In a significant judicial development in the capital, a Dhaka court has ordered the imprisonment of three individuals, including a prominent former student leader, following a series of confrontations involving the broadcasting of the historic 7th March speech. The trio now faces charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act after a sequence of events that began near Chankharpul and culminated in a standoff outside the Shahbagh Police Station.
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The Spark of Conflict
The situation unfolded on Saturday afternoon when Asif Ahmed Saikat, a leader of the Chhatra League at Shahidullah Hall, was detained by police while playing the 7th March speech through a sound system in the Chankharpul area. This initial detention sparked a reactionary protest later that evening as supporters gathered to contest the police action.
At approximately 9:30 PM, Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi, a former Vice President of the Shamsunnahar Hall Union, along with Abdullah Al Mamun, led a demonstration in front of the Shahbagh Police Station. The protesters utilised a rickshaw-mounted loudspeaker to continue broadcasting the speech, which led to an immediate confrontation with another group of students. Figures from the National Student Power and former DUCSU representatives reportedly intervened to halt the broadcast, resulting in a scuffle where the protesters were taken into the police station.
Court Proceedings and Charges
On Sunday, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana presided over the hearing. Sub-Inspector Md. Ashadul Islam, the investigating officer from Shahbagh Police Station, formally requested that the suspects be kept in judicial custody.
The police First Information Report (FIR) alleges that the group’s actions were intentionally provocative. According to the report:
The group gathered near the National Museum Gate No. 1 during evening Tarawih prayers.
They allegedly directed “incendiary slogans” toward the mosque using loudspeakers.
Authorities claim the suspects attempted to interfere with police duties and tried to forcibly retrieve Saikat from custody.
Profiles of the Individuals Involved
| Name | Role / Position | Campus Residence |
| Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi | Former VP, Shamsunnahar Hall Union | Dhaka University |
| Asif Ahmed Saikat | Employment Secretary, Chhatra League | Shahidullah Hall |
| Abdullah Al Mamun | Assistant Secretary, Chhatra League | Sgt. Zahurul Huq Hall |
The Legal Implications
The application of the Anti-Terrorism Act suggests that the authorities view the attempt to mobilise through these broadcasts as a threat to public order and a conspiracy against the state. While the defence may argue that playing a historic speech is a matter of cultural and political expression, the prosecution maintains that the timing and manner of the protest were designed to incite unrest and revive the activities of their political wing. The three accused will remain in central incarceration pending further investigation.