A Rangpur court on Thursday granted bail to 16-year-old Alfie Shahriar Mahim who was shown arrested in Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayeed murder case after he was picked up by police during quota reform movement on July 18.
Judge Mostafa Kamal of the Rangpur Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal-1 granted the bail, confirmed Mahim's lawyer Jobaidul Islam.
Mahim, son of Md Shahjalal, was sent to jail on July 19 in connection with the murder of Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayeed, who was killed during clashes with police, Chhatra League, and Jubo League activists in Rangpur on July 16.
Mahim's arrest remained unnoticed until his sister, Sanjana Akhter Sneha, posted on Facebook on July 31, seeking information about his whereabouts. She revealed that Mahim was arrested after being caught up in the protest and hit by a rubber bullet.
According to Mahim's lawyer, the case was initially handled by the Metropolitan Tajhat Police Station but was transferred due to his minor status. His bail hearing, originally scheduled for August 4, was moved up after the social media post garnered attention.
The investigating officer of the case, SI Zillur Rahman, said that Mahim was arrested during the violent protests, but his age verification was not conducted at the time due to the tense situation in Rangpur.
Mahim's sister expressed frustration over the handling of her brother's case, questioning why a minor in school uniform was detained and not allowed any contact with his family.
Juvenile court rejects bail of 17-year-old student Faiyaz
However, a juvenile court in Dhaka on Thursday rejected bail petition of Dhaka College student Hasnatul Islam Faiyaz in a case filed over the killing of a police constable amid violence centring the quota reform movement in Dhaka's Jatrabari on July 19.
Judge Roksana Begum Happy of Juvenile Court-3 of Dhaka passed the order after Faiyaz's lawyer submitted an application, seeking bail on grounds that their client was not involved with the incident.
Their client was implicated in the case as part of a conspiracy to harass him. Moreover, Faiyaz is a 17-year-old boy, so his bail petition should be granted, said the defence lawyer.
The prosecution opposed it saying that Faiyaz's bail petition should be dismissed, because he is an FIR named accused, and the investigation officer found his involvement with the incident.
Upon hearing both the sides today, the judge turned down the defence pleas considering the depth of offences brought against him and other accused in the case.
On July 28, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shanta Akhter placed Faiyaz on a seven-day remand treating him as an adult, even though they had submitted all documents in support of treating him as a juvenile. Later in that day, a juvenile court cancelled his remand.
On July 29, following a writ petition, the government told the High Court that taking Faiyaz on remand and tying him with ropes was a mistake and that it will take steps so that such mistakes are not repeated.
