A Dhaka court on Sunday granted bail to six of the seven leftist student leaders and activists arrested for protesting against the death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury granted the bail order around 1pm.
The six students are - Md Tamjid Haider, Nozib Amir Chowdhury Joy, Md Akib Ahmed, Arafat Saad, Nazifa Jannat and Joyoti Chakravarty. No bail petition was filed for the seventh accused ASM Tanjimur Rahman.
On February 27, police filed a case against seven people who were arrested from Shahbagh on February 26 for obstructing police from carrying out their duties.
On February 26, at least 35 people were injured in a clash between police and activists of the left-leaning organisations who gathered in Dhaka University area for a torchlight procession.
Their demands include abolition of the Digital Security Act and investigation into the death of Mushtaq.
Mushtaq's death in custody
Mushtaq reportedly suffered a heart attack inside his cell at Kashimpur prison on the evening of Feb 25.
He was taken to Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead, Senior Jail Superintendent Md Gias Uddin said.
On March 4 this year, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told the media that Mushtaq's death was natural.
An unnatural death case was filed at Gazipur Metropolitan Police's Sadar Police Station in connection with Mushtaq's death.
The 53-year-old writer, who published the book "Kumir Chaasher Diary" under the pen name Michael Kumir Thakur, was picked up by RAB from his Lalmatia home on May 2, 2020, for allegedly criticising the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On August 20 last year, he was shifted to Kashimpur prison.
Calls for Mushtaq's release were widespread and sustained throughout his time in prison. Soon after his arrest, more than 300 dignitaries in Bangladesh issued a joint statement demanding his release, including cartoonist Ahmed Kishore.
However, his bail applications were turned down on at least four occasions.
