Chhatra League leader denied parole, allowed brief farewell to deceased wife, infant at Jashore jail gate

Jewel Hasan Saddam, president of the Sadar upazila unit of the banned Chhatra League in Bagerhat, was not granted parole following the death of his wife and nine-month-old child.

Instead, prison authorities arranged a brief meeting at the gate of Jashore Central Jail, where he was allowed to see their bodies for five minutes last evening (24 January).

According to jail officials, an ambulance carrying the bodies arrived at the prison around 7pm. Six close family members were permitted to enter the jail gate with the ambulance at about 7:30pm, after which they were escorted out five minutes later. 

Saddam has been imprisoned in Jashore Central Jail in connection with multiple cases since his arrest in Gopalganj following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024.

On Friday afternoon, police recovered the hanging body of Saddam’s wife, Kanij Surbana Swarnali, from their home in Bekhedanga village of Bagerhat Sadar upazila. The body of their nine-month-old son, Nazim, was found beside her. 

Police and family members said Swarnali might have committed suicide after killing her nine-month-old child reportedly due to depression.

Following the deaths, Saddam’s relatives contacted the jail authorities and formally applied for parole so he could attend the funeral. The application was rejected, prompting the family to bring the bodies to the prison gate to allow him a final farewell.

Eyewitnesses said 12 to 15 relatives arrived at the jail in two microbuses, while a crowd of locals and media personnel gathered outside the prison. The scene turned emotional as family members waiting outside broke down in tears.

Saddam’s cousin Sagar Farazi said the refusal to grant parole was inhumane. 

“He is not accused in any murder case. He is in jail in political cases. From a humanitarian perspective, he should have been released on parole, even briefly,” he said.

Saddam’s sister-in-law Karafat also criticised the decision, saying, “He is not a criminal. Today, for the first time, I saw him cry. He should have been allowed to attend the funeral of his wife and child.”

Jailer of Jashore Central Jail Abid Ahmed said humanitarian considerations were taken into account within existing rules. 

“We allowed six family members to enter with the bodies, and Saddam was given five minutes to see his wife and child for the last time,” he said. 

He went on to say, “In such situations, even without formal permission, we try to facilitate a last farewell at the jail gate.”