Chittagong: A case has been filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATC) at Anwara Police Station, accusing former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed and former State Minister for Finance Wasika Ayesha Khan of chanting ‘Joy Bangla’ in Anwara upazila of the district today. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Monir Hossain of Anwara Police Station confirmed that Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Abul Bashar filed the case against a group of individuals.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the notable accused in the case include Anisuzzaman Chowdhury Roni, brother of the former land minister, and several others such as Ridwanul Karim Chowdhury Sayem, MA Qayyum Shah, and Rezaul Karim Anis. The case names a total of 68 individuals, with an additional 60 to 70 unidentified accused.
The case statement reveals that on Thursday around 8:45 pm, leaders and activists of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, along with members of the Awami League and its affiliated bodies, were seen chanting anti-government slogans. They were reportedly carrying weapons like sticks, bricks, rods, axes, and kirichs at Chaumuhani Bazar in Juidandi Union. The participants dispersed when police arrived at the scene around 9:05 pm.
Police arrested three individuals named Abdul Quader, Abdul Khalek, and Md. Arif. They also seized 20 wooden sticks, 10 broken brick shafts, two locally-made iron axes, and eight pieces of iron. Confirming the incident, the OC of Anwara Police Station stated, “The case was registered this morning, and the operation to apprehend the suspects is underway.”