Court Grants Bail To Ex-Planning Minister MA Mannan

The court has granted bail to former Planning Minister M.A. Mannan, who is currently in prison, in connection with an attack on students during an anti-discrimination movement. However, the plaintiff's lawyers were absent during the bail hearing.

Today, Wednesday (October 9), at 3 PM, Judge Hemayet Uddin of the Sunamganj District and Sessions Court approved the bail application for M.A. Mannan, considering his age and health condition.

The defense lawyer, Abdul Hamid, confirmed the bail and stated that M.A. Mannan was hospitalized due to illness. He explained the situation to the court, which resulted in the judge granting bail for 20,000 Taka. The defense expressed satisfaction with the ruling.

Earlier on Wednesday (October 9), a bail hearing took place at 11 AM at the Sunamganj District and Sessions Court. Senior District Judge Mohammad Hemayet Uddin left the courtroom following a commotion from both sides. The hearing was rescheduled for 2:30 PM.

Plaintiff's lawyer Mashuk Alam stated that the bail hearing for the former minister was scheduled suddenly. When they opposed it in the morning, the judge left the courtroom. He noted that they boycotted the hearing at 2:30 PM, and the court granted bail based solely on the defense's arguments, which he found regrettable.

It is noteworthy that on September 2, Hafiz Ali, brother of a student injured in the anti-discrimination movement, filed a case against 99 individuals in the Sunamganj speedy trial court. This case led to the former minister's imprisonment. The 80-year-old M.A. Mannan has serious health issues. He was arrested by police from his residence in Shantiganj, Sunamganj, on September 20, based on allegations related to the attack on the student movement. He has faced three bail hearings so far. After falling ill in jail on October 5, he was transferred to the Sunamganj District Hospital and later to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital. A six-member medical board has been formed for his treatment.