In the Setu Bhaban attack case, Arif Sohel, coordinator of the quota reform movement at Jahangirnagar University, has been granted bail, while former Brac University teacher Asif Mahtab has been ordered to jail.
The ruling was issued by Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Shanto Islam Mallik on Saturday afternoon following a hearing.
Before the hearing, the investigation officer from the DB Police’s Cantonment Zone, Inspector Abu Said Mia, presented the suspects before the court after their six-day remand. The police requested their continued detention in jail.
Defence lawyers, including Shah Md Babar and Zainal Abedin Mezbah, argued for bail. The prosecution opposed their release.
After reviewing arguments from both sides, the court granted bail to Arif Sohel and ordered Asif Mahtab to be sent to jail.
Shah Alam, a sub-inspector of Banani police station, confirmed the matter.
Earlier, on July 29, the court had approved the six-day remand for the suspects.
According to reports, Asif Mahtab was apprehended by DB police from his residence in Uttara at 1am on July 27.
On the same night, a team of eight to nine plainclothes individuals, identifying themselves as CID and DB police, abducted Arif Sohel around 3:15am.
The attack on the Setu Bhaban occurred on July 18.
The caretaker of the building, Robiul Islam, filed a case with Banani Police Station, alleging damage of approximately Tk300 crore.
The case describes how 250 to 300 unidentified individuals involved in the quota reform movement attacked the building with weapons, sticks, and bricks, chanting anti-government slogans.
They set fire to 32 jeep vehicles, 9 pickup trucks, 7 microbuses, 1 minibus, 5 motorcycles, and an ambulance.