Dipu Moni returns to jail after bidding final farewell to husband

Former education and foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni has returned to jail within the stipulated time after bidding final farewell to her husband on 12-hour parole. She was taken back to Munshiganj District Jail at 5:58pm on Thursday (August 20).

Munshiganj District Magistrate Syeda Nurmahal Ashrafi approved Dipu Moni’s parole application on Wednesday. As per the order she was free on parole from 6am to 6pm on Thursday.

During the parole period Dipu Moni went to her residence in Kalabagan of Dhaka and saw the body of her late husband Barrister Taufiq Newaz. Later she participated in his namaz-e-janaza at Azad Mosque in Gulshan and was present at the burial activities at Banani graveyard.

Dipu Moni’s lawyer Faisal Islam said they had applied for four-day parole. However the deputy commissioner approved the application for 12-hour parole.

He said two years of Dipu Moni’s imprisonment have been completed. Earlier her husband had been ill for a long time. Despite applying multiple times for permission to meet her husband outside jail it was not granted. She got the opportunity of parole this time after her husband’s death.

The lawyer said Dipu Moni was taken from jail under police guard at 6am on Thursday. She remained under police guard throughout the parole period.

As per family decision the body of Barrister Taufiq Newaz was taken to his own residence in Kalabagan in the morning. Dipu Moni saw her husband’s body there for the last time. Later the body was taken to Gulshan Azad Mosque. Namaz-e-janaza was held there after Zuhr. After the janaza and doa he was buried at Banani graveyard.

Regarding the legal basis of parole release Faisal Islam said there is a provision for 12-hour parole during daylight under the jail code and related jail rules. The district magistrate has jurisdiction in this regard. Dipu Moni has received 12-hour parole as per that provision.