Protesters demand Asif Nazrul’s resignation over Uprising case bail

NN Online:

Families of the victims and the injured from the July Uprising have demanded the resignation of Law Advisor Asif Nazrul, accusing him of failing to prevent suspects from securing bail.

They staged a sit-in outside the Secretariat on Wednesday, which lasted nearly four hours.

It was triggered by the High Court decision to grant bail to Sajjad Hossain, a former sub-inspector (SI) of Jatrabari Police Station, accused of fatally shooting student Imam Hossain Taim during the July movement.

Protesters said the release of such suspects despite strong evidence had forced them onto the streets.

Before noon, the families and survivors had also demonstrated outside the National Press Club, later marching to Gate 2 of the Secretariat, where they blocked the road and shouted slogans calling for Nazrul’s resignation.

At the rally, Taim’s brother Rabiul Awal said: “Despite strong proof, all suspects are getting bail. We had no option but to come out on the streets.”

Protesters also demanded the re-arrest of SI Sajjad and the removal of the judge who granted him bail.

By afternoon, the families issued an ultimatum, giving the law advisor until Sunday to explain how the suspects were securing release.

“If there is no visible justice and no explanation, we will return on Sunday with larger protests,” said Rabiul.

Traffic resumed after 4pm once demonstrators dispersed, police said.

In a Facebook post made around the same time, Nazrul clarified that the bail order was issued by the High Court, independent of the law ministry.

He stressed the ministry had no role in court decisions, adding that the Attorney General’s Office had already appealed against the bail order and a ruling could come Thursday. If overturned, he said, police would rearrest the suspect.