Fakhrul, Abbas released after a month

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after releasing from Dhaka central jail in KeraniganjPhoto: Sazid Hossain

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee member Mirza Abbas have been released from jail after one month. They were released from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj at around 6:00pm on Monday.

Earlier, the documents of bail order by the higher court for BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee member Mirza Abbas reached the jail at 4:20pm on Monday.

The Dhaka central jail deputy jailer Abdus Selim confirmed this to Prothom Alo.

The decision about their release will be taken after verifying their documents of bail order.

BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas after releasing from Dhaka central jail in Keraniganj.
Photo: Sazid Hossain

Mirza Fakhrul and Mirza Abbas' lawyer Zakir Hossain said, "We have handed over the documents of bail order to the jail authorities. We are waiting for release of two leaders."

While visiting the Dhaka central jail area in Keraniganj on Monday morning, it was found that BNP leaders and activists in Keraniganj and its surrounding areas thronged the court premises after receiving the news of bail of two leaders.

The jail authorities have taken special security measures in connection to the bail of Mirza Fakhrul and Mirza Abbas.

Relatives of jail inmates and visitors are being searched during their entrance to the jail premises. Mirza Abbas' wife Afroza Abbas has been waiting at the jail gate since the afternoon accompanied by several BNP leaders and activists are accompanying her.

Earlier, the bail order of Mirza Fakhrul and Mirza Abbas was submitted to the court. Their lawyers said they will be released after the bail order reached the jail.

Mirza Fakhrul and Mirza Abbas were arrested by the police late at night on 8 December from their homes. The next day, they were shown arrested in a case for being involved in the clashes between police and BNP leaders and activists on 7 December at the capital’s Naya Paltan area.

A Dhaka court turned down the bail plea of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and the standing committee member Mirza Abbas for the four consecutive times since they were shown arrested on 9 December in cases pertaining to subversive activities.

On 3 January, the High Court (HC) granted Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Mirza Abbas six-month anticipatory bail in a case filed over clashes between police and BNP leaders and activists on 7 December in the capital’s Nayapaltan area.

On 4 January, the state pleaded to the Appellate Division seeking stay on the bail granted to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Mirza Abbas.

The Appellate Division on Sunday lifted the order issued by the Chamber Court restricting to file bail plea of BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and the party’s standing committee member Mirza Abbas. 

Therefore, the High Court's order granting bail to the two BNP leaders has been upheld. It means there is no obstacle to the release of the two leaders who has been languishing jails for about a month.