Chaos and clashes at Aiyas-Rimi hearing, judge leaves courtroom

In a case filed with Shahbagh Police Station over smearing lime and ink on graffiti of world-famous Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, Rashtra Sanglap Forum President Al Nur Mohammad Aiyas and Marzia Khandaker Rimi have been sent to jail after remand.

Today, Wednesday, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Riad Hasan rejected their bail pleas after a hearing and issued the order. However, during the hearing, the judge left the courtroom amid chaos. At that time, there were allegations that a lawyer was beaten and forced out of the court.

After Aiyas and Rimi were produced in court, the case investigating officer and Shahbagh Police Station Sub-Inspector Abdul Gaffar Himel applied to keep them in jail.

The application said that after taking the two accused into remand, a number of important pieces of information were found about other fugitive accused involved in the incident, which are being verified. Until the investigation of the case is completed and their names and addresses are verified, it is absolutely necessary to keep the accused in jail custody.
Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore. Collected photo. 
Around 4:10 pm, they were taken to the courtroom on the 9th floor under police guard. However, defense lawyer Monir Hossain Sumon argued for bail. On the other hand, state lawyer Omar Faruk Faruki opposed the bail petition.

At one point, the state lawyer said, "They (the defense lawyers) are all Jamaat lawyers. Anyone can tell just by looking."

At that time, defense lawyer Al Mohsin Towhid objected, saying he had objections to the state counsel's remarks. This led state lawyers present in the court to attack him. His shirt was pulled and torn. The judge then went into his chamber.

After some time, when the situation in the courtroom turned normal, the judge returned to the court. At that point, Aiyas, standing in the dock, said to the state lawyer, "Sir, I apologize. I apologize, please."

Then he was seen telling his lawyers, "You will destroy my life by fighting."

Later, around 4:42 pm, Judge Riad Hasan entered the courtroom again. He said, "The matter looked bad. I did not expect this from you. At this stage, I am giving the order."

Later, the judge rejected the accused's bail and ordered them sending to jail.

While being taken from the court to jail, Aiyas was saying, "Have I committed murder? Why are you taking me like this?"

Earlier, last Sunday, Aiyas and Rimi were granted three days' remand, and Md. Sakibul Hasan and Md. Sujan Mia were granted two days' remand. Later, after the remand, Sakib and Sujan were sent to jail on Tuesday.

The case statement said that Dhaka South City Corporation drew various graffiti on art, culture, and literature on the Public Works Department's boundary wall opposite the Shilpakala Academy gate in Segunbagicha. On October 9, accused Al Nur Mohammad Aiyas announced that he would erase the graffiti by smearing lime and ink on it. Accordingly, they gathered together on the spot. 

At that time, Aiyas could be heard saying, "If you go to visit the graves of the grandparents of the incumbent Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, which are located in Pakistan, you can also visit Jinnah's grave in that opportunity. His nameplate is beautifully written in Bengali. He wanted a common language to be used as the official language. Therefore, insulting Jinnah without reason is nothing but political meanness and trickery."

On the other hand, accused Marzia Khandaker Rimi said, "We have come here to protest against Indian aggression. Muslims were subjected to torture and oppression in Rabindranath's zamindari. I do not want to see the picture of this oppressor Rabindranath on any wall of Bangladesh."

After that, she smeared ink on Rabindranath's graffiti, according to the case allegation. In addition, the police statement also mentioned spreading religious hatred and damaging communal harmony centering on the upcoming Durga Puja. At that time, four accused were arrested from the scene. Later, police filed a case as complainant over criminal conspiracy.