A Dhaka court has ordered four students to be sent to jail in a controversial case filed over vandalism and alleged attempted murder during a student-led protest march to the Education Ministry on July 22. The protest, sparked by a tragic jet crash in Milestone and the sudden postponement of HSC exams, saw participation from thousands of students from various colleges in the capital.
The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jamshed Alam issued the remand rejection and jail order on Thursday, following a hearing on the prosecution’s plea to detain the accused. The four sent to jail are Ashiqur Rahman Tanvir (19), Jefry Abhishek Sikdar (21), Abu Sufiyan (21), and Md. Shakil Mia (19). They were arrested on Thursday night from Shahbagh area.
Defense lawyers Salauddin Khan and Tahmina Akter Liza argued for bail, while Additional Public Prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha opposed it. After hearing both sides, the court denied bail and ordered them into custody.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Sub-Inspector Golam Mukti Mahmud of the Secretariat Security Division, over 1,000 unidentified students and “opportunist miscreants” marched towards the Education Ministry demanding accountability for the exam postponement and justice for the Milestone tragedy. The report claims that protesters illegally broke through police barricades, stormed the Secretariat’s main gate, and attacked members of law enforcement—including police, military, and Ansar—with sticks and bricks, causing injuries and damaging state property.
The case, filed on July 22 at Shahbagh Police Station, accuses 1,200 unnamed individuals under serious criminal charges, including attempted murder, public disorder, and destruction of government property.
The move to jail the four youths has already drawn criticism from rights groups and student activists, who argue that the state is criminalizing dissent and suppressing student voices instead of addressing legitimate grievances about exam mismanagement and systemic failures.
As legal proceedings begin, concerns mount over the broad use of vague charges and mass accusations to silence the ongoing student protests demanding education sector reforms and justice for Milestone victims.
