent to prison.

The other two accused are Asif Ahmed Saikat and Abdul Al Mamun, two students of Dhaka University.

They were produced in court that day. Then, the investigating officer of the case and Shahbagh Police Station Sub-Inspector Md. Ashadul Islam applied to keep them in jail. In view of the application, they were detained in jail.

Earlier, on Sunday, the police filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station in connection with the incident on Saturday night.

The case report states that at around 3 pm on Saturday, some members of the banned organizations Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League gathered at the Shahidullah Hall crossing area under Shahbagh police station and played March 7 speeches on microphones. When the police arrived at the scene on information, they caught Md. Asif Ahmed Saikat, former employment secretary of Dhaka University’s Shahidullah Hall Chhatra League, red-handed, with the help of local people while he was trying to escape.

The case further states that later on the same day, at around 9:20 pm, 10-15 unidentified persons led by Abdul Al Mamun and Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Imi gathered in front of Gate No. 1 of the National Museum. Taraweeh prayers were being held at the Shahbagh Police Station Mosque at that time. The accused, facing the mosque, shouted provocative slogans on loudspeakers.

They also tried to activate the activities of a banned organization for the purpose of conspiring against the government. At that time, the accused obstructed the police and tried to snatch the accused Asif Ahmed Saikat from the police station custody.

Earlier, Shahbagh Police Inspector (Investigation) Md. Asaduzzaman said that a case is under process against the three arrested. Earlier, Asif Ahmed was arrested on Saturday afternoon. Emi and Al Mamun went to Shahbagh Police Station to deliver a speech demanding his release.

They were handed over to Shahbagh Police Station by DUCSU Social Services Secretary AB Jobayer and Cultural Affairs Secretary Mosaddek Ali. Emi had announced a program demanding the release of detained Asif.

After the announcement on Facebook, around 9 pm on Saturday, a few students including Emi started playing the March 7 speech by installing a microphone on a rickshaw in front of the gate of the National Museum opposite Shahbagh Police Station.

At that time, Emi accused them of attacking her while she was giving a speech on the microphone.

He said, “We were attacked and the battery of the microphone was stolen. The attack was carried out by those opposed to the Liberation War.” However, he added that they were not sure who carried out the attack.

After the incident, leaders and activists of the Dhaka University branch of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti stood in front of Shahbagh Police Station and chanted various slogans against the Chhatra League. At that time, the president of the organization’s Dhaka University branch, Tahmid Al Moddassir Chowdhury, said, “We support every movement. We are against terrorists. Our position is against the terrorists who stand behind March 7, who stand against the Liberation War or who try to save the Leaguers by standing behind the Liberation War.”

Shortly after, Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Social Services Secretary AB Zubair and Cultural Secretary Musaddiq Ali Ibn Mohammad appeared in front of Shahbagh Police Station. At that time, they stood in front of the rickshaw from which the microphone was being played and started shouting slogans.

DUCSU Social Services Secretary AB Zubair said, “The March 7th speech is not the main issue, the issue is that attempts are being made to rehabilitate the Awami League by using March 7th as a shield, using the name of the Liberation War as a shield.”

At one point, when the two sides faced each other, the students present again started chanting anti-Chhatra League slogans. Later, Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi, along with the rickshaw from which the microphone was played, was taken inside Shahbagh Police Station under the leadership of Dhaka University Central Student Union leaders AB Zubair and Musaddiq.

Inside Shahbagh police station, a person who was with Emi was beaten up by a person claiming to be a posted leader of Chhatra League. The victim of the beating is Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall Branch Chhatra League Assistant Secretary Abdullah Al Mamun.

Regarding the use of microphones in front of the police station, DC Masud, an officer of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said, “The use of microphones in front of Shahbagh police station was intentional.”