The High Court on Monday granted six months' bail to Jewel Hasan Saddam, president of the Bagerhat Sadar Upazila unit of the Chhatra League, a banned organization, following the deaths of his wife and nine-month-old son.
A High Court bench comprising Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan issued the order on January 26.
Lawyer Saeed Ahmed Raja represented Saddam at the hearing and said the court granted bail on humanitarian grounds.
Police have detained Saddam in connection with multiple cases. On the evening of January 24, jail authorities allowed him to see his deceased wife and infant son for the last time for only five minutes at the gate of Jessore Central Jail. As authorities denied him parole, an ambulance transported the bodies to the jail gate.
According to prison officials, the ambulance carrying the bodies arrived at the jail around 7:00 pm. At about 7:30 pm, jail officials allowed six close relatives to enter the jail gate with the ambulance. Authorities asked them to leave after five minutes.
Eyewitnesses said 12 to 15 relatives arrived at the jail in two microbuses. Relatives waiting outside broke down in tears, creating a heart-rending scene. Many journalists were present at the time.
Law enforcement arrested Saddam in Gopalganj after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024. Authorities have held him at Jessore Central Jail since then.
