Eight Chhatra Odhikar men including its president get bail

Court decision

A Dhaka court on Monday granted bail to eight leaders and activists of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, including its President Akhter Hossain, in two cases filed against them by two Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders and activists on charges of allegedly attacking them in Dhaka University campus on October 7.

Other accused are: Parishad's General Secretary Akram Hossain, and activists Saddam Hossain, Abdul Kader, Tariqul Islam, Asif Mahmud, Zahid Hossain, and Md Sanaullah.

Following the bail, there is no legal bar for their release, said their lawyer Khademul Islam.

Hearing on bail petitions of 16 others are supposed to be held on November 14 and November 20 in the same cases.

Judge Syeda Hafsa Jhuma of Additional Metropolitan Sessions Court-8 of Dhaka granted the bail after the accused peoples’ lawyers moved the petitions against the rejection orders of the lower court on October 20.

During today's hearing, the defense told the court that their clients were beaten by BCL men while observing the third death anniversary of BUET student Abrar Fahad on October 7. The injured students were supposed to file cases against BCL men but their clients were implicated in the cases and sent to the jail.

Nazim Uddin, Organizing Secretary of BCL, and its activist Aminur Rahman filed the two attempt-to-murder cases with Shahbagh Police Station, accusing 25 named and 140-150 unnamed people.

According to the case statement, the accused entered Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and attacked the complainant and his friends with sticks, hockey sticks, iron rods, and locally-made weapons with intention to kill them.

They also took away cash and some important documents with them.

On the day of the attack on October 7, police detained 24 of the accused from Dhaka Medical College Hospital and other nearby areas in connection with the incident.

Of the detainees, several injured activists of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad were receiving treatment for their injuries because of the attack carried out by BCL men. - Special Correspondent