A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed two more accused on a seven-day remand each in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over a crude bomb explosion and alleged acts of sabotage in the capital’s Gulshan area.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbub Alam passed the order after a hearing, said prosecution lawyer Harun-or-Rashid.

The accused are Awami League leader Mahmud, 41, and activist Md Rafiq, 40. The Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested them in the capital on 15 September.

Earlier in the day, Gulshan Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Ruhul Amin, also the investigating officer of the case, sought seven days’ remand for the accused. Defence lawyer Sheikh Farid sought bail, while the prosecution opposed the plea.

On 12 September, a court placed 24 accused on remand in the case, while nine others were sent to jail on 13 September and another nine on the following day. Later, on 15 September, the court sent seven more accused to jail.

According to the case statement, several hundred leaders and activists of the Awami League, whose activities have been banned, and its student wing, the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, attempted to bring out a procession from in front of Bhola Mosque in Gulshan-1 around 11:45am on 11 September.

They allegedly chanted anti-government slogans and exploded two crude bombs when police tried to disperse them. Police fired two rounds of rubber bullets and seized five crude bombs from the spot.