Ex-Press Club President Shaukat Mahmood placed on 5-day remand

Former president of the National Press Club and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Shaukat Mahmood has been placed on a five-day remand in a case filed over allegations of conspiring with foreign intelligence agencies to overthrow the government.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Fahmina Khandaker Anna issued the remand order on Thursday (December 11), after a hearing.

SI Jinnat Ali of the DB’s prosecution wing, confirmed this saying, "The case was filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act."

Earlier, on December 7, Shaukat Mahmud was arrested by the Detective Branch from the capital's Malibagh. The following day, the investigating officer DB Ramna Division Inspector Akhtar Morshed brought Shaukat Mahmood before the court and sought a 10-day remand.

However, due to the unavailability of the case docket, the court sent him to jail and fixed today for the remand hearing.

Defence lawyer Advocate Md Shafiuzzaman Bhuiyan filed a petition seeking cancellation of the remand and bail for the Shaukat Mahmood. State counsel Kaiyum Hossain Nayon opposed the plea. Upon hearing both sides, the court approved a five-day remand.

According to case details, on September 13, police arrested Enayet Karim, 55, a US citizen of Bangladeshi origin, after finding him moving suspiciously in a Prado vehicle near Minto Road. Failing to provide satisfactory explanations, he was detained under Section 54 and later charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Ramna Police Station. Investigation into that case reportedly led to the arrest of Shaukat Mahmood.

Shaukat Mahmood had long been associated with BNP politics and served as a vice-chairman of the party. He is currently the secretary general of Janata Party Bangladesh.