Economist Abul Barkat granted bail

A Dhaka court has granted bail to economist Professor Abul Barkat in a case filed over the killing of businessman Abdul Wadud during the July movement in the capital's Nilakhet area.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman passed the order on Tuesday, June 16, after a hearing.

State prosecutor Shamsuddoha Sumon confirmed that the court granted bail until the submission of the police report, with a bond of Tk 5,000.

Defence lawyer Shahinur Islam argued for bail, while the state opposed it. After hearing both sides, the court granted the bail application.

Earlier on Sunday, Barkat was shown arrested in the case. His lawyers had applied for bail that day, but the court set the hearing for Monday. On Monday, the court rejected the bail application.

On July 10, Dhaka Metropolitan Detective (DB) Police arrested Professor Abul Barkat from his residence on Road No. 3 in Dhanmondi. He was later sent to jail in a case of embezzling Tk 297 crore through fraud from Janata Bank in the name of Annotex Group. He has been in jail since then.