The court has rejected the bail of 61 pro-Awami lawyers of the Dhaka Bar Association and ordered them to be sent to jail in a case filed at Dhaka's Kotwali Police Station on charges of attack, vandalism and attempted murder during the anti-discrimination movement.
In addition, the court has granted bail to 19 people, including former Dhaka Bar President Abu Sayeed Sagar, in the same case. On the other hand, the court granted bail to eight lawyers who surrendered and applied for bail in a case filed by Shahbagh Police Station in connection with the attack during the 2023 elections in the Supreme Court.
They surrendered in the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Zakir Hossain Galib on Sunday and applied for bail. After the hearing, the court rejected the bail applications of 61 people, including former Dhaka Bar President Saidur Rahman Manik, and ordered them to be sent to jail. In addition, the court granted bail to former Dhaka Bar President Abu Sayeed Sagar, considering his age. The court granted bail to 18 people, including lawyers Afroza Farhana Orange, Sahela Akhter Shilpi, Salma Hai Tuni, Sharmin Sultana Happy and Sultana Razia Ruma, considering them women.
Notable accused who went to jail are former Dhaka Bar President Saidur Rahman Manik, Gazi Shah Alam, former Dhaka Bar Office Secretary Anwar Hossain, Golam Kibria Sumon, former Sports Secretary Ujjal Mia and former Cyber Tribunal PP Nazrul Islam Shamim.
On the other hand, in the Supreme Court, eight lawyers surrendered and applied for bail in the Shahbagh Police Station case regarding the attack and vandalism during the 2023 elections, and the court granted it. All the accused in these two cases were on 8-week bail from the High Court. As the bail period expired, they surrendered to the court today and applied for bail.
Ripon Mia, the police sub-inspector in charge of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court's jail, confirmed the fact that 61 lawyers were sent to jail. On the other hand, several officials of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court confirmed the fact that 27 people were granted bail in two cases.
According to the case file, Mohammad Ali Babu, an executive member of the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, filed a case on February 6 against 144 pro-Awami League lawyers on charges of attempted murder and vandalism. After that, 115 of them got eight-week bail from the High Court in this incident. The interim bail period will expire on Monday. The lawyers applied for bail on Sunday before that period ends.
The statement said that on August 4 last year, during the anti-discrimination movement, the accused created panic in front of the Dhaka Lawyers' Association with illegal weapons and sticks. They started exploding bombs and chanting slogans like 'Sheikh Hasina is not afraid, we have not left the streets' etc.
Notable accused in the case are Awami League legal affairs secretary Kazi Nazibullah Hiru, former public prosecutor (PP) of Dhaka Metropolitan Court Abdullah Abu, former president of the Bar Association Mohammad Mokhlesur Rahman Badal, Saidur Rahman Manik, Mizanur Rahman Mamun, Abdur Rahman Howlader, Gazi Md. Shah Alam, Abdul Baten, Mahbubur Rahman, former general secretary Khandaker Golam Kibria Zubayer, Mohammad Anwar Shahadat Shaon, Firozur Rahman Montu, Asaduzzaman Khan Rochi and former Member of Parliament Sanjida Khanam.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
