Gazipur court rejects bail for Sifat in anti-terrorism case

A Gazipur court today rejected the bail petition of Sifat Abdullah, who was arrested after alleged derogatory remarks against the prime minister, in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Acton June 4.

Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Court-5 Judge Rakibul Islam passed the order at around noon after hearing the bail petition, with Advocates Ali Naser Khan, Rashedul Islam Robi and Asadullah Badal appearing for Sifat.

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Advocate Rashedul Islam confirmed that they had sought bail for Sifat, but the court rejected the petition.

He claimed that the remarks about the electricity and energy crisis, including the alleged abusive language that brought Sifat into discussion, were not mentioned in the first information report (FIR).

“The state lawyers also did not raise the issue during the hearing,” Rashedul said.

He further claimed that Sifat had been shown arrested in a case filed on June 4 despite having no connection with it, and alleged that he was being subjected to political harassment.

Ali Naser, central joint chief organiser of National Citizen Party (NCP), also confirmed the development to The Daily Star around 1:00pm. He added that Sifat is an active member of the party.

Ali Naser said Sifat had participated in the “anti-fascist movement” and was also a member of Inqilab Mancha.

“He is being politically harassed by being labelled in different ways. This is part of a new form of fascism,” he alleged.

According to police sources, Sifat was detained from his residence in Gazipur by police from Gacha Police Station around 8:30pm on September 3, and taken to the police station around 9:00pm.

He was later shown arrested in the old case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act and sent to jail through the court around noon on September 4.

Sifat is a student of Adamjee Cantonment College in Dhaka.