Setu Bhaban case: Ex-BRACU teacher Asif, JU student Arif remanded for 6 days

A Dhaka court has put former BRAC University teacher Asif Mahtab Utsha and Jahangir Nagar University coordinator of the quota reform movement Arif Sohel on a 6-day remand in a case filed in connection with the recent attack on Setu Bhaban at Banani in the capital.

Investigative officer of the case Abu Sayeed Mian, an inspector of the detective branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, produced them before the court on Monday (July 29) seeking a 10-day remand for proper investigation of the case.

The former university teacher and the JU student were reportedly picked up by law enforcers on Sunday by law enforcing personnel from their houses.

Lawyers of Asif and Arif applied for cancellation of the remand plea and bail.

After hearing both sides, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mainul Islam rejected the bail plea and granted a six-day remand for the two accused.

According to the statement of the case, on July 18, the officers and employees of Setu Bhaban were continuing their office activities as usual. At one moment, 250-300 unidentified persons participating in the ongoing quota reform movement came in front of their office carrying indigenous weapons, batons, brickbats and chanted anti-government slogans with the aim of disrupting the law-and-order situation.

The case statement said they mentioned the rank and title of the officials including the senior secretary of Setu Bhaban and started throwing bricks at the building. At one point, the accused broke the main gate of the office and entered the office premises. They ransacked the jeeps, cars, buses, minibuses, microbuses, pickups, motorcycles, security building, CC cameras, parking shed, canteen, driver's room, Ansar shed, Mujib corner, and generator room in front of the Setu Bhaban.

After vandalizing everything, the case statement said, they set the building on fire, incurring losses worth Tk 300 crore.