Bagerhat Chhatra League leader Saddam released from Jashore jail
Earlier on 26 January, a High Court division bench granted Saddam six months' bail on humanitarian grounds.
Jewel Hasan Saddam, president of the banned Chhatra League's Bagerhat Sadar upazila unit, was released from Jashore Central Jail today (28 January), four days after the death of his wife and nine-month-old child.
Confirming the matter to The Business Standard this evening, Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate at the Jashore deputy commissioner's office Asif Uddin said Saddam was freed around 2pm after the jail authorities received a bail order.
Asif, who is also serving as acting senior jail superintendent, added that all legal formalities had been completed before Saddam's release earlier in the afternoon.
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Earlier on 26 January, a High Court division bench granted Saddam six months' bail on humanitarian grounds. With this order, he has now secured bail in all seven cases filed against him, having previously been granted bail in six other cases.
According to family members and jail sources, Saddam was arrested in Gopalganj on 5 August 2024 following the fall of the Awami League government. He was initially held at Bagerhat jail and later transferred to Jashore Central Jail on 12 December 2025.
On 24 January, authorities allowed Saddam to bid farewell to his deceased wife and infant for five minutes at the jail gate after his family failed to secure his release on parole. The incident triggered widespread discussion and criticism on social media, with many arguing that he should have been granted parole.
On 23 January, police recovered the body of Saddam's wife, Kanij Surbana Swarnali, hanging inside 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 may have died by suicide after killing the child, reportedly due to depression.
Lack of transparency by the Jashore jail authorities
Meanwhile, journalists alleged a lack of transparency by the Jashore jail authorities regarding Saddam's release.
From the afternoon until evening, local media personnel were seen waiting outside the jail gate but said they did not receive clear information from officials.
Repeated attempts to contact responsible jail officials were unsuccessful.
Acting Senior Jail Superintendent Asif Uddin later advised journalists to speak directly with the jailer. However, several calls to Jailer Abid Ahmed also went unanswered.
Saddam's brother, Shahidul Islam, told TBS that the administration had instructed officials not to speak to the media.
