Journalist Anis Alamgir has spent over two months behind bars, caught in a web of legal cases filed shortly after he was summoned for questioning by the Detective Branch (DB).

Hours after his detention, a lawsuit was lodged against him accusing him of “conspiracy to destabilize the state”, while a separate case by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) charges him with illegal accumulation of assets.

Despite repeated petitions for bail, all efforts have failed, leaving him imprisoned — a move his wife Shahnaz Chowdhury and colleagues say is a direct consequence of his independent journalism and outspoken commentary on contemporary politics.

“Syeda Rizwana Hasan, [former] advisor to the interim government, had claimed no journalist was arrested for free speech. So why was Anis Alamgir detained?

“He was arrested for speaking freely. Is he a terrorist, or has he incited violence? What led to his summoning and arrest?” she asked.

On the night of Dec 14, detectives took Anis in for questioning. Later that night, Aryan Ahmed filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against him and three others — including actress Meher Afroz Shaon, fashion model Maria Kispotta, and presenter Imtu Ratish — accusing them of plotting to destabilize the state and promoting a banned organization called the July Revolutionary Alliance.

Anis was granted five days’ remand and, following its completion, sent to jail on Dec 20, where he remains.

His wife Shahnaz said, “He is not the only suspect; others are moving freely, yet he remains imprisoned for expressing his opinion.”

On Jan 15, the ACC filed a case for illicit asset accumulation. On Jan 28, he was formally remanded in this case.

Shahnaz dismissed it as false, claiming it stems from a government-granted journalist quota he sold for some funds.

Lawyer Taslima Jahan Popy said, “The terror case does not pertain to him; he has no link to the banned organization. He was arbitrarily accused and arrested. We sought bail in lower courts and the High Court; hope remains for relief.”

Lawyer Nazneen Nahar added that bail petitions for the ACC case were also filed and a hearing is expected soon.