Bail denied for Emi, 2 others arrested over playing March 7 speech

A Dhaka court has rejected the bail pleas of Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi, former general secretary of 'Slogan 71', and two others arrested during a programme playing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's historic March 7 speech in front of Shahbagh Police Station.

Metropolitan Magistrate Didarul Alam heard the petitions and rejected the bail applications on Monday.

The other two accused are Md Asif Ahmed Shoikat, former employment secretary of Dhaka University's Shahidullah Hall Chhatra League, and Abdullah Al Mamun, former assistant secretary of Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall Chhatra League.

Advocate Monir Hossain appeared for Emi, Tariqul Islam for Shoikat, and Golam Rabbani for Mamun during the bail hearing. After the hearing, the court rejected the bail pleas.

On Saturday afternoon, Emi and several students organised a programme riding rickshaws playing Bangabandhu's speech through loudspeakers to protest against the detention of two individuals earlier that day for playing the same speech at Chankharpul crossing. The programme began around 9:30 pm. At around 10:00 pm, a group arrived and broke their microphone and battery. A scuffle ensued when they tried to resist.

Following this, leaders and activists of DUCSU and Chhatra Shakti dragged Emi and Mamun inside Shahbagh Police Station, where police took them into custody.

According to the case statement filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station on Sunday, the accused allegedly chanted provocative slogans through loudspeakers facing a mosque and attempted to revive activities of the banned organisation Chhatra League as part of an "anti-government conspiracy" . They are also accused of obstructing police duties and attempting to snatch away Asif Ahmed, who was in police custody.

Following the rejection of bail, Emi, Asif and Mamun remain in police custody.

In a separate incident late on Sunday night, a Dhaka University student named Rahid Khan Pavel was allegedly picked up from his sehri table and assaulted for posting about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Facebook marking March 7.

According to video footage circulating on social media, Pavel, a Philosophy Department student from the 2020-21 session, was sitting at the canteen of BUET's Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall for sehri when he was dragged out and beaten. He was later left in front of Shahbagh Police Station in a critical condition by leaders of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti .

Sub-Inspector Kamal of Shahbagh Police Station told the media that Pavel was sent to hospital for primary treatment and would be brought back to the station afterwards .