South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders, condemns the arbitrary arrest and detention of Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi, former Vice President of Dhaka University Shamsunnahar Hall and a Vice Presidential candidate of the previous Dhaka University Central Student Union (DUCSU) election, Asif Ahmed Saikat, former leader of the banned Dhaka University Chhatra League’s Shahidullah Hall unit and Abdullah Al Mamun, former leader of Dhaka University Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall unit of the Chhatra League, under the Anti-Terrorism Act on 8 March 2026.
On 7 March 2026, police detained Asif Ahmed Saikat at the Chankharpul intersection of Dhaka city, where he had been using a sound box to broadcast the speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 7 March 1971 – the call for starting the struggle for independence. In protest of this arrest, Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi and Abdullah Al Mamun broadcasted the speech from 1971 in front of Shahbagh Police Station on a sound box fixed to a rickshaw. Consequently, leaders from the Jatiyo Chhatra Shakti and some DUCSU leaders intervened, physically assaulting Emi and Abdullah Al Mamun, and forcefully taking them inside the Shahbagh Police Station.
On 8 March 2026, the Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka issued an order to jail Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi, Asif Ahmed Saikat, and Abdullah Al Mamun. The investigation into the allegations of anti-state activities and links to banned entities continued under the supervision of the Shahbagh Police Station.
It is alarming that they were assaulted by a mob and forcibly taken to the Shahbagh Police Station while law enforcement authorities instead of taking action against the mob violence, filed a case against Emi, Saikat and Mamun under the Anti- Terrorism Act – a draconian law which does not allow for bail. SAHR calls upon the relevant authorities of the Government of Bangladesh to immediately release Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi, Asif Ahmad Saikat and Abdullah Al Mamun and conduct an impartial investigation of the incident and bring the perpetrators who caused the mob violence before the law. We also call upon the government to refrain from misusing the Anti- Terror Act and ensure that due process is followed when arresting individuals.
On behalf of the members of the South Asians for Human Rights
Dr. Roshmi Goswami
Co-Chairperson
Dr. P. Saravanamuttu
Bureau Member
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