Why not grant bail to four under-trial female prisoners?
The High Court yesterday issued a rule upon the government to explain why four under-trial female prisoners at the Kashimpur jail in Gazipur should not be granted bail in the cases filed against them.
Sumi Akter Reshma from Narayanganj, Razia Sultana from Gazipur and Rani alias Nupur from Mymensingh have been in the jail since 2009 in three separate murder cases and Shanaj Begum from Narayanganj has been suffering in jail since 2008 in a killing case.
The HC also directed the jail authorities to produce the four detainees before the court on January 16 so that their statements could be heard.
The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice JMB Hassan came up with the rule and order on a suomoto move after Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee (SCLAC) member Advocate Aynunnahar Siddiqua brought for the status of the cases.
The SCLAC has collected the information from the jail authorities.
On November 16, the SCLAC sent letters to the authorities of all 68 jails across the country seeking names and particulars of prisoners whose trials have been ongoing for long periods, saying it would provide legal assistance to those financially insolvent.
Two separate lists were sought, one for those inside for over five years and another of those over 10 years.
Many people have reportedly been suffering in jails without being convicted, with their trials ongoing for a long time due to reasons, including absence of witnesses, said the letter.
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