Turin Arrested Over Anti-State Activities; Her Mobile and Laptop Also Seized
Former prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Barrister Turin Afroz, was arrested late Monday night and her laptop and mobile phone were seized by police, who claim to have found evidence of anti-government planning on the devices.
The arrest was confirmed by Mohidul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Division Police, who briefed the media at Uttara West Police Station following the operation. “She will be placed on remand for interrogation to gather more information regarding the alleged anti-state plans,” he stated.
According to police, Turin was arrested in connection with a case involving an attempted murder. She is accused of being involved in a shooting incident targeting Abdul Jabbar (21), a student, in Uttara. “We recovered her phone and laptop during a search of her residence. Upon inspection, we found numerous anti-government posts on her Facebook,” said DC Mohidul.
He added, “Further legal action will be taken after consulting with senior officials regarding her anti-government activities. Turin will be produced in court on Tuesday with a request for remand.”
When asked whether any weapons were found at her residence, DC Mohidul confirmed, “No weapons were recovered.”
Police from Uttara West Police Station launched the raid at Turin’s residence on Road 11, Sector 3 of Uttara, around 10:30 PM on Monday. She was taken into custody after the search concluded.
Turin Afroz had previously sought a parliamentary nomination from the ruling Awami League in the 2018 national elections.
She served as a prosecutor at the ICT—established in 2010 to try war crimes committed during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. Appointed in the tribunal’s early years, Turin played a key role in several high-profile cases, including the prosecution of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ghulam Azam.
In November 2017, she was assigned to prosecute Muhammad Wahidul Haque, former Director General of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the Department of Immigration and Passports, in a wartime atrocities case. However, she was relieved from all tribunal-related responsibilities in May 2018, before the conclusion of that case.
