In 2015, Barrister Shakila Farzana, the daughter of former BNP whip and politician Syed Wahidul Alam, was arrested under allegations of funding the so-called militant group Shahid Hamza Brigade (SHB). She was imprisoned for more than 10 months following her arrest. Shakila Farzana spoke to *Bangladesh Protidin* about the events leading up to and following her arrest.

She recalled that on August 18, 2015, a team from RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) arrived at her home, posing as legal clients. She was taken away under the pretext of an urgent meeting, but soon after being placed in a car, her eyes were blindfolded, and she had no idea where she was being taken. The abuse she endured during this period was unimaginable, she said, adding that as a respected professional and member of a reputable family, she was shocked by how she was treated. At one point, she even pleaded, "Just shoot me" due to the torment she was facing.

When asked why she was specifically targeted, Shakila explained that she had provided legal assistance to leaders and activists from both BNP and Hefazat-e-Islam, but she clarified that she had never accepted money for her services. On the contrary, she had covered the legal expenses for their cases, which had earned her significant recognition. She further revealed that government agencies were compiling a list of the cases she was involved in, which led to her being targeted.

As for the accusation that she funded militants, Shakila described how she had been assisting BNP leaders and activists in securing bail for various cases in Chittagong since 2009. This helped her gain recognition among local BNP leaders, who frequently came to her for assistance. In 2013, she also provided legal help to Hefazat-e-Islam members, who had certain expectations regarding the timing of their bail. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to meet these expectations within the promised time, and to maintain her credibility, she returned the advance payments for their cases through bank transactions. However, this was later misinterpreted as evidence that she was funding militants.

Shakila also mentioned a fabricated case in early 2015, in which she had helped secure bail for one of the accused, Moniruzzaman Don, in relation to a BNP rally in Chittagong. She now believes that this case was used as part of the plot to accuse her of militant involvement.

Reflecting on her time in prison, Shakila shared the hardships she faced. She spent 10 months and 8 days behind bars, initially placed in a ward with individuals accused of drug trafficking and murder. She described her nights in prison as filled with fear, unable to sleep or feel safe. During this time, her father suffered a stroke, and she felt the deep pain of being separated from her family.