"The whole of Bangladesh is already on life support," says Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jamshed Alam in court
[Dhaka, July 25, 2025] — Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jamshed Alam has ordered four students arrested for allegedly vandalizing and attacking the Secretariat to be sent to jail. During the hearing, the judge commented on the current state of Bangladesh, saying,
“There’s no life left in Bangladesh. The entire country is already on life support.”
At 2:20 PM on Thursday (July 24), the investigating officer presented the four accused before the court and sought their remand to jail. On the other hand, the defense requested bail, stating that the accused were all students who had entered the Secretariat driven by emotion.
The defense lawyers told the court:
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Jefry Abhishek Shikder and Shakil Mia are brilliant students; Shakil is preparing for his college exams.
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Tanvir is an HSC candidate.
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Abu Sufiyan is a second-year student at Dhaka University, and his future is at stake.
However, Additional Public Prosecutor Md. Shamsuddoha Sumon, opposing the bail request, said:
“None of them were involved in the anti-discrimination movement. They led the vandalism at the Secretariat from the front, and CCTV footage clearly shows their faces. They are trying to form a failed state and are involved in a conspiracy to bring back ousted Sheikh Hasina.”
Accused Abu Sufiyan pleaded innocence, saying:
“I didn’t go to the Secretariat. I was picked up from Jatrabari. I was a coordinator of the July Movement, never a member of Chhatra League.”
In response, the judge remarked:
“Those who played a key role in the July Movement are now being targeted. Their lives are ruined. The whole country is already twelve annas down. What’s the use of getting Golden A-plus grades if their CDMS (Career Database Management System) won’t even remain intact? Will they get jobs? When the country itself has no life left, it's already on life support.”
He further stated:
“There’s practically no law and order left. The Secretariat is the brain of the state, and even that has been attacked. Our state is in a transition period. Mr. Yunus is trying, but it’s unclear what the outcome will be. We’ve seen the rule of Awami League and BNP. In the future, we may even have to witness Jamaat’s rule.”
Regretfully, he added:
“It takes three generations to build a functioning state. Our generation won’t see a good country—perhaps our children's children will. Not everything is rotten yet; some good still remains.”
Finally, amidst commotion in the courtroom, the judge adjourned the hearing, denied bail, and ordered the accused to be sent to jail.
