Mother's Janaja Prayer: Russell gets 4-hr parole on Friday
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Former Upazila Chairman and banned Awami League leader Golam Hasnayen Russell of Bhangura, Pabna, faced a dramatic situation surrounding his mother's janaja prayer (funeral), as he was not released even after receiving bail.
Although he was granted bail on Thursday in one case, he broke down in tears on the court premises after police told him he was "shown arrested" in another case just before his release. Ultimately, on humanitarian grounds, he was granted a 4-hour parole to attend his mother's burial and funeral prayers.
He will be released from jail on Friday (August 14) from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM under strict police custody.
The matter was confirmed on Thursday (August 13) afternoon by Pabna's Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Liton Dhali.
Golam Hasnayen Russell is the former Chairman of Bhangura Upazila Parishad, former Mayor of the municipality, and General Secretary of the Upazila Awami League.
Russell's lawyer, Advocate Rezaul Karim Polash, said that when his ailing mother Nurjahan Rekha's condition deteriorated abruptly, a bail petition was filed in court. After a long hearing, on Wednesday, Judge Aftabuzzaman of the Pabna District and Sessions Judge's 2nd Court granted Russell bail. However, although the bail documents reached the jail, he was not released that day.
Meanwhile, Russell's mother passed away early Thursday morning while undergoing treatment. After her death, hopes of release arose, but in the morning, police produced Russell in court and showed him as "shown arrested" in a new explosives case recently filed at Chatmohar Police Station. Since he was shown arrested in a new case before the bail in the previous case could take effect, he was being sent back to jail. At this, Russell became speechless and broke down in tears on the court premises. His last chance to see his mother's face and attend the funeral became uncertain, prompting a rushed application to the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate for parole.
Russell's lawyer, Rezaul Karim Polash, strongly condemned the incident, calling the "shown arrest" politically motivated. He said, "Russell Sahib is a well-known person as Upazila Chairman and a political figure. He had been in jail for 22 days. During this time, police never mentioned any cases against him. After the court granted him bail considering the humanitarian appeal to be by his mother's side on life support, they did not release him but instead showed him arrested in a fabricated harassment case, setting an example of inhumanity."
Pabna District Jail Superintendent Omar Faruk said, "On Wednesday, we received Russell's bail papers. However, since documents regarding another pending case against him had arrived earlier, we could not release him that day. But considering the humanitarian aspect, we have received the government order today for his release on a 4-hour parole."
Additional District Magistrate Liton Dhali said, "Considering the humanitarian aspect and the family's desperate appeal, the Deputy Commissioner has approved his conditional release on parole for 4 hours. After the burial and funeral prayers, he will be taken back to jail under police custody within the stipulated time."
