Student jailed on abduction charges despite contradictory evidence

Anik Ahmed Ridoy, a journalism student at Daffodil University, has been arrested and jailed on charges of harassment and attempted abduction in Gaibandha, despite evidence showing he was on a study tour at Sajek Valley in Khagrachari on the day of the alleged incident.

The case, filed by Faima Begum, accuses Ridoy and his elder brother, Asif Faisal Lelin, of attempting to abduct and harass Begum's two daughters on 9 January. Ridoy surrendered to the court on 12 January.

Despite the university confirming Ridoy's presence in Sajek on the day of the alleged incident, his bail plea was denied, and he was sent to prison.

Shahinur Islam Talukder, officer-in-charge (OC) of Gaibandha Sadar Police Station, told The Business Standard that they have already informed the court that Ridoy's was at Sajek on 9 January.

"We just registered the case statement of the plaintiff. However, we will investigate the matter thoroughly," he added.

Photo: Collected

Aftab Hossain, chairman of Daffodil University's JMC department, expressed disbelief at the accusations, stating, "We provided the police with an official letter confirming Ridoy's presence on the tour, but despite this, he was sent to jail."

He confirmed that they left for Sajek on 8 January and returned to Dhaka early on 11 January.

"It's absurd to see one of our students, who was with us on the same tour, being accused and incarcerated in such a case. He was with us in Sajek, enjoying the tour," added Hossain.

Meanwhile, plaintiff Faima Begum admitted she did not see Ridoy at the scene, but claimed her daughters identified him. She explained that Ridoy's brother, Lelin, the prime accused in the case, had divorced her daughter and abused her during their marriage.

"We filed the case for the attempted abduction and harassment of my other daughters on 9 January. Whether Anik was in Sajek or elsewhere, we had no choice but to file it," she added.

The Business Standard verified the metadata of photos from the study tour to Sajek, confirming that all seven images featuring Ridoy were taken between 9 and 10 January in Sajek.

Ridoy's father, Md Amzad Hossain, told TBS that he spoke to Ridoy on 11 January after his return from Sajek and asked him to come to Gaibandha to seek bail.

"But the court sent him and one of his cousins to jail," he explained.

Shihab Ahmed, Ridoy's batchmate, confirmed that they were all together in a small group, and Ridoy was always with them.

"When the alleged incident occurred, we were in Sajek Valley, far from Gaibandha. Anik wasn't at the scene," Ahmed said.