2 Shahbagh detainees get bail

A Dhaka court on Saturday granted bail to two people who were arrested after a clash between the activists of Ganajagaran Mancha and another group in the city’s Shahbagh intersection, now christened as 'Prajanma Chattar, on Thursday night.

Those who secured bail are Shams Rashid Joy and Mehedi Hasan.

The Ganajagaran Mancha and Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command, a platform for the children of the 1971 freedom fighters, filed two separate cases with the Shahbagh Police Station over Friday’s clash.

Judge Imdadul Haque of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court granted bail to Joy and Hasan following a hearing after the police produced them before the court showing them arrested in the two cases.

Joy is an activist of the Mancha while Hasan is the President of Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command.

Mahmudur Rahman, General Registrar Officer (Registrar General) in the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, said that the police did not appeal for any remand for the duo while producing them before the court in the cases.

“The court granted bail to them after they separately filed bail petitions with the help of their respective counsels,” he added.

On Friday afternoon, police charged baton to disperse activists of Ganajagaran Mancha and Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command when both groups tried to demonstrate at Shahbagh intersection.

Seven persons, including five Mancha activists, were detained from the site of the youth-led uprising ‘Bangla Spring’ as they were protesting against the ‘attacks’.

Besides Joy, four other Mancha activists who were arrested from the site are Dhiman Aziz, Farid Ahmed, Shohagh Aziz and one Titu.

Apart from Joy, another arrested activist of the Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command is Parvez Ahmed.

Two criminal cases were filed with the Shahbagh Police Station on Friday over Thursday night’s clash.

Pro-government Jubo League leader Nasim Al-Mamun Rupak, Muktijoddha Santan Sangsad Command President Mehedi Hasan and six others have been accused in the case filed by Ganajagaran Mancha activist Narendra Saha Joy.

The other accused are ‘Abir’, ‘Shishir’, Sheikh Aslam, MM Shahin, ‘Mehbah’ and ‘Babul’.

In the counter case filed by Mehedi Hasan, Ganajagaran Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker, Mancha’s another organiser Mahmudul Haq Munsi Bandhon and activist Joy were made accused.

The Thursday night’s clash left two activists of Ganajagaran Mancha injured.

Sarker claimed that their activists were attacked by the loyalists of Bangladesh Chhatra League and Juba League.

Leaders of both the Awami League affiliates, however, rejected the accusation.

On Thursday, several Mancha activists came under attack at Shahbagh. The secular platform called a rally on Friday to protest the incident.

The Muktijoddha Santan Sangsad Command announced a counter rally at Shahbagh around the same time, claiming they were attacked by the Mancha activists on Thursday.