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A Dhaka court has granted five days’ remand to former Cantonment Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Mohammad Rakibul Hasan in a sedition case.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Didarul Alam passed the order on Thursday night after a hearing. Police had sought seven days’ remand for the former police officer.
Rakibul Hasan was produced before the court at around 8:46pm. His defence lawyer, Morshed Hossain Shahin, opposed the remand and sought its cancellation.
According to the case and police statements, Rakibul was arrested over alleged anti-state and provocative remarks circulated on social media.
The case followed the circulation of an audio recording on social media on Sept 16, when Rakibul was serving as OC of Cantonment Police Station. In the recording, a man purportedly discussed the capability and deployment of police personnel and the possibility of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina returning to Bangladesh.
The audio also allegedly contained remarks about political alignments among senior police officials and claims concerning alleged bribery in police postings. The contents of the recording and the allegations are part of the investigation.
Following the circulation of the audio, Rakibul was removed from his post as Cantonment Police Station OC. Police sources had earlier said an examination of the recording indicated that the voice was his, although his public response to the contents has not been clearly established.
The court granted five days’ remand after hearing the prosecution’s request for seven days.