A Dhaka court has granted bail to Dr Abdullah Al Mamun, registrar of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and Hospital, in a case against him for his alleged involvement in the death of Senior ASP Anisul Karim Shipon.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Dhiman Chnadra Mondal passed the order on Sunday, after Dr Mamun's counsel filed a petition before the court on his behalf.
Sub-Inspector Md Munir Hossain, general recording officer (GRO) of the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
The order came hours after Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the authorities, demanding Dr Mamun's unconditional release.
In a statement issued on Sunday, BMA President Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin and General Secretary Dr Ehteshamul Haque Chowdhury vehemently condemned Dr Mamun's arrest, terming it "improper."
In a meeting held on Sunday, the BMA decided to launch a tough movement nationwide if Dr Mamun wasn't released uncoditionally, within 24 hours, the statement said.
Dr Mamun was arrested on November 17, for referring Anisul to a private institution for treatment, where the senior police official was beaten to death by the hospital staff on November 9, according to video footage.
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On November 10, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shahidul Islam placed officials and staff of the hospital on seven-day remand in the case.
The 10 remanded accused included the hospital’s Marketing Manager Arif Mahmud Joy, coordinator Redwan Sabbir, chef Md Masud, pharmacist Md Tanvir Hasan, ward boys Jobayer Hossain, Md Tanim Mollah, Sajib Chowdhury, Asim Chandra Paul, Md Liton Ahammed, and Md Saiful Islam Palash.
Six out of the 10 accused gave confessional statements before the magistrate in the case.
According to police, Senior ASP Anisul, of Barisal Metropolitan Police, was brought to Mind Aid Hospital in Adabar, Dhaka for treatment at around 11:30am on November 9, but no doctor was present at that time.
“The 10 accused took the victim to the observation room on the second floor of the hospital by force. They beat him repeatedly there, and a couple of them pinned him to the ground and smashed him on head and shoulder at one stage . They tied the victim with a scarf,” the investigation officer said.
Subsequently, Anisul lost consciousness. When his relatives took him to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), the attending doctor declared him dead.
The ASP’s father filed the case over his death with Adabar police station against 15 people.