Dhaka:A Dhaka court has placed two retired Army officers on a four-day remand each in connection with a case involving allegations of anti-state conspiracy, violent incitement, illegal funding, and social media propaganda.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Didarul Alam after Inspector Sheikh Bashir Ahmed of the Detective Branch Cyber and Special Crime Division presented the officers in court with a seven-day remand request.
The officers remanded are Lieutenant (retd) Kazi Gulshan Ara, aged 43, and Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Debashish Kumar, aged 47. The court denied bail petitions submitted by the accused, as stated by Debashish's counsel Sanaul Islam Tipu.
The case was lodged on Monday at Pallabi Police Station under various sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Cyber Security Ordinance. The remand petition claims that the suspects operated from a residence in Pallabi, creating WhatsApp groups named "Bangladesh Awami League Supporters Alpha" and "BBM Transparency" for disseminating anti-government and provocative digital content.
Furthermore, they are accused of collaborating with former Army Chief General (retd) Aziz Ahmed, a former home minister, and other fugitive leaders through platforms like "Unity Care" and "Public Parliament" to conspire against the state and revive the Awami League.
The suspects also ran a Facebook page named 'KaalAajkaal.com' to foster instability, according to Bashir. He added that during a 2018 program, the suspects pledged allegiance to then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, establishing 'Bangabandhu Sena Parishad' and a 101-member committee.
Police reported evidence of communications with local and foreign intelligence agencies. The remand aims to identify associates, track digital evidence and illegal funding sources, locate other anti-state websites, and unearth the core mystery to prevent anti-state activities.
The arrests of the retired officers were made by DB police during operations in Pallabi and Banani on Sunday night.