Juvel Hasan Saddam, president of Bagerhat Sadar Upazila unit of banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), has accused the jailer of Bagerhat District Jail of demanding a Tk5 lakh bribe.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday night after being released on bail, Saddam claimed that the jailer, Khondakar Md Al-Mamun, demanded the sum as a condition for him to remain in the Bagerhat facility.
Saddam alleged that his eventual transfer to Jessore Central Jail was a direct consequence of his inability to pay the bribe.
The BCL leader’s release follows a significant personal tragedy. On 23 January, the bodies of his wife, Kaniz Suborna (also known as Swarnali, 22), and their nine-month-old son, Sejad Hasan Nazif, were recovered from their home in Sabekdanga.
Saddam criticised the current “state structure” following the 2024 movement, lamenting that he was denied parole to attend their funerals or be with his family.
He was only permitted to see their bodies briefly at the gates of Jessore Central Jail after their autopsies. The denial of parole sparked widespread national criticism before the High Court ultimately granted him bail.
Jailer’s rebuttal and misconduct records
Jailer Khondakar Md Al-Mamun has dismissed the allegations as “completely false” and “baseless,” asserting that a jailer cannot transfer an inmate at will without orders from higher authorities.
He maintained that the transfer, which occurred on 22 July 2025, was necessitated by Saddam’s repeated prison offences and “undisciplined behaviour.”
According to prison records, Saddam threatened and verbally abused a cell in-charge, Badsha Mia, on 12 March last year and assaulted another inmate on 6 July. Al-Mamun stated that Saddam frequently intimidated staff and surrounding prisoners during his time in Bagerhat.
Saddam had been hiding following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on 5 August 2024. He was arrested by police in Gopalganj on 5 April 2025 and initially sent to Bagerhat jail the following day.
During his incarceration, Saddam claimed that Sheikh Tonmoy (former MP for Bagerhat-2 and nephew of Sheikh Hasina) consistently looked after his family and funded his legal fees and prison expenses.
Upon his release from Jessore on Wednesday, Saddam visited the graves of his wife and son before quickly leaving the area.
