Abul Barkat granted bail in July Uprising murder case

A Dhaka court today (16 June) granted bail to economist Prof Abul Barkat in a case filed over the killing of businessman Abdul Wadud during the July Uprising in the capital’s Nilkhet area.

Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman passed the order after a hearing.

Confirming the matter, state lawyer Shamsuddoha Suman further added that the court granted Prof Barkat bail on a bond of Tk5,000 until submission of the police report.

Prof Barkat’s lawyer, Shahinur Islam, moved the bail petition, while the prosecution opposed it. With this, there is no obstacle to his release from prison, said Shahinur.

During the bail hearing, he said, “We do not know why he has been shown arrested in this case or what his involvement is in the incident. He is a sick and elderly man. Considering his illness and age, I am praying for his bail. Moreover, given his background, he is not expected to be involved in such an incident. There is no specific allegation against him.”

After hearing both sides, the court accepted the application.

Notably, Barkat was shown arrested in the case on Sunday (14 June). A bail petition filed on his behalf was initially set for hearing yesterday, when the court rejected the application.

Prof Barkat was detained by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch on 10 July from his residence in Dhanmondi in a separate case involving the alleged misappropriation of Tk297 crore in loans taken from Janata Bank in the name of AnonTex Group through forgery. He has remained in custody since then.

According to the case statement, businessman Abdul Wadud was shot dead in the New Market area’s Nilkhet intersection on 19 July 2024 during the July Uprising.

Wadud’s brother-in-law, Abdur Rob, later filed a murder case with New Market Police Station. The case named 130 people as accused, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former minister Obaidul Quader.