Video of accused chanting ‘Joy Bangla’ in lockup goes viral, two police withdrawn

Two police members have been withdrawn over the incident of the video of chanting ‘Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu’ while sitting in the lockup of Fatulla Model Police Station of Narayanganj spreading on social media.

The video of that slogan of the 10 teenagers-youths arrested on the allegation of preparation of procession on behalf of the organisationally banned Awami League recently spread on social media. Police sources have informed that the video has been published on a Facebook page named ‘Ajmeri Osman’.

The biggest question has arisen over the matter that how the persons in police custody got the mobile phone inside the lockup. In this incident Sub-Inspector (SI) of Fatulla Model Police Station Monirul Islam and Constable Jahangir Hossain have been withdrawn.

In the spread video it is seen that a youth inside the lockup gives some speech and then chants ‘Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu’. After that the other youths present there also keep chanting the same slogan.

It has been learnt from police sources that preparation of a procession under the banner of Awami League was being taken in the Signboard area of Dhaka-Narayanganj highway on Saturday (August 29) night. At this time police arrested 10 persons from the main Dhaka-bound road opposite Grand Chandni Restaurant.

The age of the arrested persons is between 15 and 20 years. One of them is a resident of Paikpara area of the city and the rest are residents of Bisic area of Fatulla.

Police informed that after the arrest a case was filed against them on the allegation of association with the banned organisation. Later they were sent to court on Sunday morning.

Among the arrested persons there are Ferdous, 18, Abrar Ahmed, 18, Yasin, 18, Rabbi, 20, Shimul, 20, and Nayan, 18. The remaining four are minors. The houses of all of them are in Paikpara of Narayanganj city and Panchabati Bisic area of Fatulla.

Officer-in-charge (OC) of Fatulla Model Police Station Mahbub Alam said those 10 persons were arrested on Saturday night at the time of preparation of the procession on behalf of the banned organisation. Later they were kept in the lockup of the police station.

He informed that according to the rules the matter of the arrest was to be informed to the family members by calling. SI Monirul Islam had allowed them to use the mobile phone for contacting the family. However taking that opportunity they recorded a video by chanting slogans on behalf of the banned organisation and later that spread on social media.

The OC said the matter of giving permission to use the mobile phone was done in good faith.

Meanwhile when the arrested persons were produced in court on Monday the order of sending them to jail was given. Inspector of Narayanganj Court Police Abdus Samad has informed that an application for seven days’ remand has been made for their interrogation.