45 sent to jail in case over vandalism at BTRC building

A Dhaka court has sent 45 people to jail in connection with a case filed over vandalism at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, BTRC, building in Agargaon during protests against the introduction of the National Equipment Identity Register, NEIR.

On Friday, January 2, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Israt Jahan passed the order after rejecting their bail petitions.

Those sent to jail include Delwar Hossain, Syed Ahmed Shuvo, Shahjahan, Apurbo Islam, Shariful Islam Niloy, Zahid Hasan Hridoy, Shahed Bhuiyan, Bulbul Ahmed, Dipok Hajra, Manna Hossain, Yasin Arafat Ornab, Ashraf Uddin, Shah Jalal, Shahin, Naim, Saidur Rahman, Imtiaz Ahmed Hridoy, Ramzan, Sabbir Hossain, Shahin, Tarikul Islam Rifat, Moin Hossain Rajan, Anik Hossain, Tarikul Islam, Rifat Hossain, Hanif Mia, Shahadat Hossain Rabbi, Sohanul Haque, Tarek Aziz, Sazzad Islam, Shipon, Ejaz Hossain Siam, Unayes Imran, Monib Akhtar, Hariz, Sabbir Hossain Bijoy, SM Matiur Rahman, Rajan Sheikh, Abu Sadiq Rakib, Mamun Bepari, Mojibur Rahman, Salauddin Bepari, Aminul Islam Naim, Rakibul Hasan Rakib and Abdullah Sabuj.

Earlier in the day, the accused were produced before the court. The investigating officer, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police sub-inspector Shamsuzzoha Sarkar, sought their detention in jail. Lawyers, including Sagar Tarfder, appealed for bail on behalf of the accused, but the court rejected the plea.

On Thursday, mobile phone traders staged protests in front of the BTRC building in Agargaon opposing the launch of the NEIR system. During the protest, agitated traders allegedly attacked and vandalised the BTRC premises.

Following the incident, Assistant Director of the BTRC Legal and Licensing Division, Muhammad Ashrafuzzaman Jahed, filed a case under the Special Powers Act with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station.