BNP leader Rizvi freed on bail

BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed was released from Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur on bail this evening.

Over 10 months after his arrest, Rizvi walked out of the jail around 5:40pm, Sayrul Kabir Khan, a staff of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, told The Daily Star.

His family members, including his wife and some BNP leaders and activists received Rizvi at the jail gate.

Talking to The Daily Star soon after his release, Rizvi said he will first go to his residence in the capital’s Shyamoli area and then meet the BNP chief at night.

Earlier on November 24, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court order that granted bail to Rizvi in two arson attack cases, removing the all barriers to his release as he had got bail in other cases earlier.

The two cases were filed against Rizvi and others over a petrol bomb attack on a bus in Chauddagram upazila in Comilla during BNP-led alliance’s movement early this year.

On November 2, the HC granted interim bail to the BNP leader in the two cases.

Amid the BNP’s non-stop countrywide transport blockade, members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Rizvi from his hideout at a house in the city’s Baridhara area on January 31 as he was issuing statement in favour of the party and announcing hartal and other antigovernment programmes from there.

Later, he was shown arrested in many cases relating to violence and arson attacks took place during the BNP-led 20-party’s movement.