Toddler endures another day in court as mother’s bail deferred

The child has been crying constantly, refusing food and sleep, and has fallen ill, his aunt says

A 1 and a half-year-old child has spent yet another day at a Dhaka court compound, waiting for the release of his mother Topsha Biswas, whose bail plea in hearing a police assault case is deferred to Sunday.

The toddler, Pranay Biswas from Dhamrai, has been staying at court as his mother remains in jail for a week in a case alleging obstruction and assault on police.

Topsha’s lawyer, Md Irshadul Haque, had sought bail, and the hearing was scheduled for Thursday.

However, Dhaka Senior Judicial Magistrate Afroza Sultana deferred the hearing to Sunday, he said.

Hearing that the bail would not be heard on the day, Pranay’s maternal aunt, Sarala Biswas, who brought him to court early in the morning, expressed frustration.

Several relatives were with them.

“Once again, his mother did not get bail today,” Sarala said. “The child keeps crying for his mother. He is not eating or sleeping properly. He wants to go to her. He has fallen ill and caught a cold. We are in deep trouble.”

Pranay’s cousin Shekhar Mondol said they had arrived at court in the morning with hopes of bail. “How will he live without his mother?” he asked.

On Jan 25, Pranay had also spent the entire day at the court premises, only to return disappointed after learning that the bail hearing would not take place.

bdnews24.com published a report the following day highlighting the child and his aunt waiting beside a wall at the court.

The case stems from an incident on Jan 23, when police were allegedly attacked during a raid in the Dhamrai area while attempting to arrest a convicted fugitive in a theft case from Gazipur’s Kaliakair Police Station.

Four people, including two women, were arrested and charged with obstructing police duties and assault.

Topsha is among the accused, along with Kiran Mala, Badal Chandra Sarkar and Dulal Chandra Sarkar.

On Jan 24, police sought seven days’ remand for all four.

Dhaka Senior Judicial Magistrate Tajul Islam Sohag rejected remand and bail petitions for the two women and sent them to jail, while granting one day’s remand for the other two suspects.

Subodh Chandra Barman, a sub-inspector at Dhamrai Police Station and the case complainant, said police had gone to Harilal Biswas’s house under Baisakanda Union after receiving information that Babul Akhtar, a convicted theft suspect, was hiding there.

“They attacked us with sticks, iron rods and locally made weapons,” he alleged, adding that several police personnel were injured before reinforcements arrived.

Harilal, Topsha’s husband, and their son Saurav Biswas are also accused in the case. Police said the fugitive Babul was not found during the raid.