Banned Chhatra League holds flash procession at DU; two sent to jail
The accused are Farhan Tanvir Nasif, Chhatra League’s organisational secretary of AF Rahman Hall and microbus driver Md Rubel Mia.
A Dhaka court today (2 May) sent two individuals to jail in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over a flash procession by the banned Chhatra League on the University of Dhaka campus.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mehedi Hasan issued the order after police produced the accused before the court and sought their detention.
The accused are Farhan Tanvir Nasif, Chhatra League's organisational secretary of AF Rahman Hall and microbus driver Md Rubel Mia.
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Confirming the matter, defence lawyer Md Tarikul Islam said police sought to keep the accused in custody, arguing that the names and addresses they provided were suspicious and that they could flee if released on bail, hampering the investigation.
"The court accepted the plea and ordered them to be sent to jail. Police are also preparing to seek remand," he added.
According to the case statement, a group of 20–25 activists brought out a brief procession between 6:10am and 6:15am from the metro rail station area to the Raju Sculpture on the university campus under the Shahbagh Police Station jurisdiction.
They chanted slogans demanding the withdrawal of the ban on the Awami League and its affiliated bodies and called for the repeal of what they termed "black laws".
Acting on information, police launched a drive and arrested Nasif and Rubel along with a microbus used during the procession. Others managed to flee the scene upon sensing police presence.
Shahbagh Police Station Sub-Inspector Mainul Islam filed the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the incident.
Earlier in the morning, the university's proctorial team detained the two and handed them over to Shahbagh police.
Dhaka University Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed said, "Around 6am, a few members of the Chhatra League brought out a procession. Our mobile team immediately detained two people and handed them over to Shahbagh police. A microbus was also seized from the spot."
According to a video circulating online, the procession was obstructed near the Raju Sculpture as it approached from the Shahbagh-TSC road. At that point, several activists quickly boarded a black microbus and left the area.
The proctorial team then detained the driver of another microbus present in the TSC area and the Chhatra League leader before handing them over to the police.
