Mystery surrounding the three devices recovered from Tawhid Afridi, a content creator and defendant in a case over a murder during the July Uprising, intensifies as investigating officials say that preliminary evidence suggests the devices may contain “alarming anti-state contents”.
Tawhid Afridi was arrested on Sunday night from Barishal by a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team in connection with the July Uprising murder case. Later, the police took him on a five-day remand. Earlier, on 17 August, his father Nasir Uddin was arrested from Gulshan, Dhaka. The court granted a five-day remand for Nasir Uddin on the following day. He was later sent to jail on Saturday.
In the remand petition for Tawhid Afridi, investigators stated that Afridi, a “content creator” acting on behalf of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, persuaded celebrities and fellow content creators to withdraw from the movement that was going on in July and August of last year and threatened those who refused to do so.
Investigating officers said that during interrogation, Tawhid Afridi disclosed significant information about the July Uprising. These details are being verified, while his three devices are undergoing forensic tests. Preliminary findings indicate that they may contain highly sensitive and alarming “anti-state contents”.
Khan Mohammad Erfan, an investigating officer of CID, said: “One mobile phone, one hard disk, and one MacBook have been recovered from Tawhid Afridi’s possession.”
Public prosecutors said that during the July uprising, Tawhid Afridi continuously campaigned on behalf of the fascist Awami League and threatened many to coerce them into supporting the then ruling party.
Public prosecutor of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Muhammad Samsuddoha Sumon, said, “The police arrested Tawhid Afridi on the basis of accurate facts and findings. During the July Uprising, Tawhid Afridi went live and encouraged Awami League, Juba League, and Chhatra League members to kill students.”
Regarding the three devices recovered from his possession, the prosecutor also believe that they may contain “anti-state contents”. The forensic examination is expected to reveal details of a conspiracy against the July uprising and identify those involved in it.