Helena Jahangir remanded in DSA case

Businessperson Helena Jahangir, who recently lost her post from the ruling Awami League, has been placed on a three-day remand in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury passed the order after Inspector (Operation) Sheikh Shahanur Rahman of Gulshan police produced her before the court on Friday seeking a five-day remand for interrogation in the case.

The court also rejected the bail petition filed by Helena’s lawyer.

During the hearing, Helena denied all the charges brought against her, and said: “I was a member of an Awami League committee. I will always be involved in politics with the Awami League.”

Apart from the DSA case, four more cases were filed against her.

Director of Legal and Media Wing Commander of RAB Khandaker Al Moin Said: “Helena, who came to politics from business, was extremely ambitious. She will be prosecuted under the drug law, Wildlife Act, the Special Powers Act, the Digital Security Act and the Telecommunications Act."

Also Read - Helena Jahangir in RAB custody

On Thursday night, RAB raided Helena’s house in Dhaka's Gulshan for four hours and arrested her.

RAB recovered liquor, walkie-talkies, casino equipment and deerskin from her house.

Before the briefing, RAB said in a message on Friday afternoon that they had arrested her on charges of attempting to defame important state institutions and individuals by spreading lies, propaganda and misleading information using digital platforms.

Helena is a director of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), and chairperson of Joyjatra IPTV.

Later, raids were also carried out at the offices of Joyjatra IPTV and Joyjatra Foundation in Mirpur.

After the raid, RAB officials told reporters that they did not find any valid documents for the operation of the IPTV.

On July 25, Helana lost membership of the Awami League subcommittee on women affairs for her involvement with Bangladesh Awami Chakrijibi League, an organization with no affiliation with the ruling party.

She was also removed from the advisor post of the Comilla district unit Awami League.

Her organization had started seeking presidents and general secretaries for its upazila and district units, and branches abroad.

Also Read - Mushrooming ‘Awami’ organizations a headache for party

Helena was the self-proclaimed central president of the organization and one Engineer Saiful Islam Emon is said to be the central publicity secretary.

Allegations against Helena

At the briefing, RAB spokesperson Khandaker Al Moin said: “Helena formed a group to defame prominent people on social media. Sometimes she appeared on Facebook to defame people.

“We have found out that Helena has connections with Sefuda [Sefat Ullah], who is highly known on social media for his indecent remarks. Helena has made financial transactions with him as well.”

“Helena tried to establish herself as Palli Mata, Mother Teresa, Sister Helen through her Joyjatra IPTV. The racket she operates promoted Helena as a noblewoman to collect funds from abroad for the Joyjatra Foundation. Then Helena used that fund for her personal reasons,” he said, adding that she was a member of at least 12 clubs.

Helena took illegal money and bribes from the reporters of her Joyjatra IPTV in return for giving them a job, the RAB official said.

Responding to a question, Moin said: “Helena’s Joyjatra TV was using illegal satellite connection in the name of IPTV. The BTRC has claimed that the equipment has no valid permission.”

Helena’s daughter claims innocence

Jessia Alam, daughter of Helena Jahangir, told a satellite television on Thursday night that the seized foreign liquor, casino equipment, deerskin, and foreign currency were all legal.

She also complained that her family was ill-treated by the RAB members during the raid.

Jessia claimed that the foreign liquors were his brother’s collection, and that her brother had a license to consume liquors.

Regarding the casino equipment, she said they used them to play various card games at home. They had no board or machine to operate a casino.

She also claimed the deerskin was a gift to his mother from her political circle during her brother’s wedding.

Regarding the recovered foreign currencies, she said that those were just the unspent amount from various foreign trips as they regularly visit abroad.