The Dhaka metropolitan magistrate court on Monday placed poet and essayist Sohel Hasan Galib on a two-day remand over allegation of making derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad (SM) in a poem.
Poets and writers organised a protest rally on Monday, demanding Galib鈥檚 release and issued a 72-hour ultimatum for his release.
Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Junaid granted two days of remand for Galib after the Dhaka Metropolitan Police detective branch had produced him before the court, seeking a seven-day remand for interrogation.
Opposing the remand, defence lawyers submitted a petition before the court seeking his bail, but the court rejected the plea after hearing.
Poets and writers organised the protest rally at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair venue, Suhrawardy Udyan.
Moderated by poet, journalist Shimul Salahuddin, the event demanded unconditional release of Galib within 72 hours, otherwise the protesting poets and writers would call for international efforts to release the poet.
Writer and translator Professor Khaliquzzaman Elias, poets Razu Alauddin, Chanchal Ashraf, Jewel Mazhar and Zuairijah Mou, writers Ehsan Mahmud, Delwar Hussain and Baki Billah, and Adarsha Publications publisher Mahbub Rahman, among others, spoke at the event.
Galib was arrested at about 9:00pm on February 13 from Sanarpar area at Fatullah in Narayanganj over allegation of making derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad (SM) in a poem.
Later, he was taken to the DB office on Minto Road in the capital Dhaka. Galib was shown arrested under section 54 over hurting religious sentiment.
On February 14 afternoon, a Dhaka court sent Galib to jail, rejecting his bail prayer and the DB sought the court鈥檚 permission to take him in custody for seven days for interrogation in the case.
