The Dhaka court has granted bail to BNP-affiliated Farmers’ Party General Secretary Shahidul Islam Babul in a case filed at Paltan Police Station. The case was based on allegations of obstructing government duties and holding an unlawful gathering.

On Sunday, August 24, after hearing arguments, Acting Judge of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court, Ibrahim Mia, approved Babul’s bail petition.

Earlier, on August 18, Babul had surrendered before the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Md. Saifuzzaman, seeking bail under appeal conditions. At that time, his request was rejected, and he was sent to prison. The following day, August 19, his lawyers filed an appeal and a fresh bail petition before the Metropolitan Sessions Court, which set August 24 for the hearing.

According to Babul’s lawyers, Nehar Hossain Faruqi and Sadekul Islam Bhuiyan (Jadu), the court finally granted bail today.

Case records show the incident dates back to October 31, 2017, when BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia returned to Dhaka from Cox’s Bazar. Party activists allegedly chanted anti-government slogans in Paltan, attempted to block the VIP road, and engaged in vandalism. Sub-Inspector Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil filed the case the same day.

Following investigation, the charge sheet was submitted in July 2019 by SI Ataur Rahman. After trial proceedings, on November 23, 2023, the Metropolitan Magistrate Court sentenced Shahidul Islam Babul to two separate prison terms: two and a half years of rigorous imprisonment under one section and one year under another.