A Dhaka court on Tuesday granted bail to the former Forests and Environment minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury in two cases filed with the Paltan Police Station related to the anti-discrimination movement.
Saber Chowdhury is the first leader of the Awami League who has been released on bail with in two days.
The Detective Branch of police on October 6 arrested Saber Chowdhury from Gulshan.
Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina led government amid a mass upsurge, several leaders of the Awami League and senior police officers were arrested and produced before the court.
Following the bail, pro-BNP lawyers staged demonstration inside the courtroom protesting the verdict. They hurled abusive language and vandalised furniture at the court.
On October 7, the court had initially granted a five-day remand for Chowdhury in connection with Mokbul’s death during the police raid at the BNP office.
After the remand hearing, as Chowdhury was being escorted from the courtroom to the holding cell, BNP leaders and activists broke police and military protocol and attacked him, throwing eggs at him.
Earlier the same day, he was also granted bail in four cases filed with Khilgaon Police Station.
Metropolitan Magistrate Ziadur Rahman granted his bail. With bail secured in all cases for which he was arrested, there is now no obstacle to his release from custody.
Saber Chowdhury had been placed on a five-day remand in connection with the case involving the death of BNP activist Mokbul, who was killed during a police raid at the BNP headquarters two years ago. He was produced before the court on this matter.
The investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Nazmul Hasan, requested the court to detain Saber Hossain in jail without completing the remand period.
In his petition, the officer mentioned that Chowdhury had been unable to answer any of the questions during interrogation. It was revealed in conversations that he was physically unwell, suffering from heart disease, and had three stents placed in his heart.
Due to his current physical condition, further interrogation in police custody would not be fruitful. Consequently, as per the court’s instructions, he was sent back to the court without completing the five-day remand. The police indicated that they might seek remand again in the future, depending on his health.
On the other side, Saber Chowdhury’s defense lawyer applied for bail, which the state prosecution opposed. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court granted the bail.
Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ziadur Rahman had also granted Chowdhury bail in four cases filed with Khilgaon Police Station.
Inspector Asaduzzaman from Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Prosecution Division confirmed that since Chowdhury has secured bail in all the cases for which he was detained, there are no remaining barriers to his release.
