A Dhaka court has sent eight officials of the Palli Badiyut Samity (PBS) after expiry of their remand in a sedition case.
Police presented them before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka after their remand.
The investigation officer requested that they be kept in jail until the investigation is complete, while their lawyer applied for bail.
The prosecution opposed the bail request.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Metropolitan Magistrate Ragib Noor rejected the bail applications and ordered them to be sent to jail.
The officials who have been sent to jail include Rajan Kumar Das, Assistant General Manager of the Munshiganj PBS; Asaduzzaman Bhuiyan, Deputy General Manager from Brahmanbaria's Nabinnagar; Shree Deepak Kumar Singh, Deputy General Manager from Comilla; Rahat, Deputy General Manager from Magura's Sripur zonal office; Monir Hossain, Assistant General Manager from Netrokona; Belal Hossain from Sirajganj PBS-2; Ali Hasan Mohammad Ariful Islam, Deputy General Manager from Lakshmipur; and SK Shakil Ahmed, Assistant General Manager (IT) from Brahmanbaria PBS.
The first six were granted a three-day remand on October 18, while the last two were given a two-day remand on October 19.
Prior to this, a case was filed at Khilkhet Police Station on October 17 by Arshad Hossain, Director of Administration (Legal Branch) at the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB).
The case includes charges of sedition and violations of cyber security laws against the officials.
The complaint alleges that starting from January 28, certain misguided officials and employees from various PBS branches conspired under the guise of a central committee, with the backing of former government ministers, MPs, and influential figures, to destabilize the power sector.
Their activities are claimed to tarnish the image of the BREB, disrespect its officials, and create public hatred and contempt against the interim government, constituting an act of treason.
