Law ministry inquiring 'unusual number of bails' ahead of Eid

The law ministry is conducting an inquiry into a report that claimed around 800 accused were granted bail by the courts under Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) in Dhaka during the last two days before Eid-ul-Azha, Law Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star yesterday.

“The issue was brought to my attention and it was also reported in the media that the courts have granted bail to around 800 accused in the two days. My ministry is holding an inquiry in this regard,” he said.

However, the law minister did not give any further details regarding the matter.

According to a report published yesterday by an online news portal of Channel 24, it was claimed that CMM court granted bail to some 800 accused during August 19 and 20.

The report stated 317 accused got bail on August 19 and some 432 on the next day, including members of Ogyan Party (doping gang), muggers and yaba traders.    

It included a quote from Additional Public Prosecutor Shah Alam Talukder saying “Since separation of judiciary and executive in 2007 granting bail to so many accused in two consecutive days is unsual”.

Contacted, Shah Alam confirmed his quote to The Daily Star and said the huge number of accused was granted bail by 35 courts under the CMM of Dhaka.

Meanwhile, in an investigation by The Daily Star on the general recording section of Dhaka CMM court it was found that only 325 people including 81 quota reform and road safety movement activists got bail from the CMM court during August 19 and 20.