Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury granted bail in attempted murder case

A Dhaka court has granted bail to former Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Shirin Sharmin Chauwdhury in a case filed with Lalbagh Police Station in the capital on charges of violence, vandalism and attempted murder during the mass uprising. 

On Sunday, the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain in Dhaka granted her bail on a surety of Tk 50,000 after an application by the accused.

Her lawyers said there is no obstacle to her release as there is no arrest warrant against her in any other case.

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was arrested from a relative’s house in the early hours of April 7. She was sent to jail in this case on the same day.

According to the case details, on the afternoon of July 18, 2024, a protest was under way at Azimpur bus stand during the July movement when the demonstrators were attacked with domestic and foreign weapons. One bullet struck Ashraful alias Fahim in the eye. He later received treatment at various hospitals.

In connection with the incident, Ashraful filed a case on May 25 last year against 130 named individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, and 115 to 120 unnamed persons.

On August 5, 2024, the day after Sheikh Hasina left the country, President Md Shahabuddin dissolved parliament. 

Under the rules of the constitution, the post of Speaker does not become vacant immediately upon dissolution of parliament. 

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury continued in office until the next Speaker was sworn in. She resigned on September 2 after 27 days.

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury first entered the Jatiya Sangsad in 2009 as a member from a reserved women’s seat. She was later appointed State Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs.

Following the death of President Zillur Rahman at the end of the ninth parliament, the then Speaker Abdul Hamid assumed the presidency. On April 30, 2013, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was elected the first female Speaker of Bangladesh. She held the position for three consecutive terms thereafter.