Assistant Professor of Begum Rokeya University Mahmudul Haque, who was arrested in a murder case, has been freed from the jail after he was granted bail on Sunday afternoon.
Acting Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Rangpur, Marzia Islam, issued the order at around 5:00 pm. Later, at 6:04 pm and Mahmudul Haque was released from jail. His lawyer Roknuzzaman confirmed the matter.
Roknuzzaman said that earlier in the day, a bail petition was filed with the Rangpur Metropolitan Court-1 (Hajirhat Magistrate Court). The hearing for the petition was scheduled for next Tuesday. However, considering Mahmudul Haque's health condition, a fresh bail plea was submitted to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court around 4:30 pm on humanitarian grounds after his previous bail plea had been rejected last Thursday. The judge granted him bail until the police submit their charge sheet in the case. He was released from jail around 6:00 pm.
At the time of his release, his wife Masuba Hasan, son Maimun Mihran, lawyers Shamim Al Mamun and Roknuzzaman, along with Shahriar—former coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and a student of Rokeya University—were present. Mahmudul Haque was later taken away in an ambulance.
Lawyer Shamim Al Mamun said that Mahmudul Haque is ill, and his health condition was highlighted during the bail plea. The prison authorities also informed the court about his illness. Taking this into account, the court granted him bail. After being released, Mahmudul Haque was admitted to a hospital for advanced medical treatment.
Shahriar Sohag, a student of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Rokeya University, said, "We are overjoyed to have our teacher back after three days. However, we demand a proper investigation into the manner in which he was sued and arrested."
On Thursday afternoon, Hajirhat police arrested Mahmudul Haque from his residence in the Dhap Engineerpara area of Rangpur city. Following a court order, he was sent to jail. Mahmudul Haque is an assistant professor in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Rokeya University.
Amena Begum—a resident of Radhakrishnapur Maulvibari area of the city—filed a murder case with Hajirhat police station on 3 June against 54 people over her husband’s killing during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Mahmudul Haque was listed as the 54th accused in that case.
Meanwhile, officer-in-charge (OC) of Hajirhat Police Station Abdul Al Mamun Shah, also the investigating officer of the case, was transferred.
Earlier on June 19, police arrested Mahamudul Haque, an assistant professor at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the Begum Rokeya University, in connection with the case filed over the death of grocer Somes Uddin.
According to the case statement, on August 2, last year, police and Awami League activists threatened Somes at his shop in Radhakrishnapur area under Ward 12 of Rangpur city.
He was injured in an attack by the activists of AL associate bodies. His family took him to Prime Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
Ten months after the incident, Somes Uddin’s wife Amena Begum filed a case with Hajirhat Police Station on June 3 accusing 54 people, including ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina and minister Obaidul Quader.
Mahamudul Haque was listed as the 54th accused and described as the Central Assistant Secretary for Information and Research of the Bangabandhu Parishad.
Amena Begum and her son Ashiqur Rahman reportedly admitted that they filed the case under pressure from law enforcers and had no knowledge of who was named as accused.
They said they only gave their signatures on papers.
