Family worried about Shipra’s security as she leaves jail

Shipra Rani Debnath, a filmmaker and student of Stamford University's Film and Media Studies Department, has left jail eight days after she was "falsely implicated" in a narcotics case filed by Ramu police station.

The case was filed the day after the killing of retired Major Sinha Md Rashed Khan.

Shipra's family is now worried about her security and is demanding an impartial probe to spare her from further legal battles.

Hailing from Kushtia, Shipra lives in the capital's Rampura TV road area and her family members are now waiting for her arrival at their Dhaka residence.

This correspondent visited the residence on Sunday afternoon when the family got the news of her bail from a Cox's Bazar court.

After getting the news over the phone, from a friend of Shipra's in Cox's Bazar, her mother, Purnima Debnath, cried.

She said they were relieved that Shipra will not have to stay in jail anymore.

"We are lucky that Shipra got bail just eight days after the incident – she could have been trapped in the case badly," she added.

"Every second is like a year to me, I cannot wait anymore to see my loving child, but I cannot go to Cox's Bazar now either," Purnima said.

Meanwhile, Monir Hossain, deputy jailer at the Cox's Bazar district prison, told The Business Standard that the lawyer and a friend of Shipra received her at the jail gate on Sunday afternoon.

"She will leave for Dhaka by tomorrow [Monday], and she is okay now," said Salauddin Shikder Polash, a friend of Shipra's.

"I request the investigation authority submit a probe report immediately and ensure Shipra's security for at least the next few days," said Shipra's mother Purnima Debnath.

Earlier on Sunday, a Cox's Bazar court granted bail to Shipra Rani Debnath – who was arrested and sent to jail in a narcotics case following the killing of former army major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan.

Cox's Bazar Chief Judicial Magistrate Court Judge Delwar Hossain passed the order.

Meanwhile, the bail application of Sifat, who was with the retired major during the incident, will be heard in the Teknaf Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court on Monday, according to Sifat's lawyer Mahabubul Alam Dipu.

The remand of the seven accused in the murder of Sinha began on Sunday. Further, arrest warrants have been issued against the two fugitives.

Major (retd) Sinha had been in Cox's Bazar with the students to make a documentary film. Earlier on Friday night, Sinha was killed in a police firing on Cox's Bazar's Marine Drive.

After the shooting, police arrested Sifat, who was travelling with the retired major, from the spot while Shipra was picked up from a local resort. The duo was accused in two different lawsuits – attempted murder and narcotics cases.

Shipra, a student of Stamford University's film and media studies department and a crew member of the slain Major Sinha, was wrongfully arrested, according to her family members.

On August 1, police produced them before the Cox's Bazar court and the court sent them to jail.

RAB to interrogate three prime accused tomorrow

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the investigating authority in the Sinha murder case, also filed a petition to take charge of the attempt-to-murder and narcotics cases filed against Sifat and Shipra.

The court will decide on whether RAB will get the charge or not on Monday, said Lt Col Ashique Billah, director of RAB's legal and media wing.

Meanwhile, Mm Jamilul Haque, the investigating officer assistant superintendent of police of RAB 15, interrogated the four other accused in the Sinha murder case at the jail gate. The accused are Assistant Sub-Inspector Liton Miah plus constables Safanur Karim, Kamal Hossain and Abdullah Al Mamun.

The RAB will also take the three prime accused into custody on Monday for interrogation. They are Teknaf police station's Officer-in-Charge Pradeep Kumar Das, Baharchhara police outpost's inspector Liakat Ali and Sub-Inspector Nanda Dulal Rakkhit who were placed on a seven-day remand on Thursday.