Court scraps Abul Barkat’s bail plea in July Uprising murder case
Barkat’s lawyer, Advocate Babul Mia, said the Appellate Division had previously granted bail to the economist on 7 June in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
A Dhaka court has rejected the bail petition of economist Prof Abul Barkat in a murder case filed over the killing of businessman Abdul Wadud during the 2024 July Uprising in the capital's New Market area.
After a hearing today (15 June), Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin passed the order, confirmed Sub-Inspector Mazharul Islam of the prosecution division.
During the hearing, Barkat's lawyer, Advocate Babul Mia, said the Appellate Division had previously granted bail to the economist on 7 June in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
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Babul said the Appellate Division had granted bail on condition of surrendering his passport, but Barkat was arrested again just before his release from jail. "We do not know why he was arrested in this case and what his involvement is," he said.
Another defence lawyer, Barrister Sara Hossain, also pleaded with the court to grant Barkat bail, citing his age and health condition.
"There is no reason to believe he is connected to this incident [July Uprising murder], and there are no specific allegations against him," she said.
Opposing the bail petition, state counsel Shamsuddoha Sumon said investigators had found Barkat's involvement in the case.
"He has siphoned off thousands of crores of taka from the country and supported efforts to keep Sheikh Hasina in power," he said. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail petition.
According to the case statement, businessman Abdul Wadud was shot dead on 19 July 2024 during protests linked to the July Uprising in the New Market area of Nilkhet.
The case was filed at New Market Police Station by Wadud's brother-in-law Abdur Rab, who named 130 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader, as accused.
Earlier, Barkat was arrested in this case yesterday. His lawyers later moved a bail petition, and the court set today for the hearing. He was subsequently sent to jail.
On the night of 10 July, the Detective Branch of the police arrested Barkat from his Dhanmondi residence.
He was later sent to jail in a separate case involving alleged embezzlement of Tk297 crore from Janata Bank through fraud in the name of Anontex Group, and has remained in custody since then.
