Azizur Rahman, a rickshaw puller, who was beaten by a mob at Dhanmondi-32 while offering flowers and later arrested, has been granted bail.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate MA Azharul Islam approved his bail following a hearing on Sunday. Defence lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi submitted the petition, which was opposed by the prosecution. After hearing both sides, the court allowed the bail.
Azizur Rahman was assaulted on 15 August while attempting to pay tribute to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with flowers. Police detained him from the scene and put him before the court on 16 August as a suspect in an attempted murder case filed in connection with last year’s July uprising.
Sub-Inspector Mohammad Touhidur Rahman of Dhanmondi Police Station had requested remand, which the court initially approved after rejecting an earlier bail request.
The case relates to an incident on 4 August last year, during the anti-discrimination student movement, when Md Ariful Islam was shot near New Market–Science Lab area. Attackers reportedly opened fire and hurled petrol bombs and hand grenades around 2:30pm. Ariful sustained a critical bullet wound to his back but recovered after two months of treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Ariful later filed the attempted murder case with Dhanmondi Police Station on 2 April this year.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has summoned the Officer-in-Charge of Dhanmondi Police Station to explain the grounds on which rickshaw puller Azizur Rahman, detained from Dhanmondi-32, was named a suspect in a criminal case.
The DMP has also launched a review to examine whether there were any inconsistencies in the recent actions or statements of the police officer.
Meanwhile, the officer has been instructed to submit a report without delay on the investigation into Azizur Rahman’s alleged involvement in the case, in accordance with the recently amended Section 173(A) of the Criminal Procedure Code.