Rickshaw-puller beaten at Dhanmondi 32 granted bail in attempted murder case
Earlier yesterday, he was sent to jail in the case
A Dhaka court has granted bail to rickshaw-puller Azizur Rahman, who was beaten by a mob while trying to pay tribute to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka on 15 August, in an attempted murder case related to the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate MA Azharul Islam approved the bail petition on a Tk1,000 bond today (17 August).
Defence lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi confirmed the development to the media.
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Earlier yesterday, he was sent to jail in the case.
Defence lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi told The Business Standard, "We submitted a bail petition for the accused in court. However, since multiple powers of attorney were filed in the case, the bail hearing had not taken place.
Earlier in the day, Azizur's wife, Chumki Khatun, appeared in court carrying their 10-month-old child. "My husband is not involved in politics. He went there out of emotion. Now that he has been granted bail, I am happy," she told reporters.
Defense lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi, who represented Azizur, said during the hearing, "The accused is a rickshaw-puller. He went to Dhanmondi 32 to pay tribute and was assaulted. Later, police arrested him and linked him to a pending case. He earns hand-to-mouth, and even his rickshaw has been taken away. We plead for his bail."
According to the case document, on 4 August last year, during the movement, victim Ariful was leading a procession from New Market to the Science Lab area. Around 2:30pm, the accused Azizur, along with others, allegedly opened fire and hurled petrol bombs and hand bombs.
A bullet pierced the victim's back, leaving him critically injured. He later received two months of treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital before recovering.
Following the incident, Ariful filed an attempted murder case with Dhanmondi Police Station.
On 15 August, Azizur was beaten by a mob at Dhanmondi 32 when he went to pay tribute with bouquet to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Police later detained him from the spot.
That day, he told police, "I am not involved with any political party. I only came because I love Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."
With tears in his eyes, Azizur said, "I came to pay my respects to Bangabandhu. I bought this bouquet with Tk400. I earned the money after a whole day's work. I did not come here to bring back Awami League or Sheikh Hasina."
