Vandalism Case: 109 Chhatra Dal activists get anticipatory bail

The High Court yesterday granted anticipatory bail to 109 leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), a pro-BNP student body, including its president Fazlur Rahman Khokon and general secretary Iqbal Hossain Shyamol for four weeks in a vandalism case.

The case was filed with Shahbagh Police Station on February 3 on charges of vandalising vehicles and preventing law enforcers from discharging duties during the countrywide hartal enforced by BNP on February 2, protesting “widespread irregularities” in Dhaka city corporation elections on February 1.

The HC also directed the accused JCD leaders and activists to surrender before the trial court concerned after expiry of the four-week bail.

The HC bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan passed the orders, following nine separate bail petitions filed by the accused. The 109 accused petitioners appeared before the HC bench.

Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain, senior counsel for the petitioners, told The Daily Star that the HC granted anticipatory bail to his clients after he told the court that the case was filed on political motive and in order to harass them.

Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Barrister Kayser Kamal and Advocate Masud Rana assisted Khandker Mahbub Hossain in moving the petitions.