A Dhaka court has granted bail to Jubo Mohila League leader Shilpi Begum, who was arrested in a case filed at Tejgaon Police Station over incidents related to the anti-discrimination movement.
On Tuesday (April 21), Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman allowed her bail upon hearing a review petition filed by the defense, granting bail on a bond of Tk 5,000 until submission of the police report.
Earlier in the afternoon, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Mohammad Jonaid had rejected her bail plea after hearing arguments from both sides and ordered her to be sent to jail. She was produced before the court along with her infant child. During the hearing, investigation officer Sub-Inspector Sheikh Nazrul Islam of Tejgaon Police Station sought her detention in custody, stating that preliminary investigation found her actively involved in suppressing the anti-discrimination movement and that detention was necessary for proper investigation.
Defense lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi argued for bail during a hearing held in the judge’s chamber. According to the defense, the court initially kept the order pending for some time before rejecting the bail application. The defense subsequently filed a petition seeking reconsideration, after which the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate granted bail.
Shilpi Begum had been arrested from her residence on the night of April 20.
According to the case statement, Tahmid Mubin Ratul, a second-year student of the Institute of Modern Languages at University of Dhaka, was an active participant in the anti-discrimination student movement. On July 16, 2024, at around 5:00 pm, he was allegedly shot while taking part in protests at Chankharpul in the capital and was later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment. During his initial treatment there, numerous activists of the student wing reportedly attacked him and his fellow students.
The case further alleges that on July 23 at around 6:45 pm, acting on the instruction of Shilpi Begum, named accused persons along with 120–130 unidentified individuals attacked the student’s residence using sharp weapons, pistols, and explosives. The attackers allegedly vandalized furniture and electronic items causing damage worth Tk 500,000, looted household goods valued at Tk 300,000, detonated bombs on the street in front of the house, and assaulted the victim’s father Sohel Rana with intent to kill.
The case was filed at Tejgaon Police Station on January 25, 2025.
