College student sent to jail under old anti-terrorism case after arrest over alleged abusive Facebook video

Adamjee Cantonment College student Sifat Abdullah has been sent to jail after being shown arrested in an old case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act, following his detention over a Facebook video in which he allegedly used abusive and offensive language against the prime minister and government officials while complaining about a nearly Tk 9,000 electricity bill over two months.

Police detained Sifat from his home in the Gacha area of Gazipur Metropolitan City on Thursday (September 3) evening. After completing the legal process, Gacha police sent him to court on Friday (September 4), where he was subsequently sent to jail. However, police statements about the reason for his detention and the case under which he was ultimately arrested changed several times, raising questions about the circumstances of his arrest.

Sifat, a student of Adamjee Cantonment College, had recently posted a video on Facebook complaining about what he described as an unusually high electricity bill at his home. In the video, he also expressed his anger over the electricity situation and allegedly used abusive and offensive language against the prime minister and government officials. After the video spread on Facebook, the matter came to the attention of police.

Following his detention, NCP and BNP leaders and activists gathered at Gacha Police Station. NCP activists demanded Sifat’s release, while BNP activists called for legal action against him and demanded that he be brought to justice. Tensions and verbal altercations reportedly occurred between supporters of the two groups inside and outside the police station.

Police statements changed over the course of the case

On Thursday night, Gacha Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Golam Rabbani told journalists that Sifat had been detained over allegedly making offensive and indecent remarks about the prime minister.

At the time, the OC also said preparations were underway to file a case against Sifat for violating the Information and Communication Technology Act. However, no new case under that allegation was ultimately used to show him arrested. Instead, he was shown arrested in a previous case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

On Friday afternoon, another explanation emerged from the police. The Gacha OC’s office told journalists that Sifat was involved in Awami League politics and that legal action had also been taken on that basis. He was subsequently sent to court in connection with an old Anti-Terrorism Act case.

The shift from the initial allegation concerning his Facebook video to his alleged political affiliation and finally to a previous anti-terrorism case has raised questions about the actual basis for his arrest.

In effect, three explanations emerged over the course of the incident: allegations that he made offensive remarks about the prime minister and government officials; the possibility of a case over violation of information and communication technology laws; and allegations of involvement with Awami League politics, followed by his arrest in a previous Anti-Terrorism Act case.

The differing explanations have triggered discussion and criticism in local and political circles. NCP activists questioned the detention in the context of freedom of expression, while BNP activists demanded legal action over the alleged abusive and offensive remarks against the prime minister.

The key unresolved issue is why Sifat was ultimately shown arrested in an old anti-terrorism case when his detention initially followed the circulation of the Facebook video. Police have not publicly provided a detailed explanation of whether a new case was filed over the video or why the previous case was used for his arrest.

Police cite alleged link to banned organisation

Gacha police OC Golam Rabbani said legal action had been taken against Sifat in accordance with the law and that subsequent proceedings would be conducted in accordance with court directions.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Israel Howlader said Sifat’s statements had been legally reviewed. He also said information obtained while verifying his statements and other information indicated his alleged involvement with activities of a banned organisation. He said the investigation had found information suggesting that Sifat had been involved at different times in organising and arranging rallies of a banned organisation.

“The matter will be further verified and scrutinised, and subsequent action will be taken in accordance with the law,” the police commissioner said.

The differing accounts have left questions over the precise circumstances surrounding Sifat Abdullah’s detention, the absence of a new case based on the Facebook video and the decision to show him arrested in a previous Anti-Terrorism Act case.