After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime on 5 August last year, hundreds of accused in militancy cases and other serious crimes have been released on bail. Prison authorities say the number is as high as 300.
Among those granted bail are suspects, under-trial prisoners, and even convicts serving life sentences.
Analysts say those released include both innocent people who were branded as militants under the Hasina government, as well as individuals genuinely linked to extremist activities, who have used this moment as a golden opportunity.
A string of high-profile releases
On 26 February 2015, writer and blogger Avijit Roy was hacked to death near Dhaka University’s TSC while returning from the Ekushey Book Fair. His wife, Rafida Ahmed, was also critically injured. Avijit’s father, Professor Ajay Roy, later filed a murder case with Shahbagh Police Station.
On 16 February 2021, Dhaka’s Anti-Terrorism Tribunal delivered its verdict in the case. Judge Md Mozibur Rahman sentenced five accused to death and another, Shafiur Rahman Farabi, to life imprisonment. Farabi appealed against the verdict the same year.
However, the High Court granted interim bail to Farabi on 30 July this year. The bench of justices Md Zakir Hossain and KM Rasheduzzaman Raza passed the order.
Farabi’s lawyer, Muhammad Huzzatul Islam Khan, argued that although four accused gave confessional statements, none mentioned Farabi’s name. He said no witness, other than the investigating officer, referred to Farabi, and the convict himself never gave a confessional statement.
Farabi had also been in custody since March 2015. The court granted bail after these arguments were placed.
On 25 August 2024, Mufti Jasim Uddin Rahmani, convicted in the murder of blogger Rajib Haider, was also released on bail.
According to court documents, Rahmani faces two more cases. Police identified him as the chief of the militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team. One case is pending with Dhaka’s Anti-Terrorism Tribunal and another with the Cyber Tribunal.
Rahmani was arrested in Barguna on 12 August 2013. In the Rajib Haider murder case, he was sentenced to five years in prison by a Dhaka court.
In his court statement, Rahmani admitted delivering sermons during Friday prayers, where he spoke from his book Unmukto Tarabari (The Unsheathed Sword) about punishment for blasphemy.
The charge sheet also accused him of giving distorted interpretations of Islam. Later, he was shown arrested in the Rajib Haider case and two separate cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act and ICT Act filed with Mohammadpur Police Station.
In militancy cases filed on 5 August, 148 members of the banned outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were granted bail. This militant group was behind a series of nationwide bombings in 2005.
Others released on bail were previously listed by law enforcement as members of banned outfits including Harkat-ul-Jihad, Ansarullah Bangla Team, Jamaatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya, Ansar al-Islam, Imam Mahmuder Kafela, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Hamza Brigade, KNF and Allah’r Dal.
A matter of grave concern
Commenting on the issue, Professor Muhammad Omar Faruq, of the Department of Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, told TIMES of Bangladesh:
“This is a matter of grave concern. Indiscriminate granting of bail cannot be acceptable. In cases of political offences, bail may be justified. But granting bail to those directly linked to militancy is not a logical step. Each case should have been carefully examined to determine possible threats to public safety.”
“The police now carry a heavy responsibility. Those accused of militancy, but released on bail, must be kept under strict and strategic surveillance,” he added.
When asked how many had been released on bail in militancy cases, Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Md Motaher Hossain said the figure stands at more than 300.
According to data from the prison headquarters, during the July uprising last year, 2,200 inmates escaped from five prisons. Among them, 700 are still absconding, including six identified as members of militant organisations.
Since 5 August last year, a total of 346 people have been released on bail, including 12 top convicted criminals, eight accused in the ten-truck arms case, and members of at least ten banned outfits.
Among the escaped prisoners, 79 were arrested in militancy cases, including nine convicted militants.
Released individuals under surveillance
Analysts say many top leaders and rank-and-file members of militant groups are returning to militancy after being released on bail. This has raised concerns about the extent of surveillance on such individuals.
Responding to a query, Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit chief, DMP Additional Commissioner Md Masud Karim, said: “When top-level militants are released on bail, prison authorities usually inform local police stations or special branches. Afterward, surveillance is conducted on the released individuals.
“We work in coordination with the specialised Anti-Terrorism Unit to monitor them nationwide. We watch whether they are re-engaging in militant activities, whom they meet, and where they travel.”
Among those freed on bail are several of Dhaka’s most notorious underworld figures: Sajedul Islam Emon, Imamul Hasan Helal alias Picchi Helal, Abbas Ali alias Killer Abbas, Sweden Aslam, Khondaker Naeem Ahmed alias Titon, Khorshed Alam alias Rasu alias Freedom Rasu, Freedom Sohel, and Habibur Rahman Taj.
Law enforcement sources also said some top criminals who had fled abroad during police crackdowns have returned after the fall of the Hasina regime. Among them is Golam Rasul alias Tokai Sagar, who returned from the United States to Dhaka in January.
Currently, the armed forces have been given arrest powers to maintain law and order. Joint forces operations have been underway as well.
On 9 February this year, another joint drive – Operation Devil Hunt – was launched, involving the army, navy, air force, police, BGB, Ansar and Coast Guard. However, that operation is no longer active.
Commenting on the matter, DMP Additional Commissioner SN Md Nazrul Islam said: “The top criminals who have already been released served long prison terms and were freed through court orders. They remain under surveillance. Our intelligence and CTTC units are monitoring them. If they re-engage in crime, we will arrest them again.
