Anticipatory bail granted to 40 accused in Jamaat leader Rezaul Karim murder case, family fuming

The family of the deceased has held a press conference to protest the granting of anticipatory bail to 40 accused in the murder case of Maulana Rezaul Karim, a secretary of the Sribardi Upazila Jamaat who was killed in a BNP-Jamaat clash in Jhenaigati, Sherpur. Expressing strong anger over the High Court's order, the deceased's wife Marzia has demanded cancellation of the bail of the killers and a fair trial.

At a press conference organized at the Sherpur Press Club around 3:30 pm on Monday (February 2), Marzia said in a tearful voice, "I have appeared today as a wife, a helpless widow and a mother of two orphaned children."

She alleged that local terrorists killed her husband Maulana Rezaul Karim on the orders of BNP nominated candidate for Sherpur-3 constituency Mahmudul Haque Rubel on January 28. As soon as she was overcome with grief over her husband's murder, she learned that those directly involved in the murder had been granted anticipatory bail by the High Court.

She expressed her anger and said, "The murderers get bail before the blood stains dry. At whose behest were the murderers granted bail even after the fascist government left?"

At the press conference, Marzia also questioned the role of the Attorney General's Office. In her words, "How are the murderers granted bail despite the presence of state lawyers? So are there still successors of the fascists in the Attorney General's Office?"

Addressing the Attorney General, she said, "You are not a party, you are the lawyer of the state. Immediately appeal to the High Court and stop the bail of the murderers. Otherwise, we will think that you are also an accomplice of the fascists."

She also said, "The blood of martyr Maulana Rezaul Karim cannot be in vain. Our protest will continue until justice is done."

The wife of the deceased said that the High Court has granted anticipatory bail to a total of 40 people, including Mahmudul Haque Rubel, the main accused in the murder case of Maulana Rezaul Karim, secretary of the Sribardi Upazila Jamaat, for six weeks.

A bench comprising Justice Kamrul Hossain Molla and Justice Faisal Hasan Arif of the High Court passed the order after hearing on Monday (February 2). Barrister Md. Ruhul Quddus Kajal heard the case on behalf of the accused. Earlier, an anticipatory bail application was filed with the relevant branch of the High Court on Sunday.

It is worth noting that the deceased's wife Marzia filed a case with Jhenaigati Police Station on Friday night in connection with the murder of Rezaul Karim. The case names 231 people and 500 others, including 230 others, as accused.

On the day of the incident, on the afternoon of January 28, a clash broke out between BNP and Jamaat leaders and activists at the Jhenaigati Mini Stadium over the reading of the manifesto of the candidates for Sherpur-3 (Srivardi-Jhenaigati) constituency. Although the situation calmed down temporarily, a second round of clashes broke out when Jamaat candidate Nuruzzaman Badal and his activists advanced towards the city before evening. Maulana Rezaul Karim was seriously injured in the incident. He later died on the way to Mymensingh that night.

There has been extreme tension in the area since the murder. The family of the deceased and Jamaat leaders and activists have been demanding immediate cancellation of anticipatory bail and exemplary punishment for the culprits.