The High Court has summoned the investigation officer (IO) of a case in which 219 expatriates were arrested after their return to Bangladesh on charges of involvement in attempts to tarnish the image of the government.
He has been summoned to provide explanation about the case proceedings.
The High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mustafizur Rahman issued the order on Thursday after hearing a petition filed by Md Shahin Alam, one of the 219 returnees.
The IO has to appear before the court on October 29 to provide his explanation.
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua accompanied by Fuad Hasan stood for the petition, while Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappy represented the state.
According to the plaintiff’s counsel, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive, investigation under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has to be completed within 15 days. Fifteen days have passed but the investigation is yet to be completed.
Moreover, Shahin was kept in prison for more than 15 days.
On July 6, a Dhaka court sent 219 expatriate Bangladeshis, who recently returned from Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, to prison for their alleged involvement in attempts to tarnish the image of the Bangladesh government.
Following their arrivals, the expats were sent to a 14-day quarantine at the army-operated facility in Diabari.
Police said the expats, in separate groups, were plotting to tarnish the image of the country while in quarantine.
After receiving reports, the police pleaded before the court to arrest them under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows law enforcers to make arrests without a warrant.
These expatriates were serving jail terms in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain on various charges, according to the court’s General Recording Officer Shafiqul Islam.
