The jail authorities has freed former Janata Bank chairman professor Abul Barkat after the lower court had granted him bail in a murder case filed over the killing of businessman Abdul Wadud during the July 2024 mass uprising in the capital’s Nilkhet area, clearing the way for his release from jail.
Assistant inspector general of prisons for development Md Jannat-Ul-Farhad confirmed prof Barkat’s release from the Dhaka Central Jail after 8:00pm.
Barkat was arrested on July 10, 2025 in connection with a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission. His bail plea was rejected by the Metropolitan senior special judge’s court on several occasions.
On Tuesday, Dhaka chief metropolitan magistrate Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman heard Barkat’ bail prayer and granted him bail, considering his health condition in the July murder case as the 76-year-old man had become ill in the jail, Barkat’s senior lawyer Mustafizur Rahman said.
The court earlier on Monday denied Barkat’s bail and the lawyer told journalists that his client would appeal against the order rejecting his bail.
Earlier on Sunday, Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Monirul Islam allowed a police application to show Barkat arrested in the case and ordered that he be sent to jail.
The police earlier sought to show him arrested in the fresh case on June 7 after jail authorities initiated steps for his release following a Supreme Court order that upheld his bail in a loan embezzlement case.
According to the prosecution, businessman Abdul Wadud was shot dead in Nilkhet area of New Market police station during the anti-discrimination student movement on July 19, 2024.
Wadud’s brother-in-law, Abdur Rob, filed the murder case with New Market police station on August 21, 2024, accusing 130 people, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader.
Barkat was not named in the first information report.
The High Court granted him bail on May 11 in the Janata Bank’ loan embezzlement case, and the Appellate Division upheld the bail.
