Court grants bail to Jamaat activist

A court in Bhola has granted bail to Bibi Saoda, an activist of the municipal unit of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, who was detained over alleged anti-state activities on social media.

Judicial Magistrate Saurav Roy Mithu passed the bail order on Tuesday, confirmed court police inspector Sheikh Md Nasir Uddin.

According to police, Saoda was detained on Sunday night from her residence in Bhola town by the district Detective Branch’s Cyber Crime Investigation Cell. She was produced before the court the following day under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

A complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Md Jewel Hossain Khan alleged that Saoda made Facebook posts targeting the government and key state figures, including the prime minister and the home minister. She is suspected of offences under the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025.

Police said further action would be taken after reviewing her mobile phone and social media activity.
Party leaders, however, protested her arrest, claiming she was detained without specific evidence.

Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman also expressed concern over the matter in a Facebook post.

At a press conference held by the Bhola district unit of Jamaat on Monday, leaders alleged that the 37-year-old mother was arrested without concrete grounds.