SC asks govt to explain delay in releasing Khadija

Despite securing bail from the Supreme Court, why was Jagannath University student Khadijatul Kubra's release from jail delayed - the Appellate Division directed the government to explain.

The Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan came up with the order after Khadija's lawyer Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua brought the matter to their attention on Monday.

On Thursday, the Appellate Division upheld a High Court order that granted bail to Khadija.

She was released from Kashimpur Central Jail at around 9am, according to her sister Sirajum Monira.

"Khadija should have been released as soon as her bail order reached the jail. She was unlawfully held. It is clearly contempt of court," Jyotirmoy Barua said.

Khadija was granted bail by the High Court on February 16 in two Digital Security Act cases. The state filed a petition challenging the bail.

The bail was suspended on July 10.

In October 2020, police filed two cases against Khadija and retired Maj Delowar Hossain at the Kalabagan and New Market Police Stations for 'spreading anti-government propaganda and harming Bangladesh's reputation.'

The allegations in the two cases filed a week apart, were similar. Police arrested Khadija on August 27, 2022.

/KN/