Joypurhat uprising accused granted bail, students protest

Joypurhat Correspondent:

Leaders and activists of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement voiced strong protest on Wednesday after several accused in the Joypurhat July Uprising cases were granted what they described as extraordinary and unusual bail.

Tensions flared at the courtroom of Senior Judicial Magistrate Nishith Ranjan Biswas, where students gathered to express their outrage. In response, army personnel and additional police forces were deployed to maintain order around the court premises.

Hasibul Haque Sanijat, coordinator of the Joypurhat chapter of the anti-discrimination movement, told reporters that multiple cases had been filed against ruling party members and their affiliates in connection with the violence during the July uprising, which resulted in injuries and unrest involving students and members of the public.

He said that 312 individuals accused in these cases were granted bail back in October, and students only recently became aware of it. “Upon learning this, we came to court to demand answers,” Sanijat added.

State prosecutor Md. Shahanur Rahman Shahin confirmed the matter, stating, “Yes, several accused have been granted bail. However, no major accused named in serious complaints has been released.” He emphasized that granting bail falls entirely under the jurisdiction of the court, and added that the security deployment helped avoid any untoward incidents during the protest.

Despite the authorities’ assurance, students left the court premises expressing deep dissatisfaction and pledged to continue their movement for justice and accountability surrounding the events of the July uprising.