Sifat Abdullah still behind bars after 73 days, lawyer alleges worsening health and intimidation

Sifat Abdullah, the 20-year-old arrested following his vitriolic criticism of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman over electricity bills, has spent 73 days behind bars without securing bail, while his lawyer says his health is deteriorating and his family is facing intimidation.

Speaking to Daily Waadaa on Sunday, his lawyer, Ali Naser Khan, alleged that Sifat had suffered psychological harassment from imprisoned Chhatra League members over his involvement in the July uprising. 

He also accused BNP-affiliated lawyers of obstructing court proceedings and local party activists of keeping Sifat's family home under surveillance.

Sifat was detained by Gachha Police Station officers at his residence in Gazipur Metropolitan City's Gachha area on the night of September 3, a day after posting a video criticising the government over rising electricity bills.

In the video, Sifat displayed two electricity bills of approximately 4,000 taka and 5,000 taka for successive months and used offensive language against the prime minister and other government officials.

Police subsequently showed him arrested in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

He was produced before a Gazipur court on September 4 and sent to prison. On September 7, Judge Rakibul Islam of Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Court-5 rejected his bail application following opposition from the prosecution.

Sifat's lawyers have previously maintained that the original first information report did not mention his video or remarks about electricity bills.

Police, however, alleged that Sifat had been attempting to organise a flash procession with what they described as "fascist forces".

Gachha Police Station officer-in-charge Golam Rabbani made the allegation following Sifat's detention.

Sifat, a student at Adamjee Cantonment College in Dhaka, has been associated with the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Inqilab Mancha.

His lawyer, Naser, who is also a central joint chief organiser of the NCP, told Waadaa that his client's “physical and mental health had deteriorated during his detention.”

He alleged that imprisoned members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League had targeted Sifat because of his participation in the July 2024 uprising.

According to Naser, the “harassment had taken a psychological toll on the young detainee.” The lawyer also raised concerns about restrictions on Sifat's communication with his family.

Although prisoners are ordinarily permitted to communicate with family members once a week, Sifat was denied that opportunity during his first 10 days in custody, he alleged.

Naser further claimed that his efforts to secure bail had encountered resistance from lawyers affiliated with the ruling BNP. He said large numbers of BNP-supporting lawyers “entered the courtroom during hearings and opposed Sifat's release.”

Public Prosecutor Siddiqur Rahman also strongly opposed the bail application.

Naser alleged that he faced difficulties submitting documents and participating in court proceedings.

The lawyer said he and Sifat's family had also faced obstruction when attempting to speak to the media about the case.

He further alleged that local BNP activists and members of affiliated organisations were keeping Sifat's family home under surveillance.

Naser said both Sifat and his family “regretted the offensive language used in the video.”

However, he maintained that Sifat continued to stand by his criticism of rising electricity bills, despite his imprisonment.

The lawyer expressed uncertainty over whether Sifat would eventually secure bail and what consequences might await him even if he were released.

Meanwhile, Sifat's mother, Fatema, told Waadaa on Sunday evening that she had visited her son in prison last week and found him seriously ill.

The newspaper reached her after several attempts to contact the family.

Describing Sifat as a “simple and innocent” young man, Fatema said the family was struggling with his continued detention.

"All I know is that he is not getting bail," she said.

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