Suspected mastermind of Nasirnagar attack freed on bail

The suspected mastermind of the attacks on the Hindu community in Nasirnagar upazila has been released on bail after serving just over five months in jail. Dewan Atiqur Rahman Ankhi, the suspended chairman of Haripur Union Parishad, was released from the district jail Thursday afternoon following a High Court order, District Judge's Court Police Inspector Mahbubur Rahman said. He said the bail order reached Brahmanbaria court on Thursday and later sent to the district jail. On October 30, 2016, an unruly mob equipped with sharp weapons went berserk and vandalised a number of Hindu temples and 58 houses in Nasirnagar upazila following a rumour of a Facebook post demeaning the Holy Kaaba. On January 5, 2017, the prime accused in the barbaric attack was arrested from Bhatara area in Dhaka. Later, he was placed on remand several times. Later on January 15, Local Government Division suspended him from the post of chairman of Haripur Union Parishad.