Court Denies Bail to Journalist Saikat Ranjan Chowdhury Following Detention in Rangamati

A Dhaka court on Thursday denied bail to Saikat Ranjan Chowdhury, the Rangamati Journalists Union general secretary and DBC News district correspondent, following his recent detention. The bail hearing took place at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court, though the defendant was not physically present during the proceedings.

Defense lawyer Nazrul Islam confirmed the court’s decision, noting that the next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. Chowdhury is expected to be produced in court for that session. Chowdhury and Ali Akbar, the former general secretary of the Rangamati district unit of Chhatra Dal, were apprehended by a team of plainclothes detectives on Tuesday afternoon in front of the Rangamati District Council office.

The arrests followed a case filed by Chhatra Dal central joint secretary Chandra Chakma at Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka under the Cyber Security Act. According to local witnesses, Chowdhury was taken into custody following an altercation that occurred while police were detaining Ali Akbar. Both men were subsequently transported to Dhaka and are currently being held at the Keraniganj Central Jail.

Severe erosion at Morichap River threatens Ashashuni town and homes amid ineffective mitigation efforts

Read Article

Surveillance footage from the area shows four individuals surrounding Chowdhury near the district council office before forcing him into a waiting microbus. Colleagues reported that they had planned to meet the journalist for lunch on Tuesday; however, upon arriving at the office, they found his motorcycle abandoned at the scene, leading to the realization that he had been abducted by unidentified men in civilian clothing.

In response to the detention, journalists in Rangamati held a protest demonstration on Thursday morning in front of the district administration office. The participants condemned the manner of the arrest and demanded the immediate release of the journalist. Among those present at the protest were Rangamati Press Club President Anwar Al Haq, General Secretary Md. Elias, and Rangamati Reporters Unity President Sushil Prasad Chakma.