A Dhaka Court cancelled bail of an accused criminal and sent him to prison for not wearing a face mask during a hearing for an arms case on Thursday.
Abdur Rashid, the offender in question, appeared before the Dhaka Sixth Additional District and Sessions Judge Court without wearing a face mask.
When the court’s Judge, Zinnat Sultana wanted to know why he had appeared without wearing one, Rashid smiled instead of providing a logical response to the judge’s question. The court cancelled his bail and sent him to prison.
Later, Rashid’s lawyer Mostak Ali Siddique, subsequently provided a mask for Rashid and submitted a bail petition seeking bail for his client.
Abdur Rashid was involved in an arms case filed with the Keraniganj police station, accusing six people in 2013 over a robbery incident. The court rejected the initial bail plea.
Confirming the story to Dhaka Tribune, Ashraf Ali, bench assistant to the court, said Rashid’s bail was cancelled due to his failure in not wearing a mask before the court.
Advocate Tawhid Ahamed Reaoan, who was an eyewitness of the incident, said: “The Judge asked Rashid, who hails from the Lohoganj area of Munshiganj, why he appeared in court without wearing a face mask.”
“He didn’t provide a proper response, and proceeded to laugh. In response to his reaction, the court sent him to jail,” he added.
Earlier on October 25 last year, the government decided that no one will be served in government and private offices without wearing a face mask during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam announced the government’s decision after a cabinet meeting stating that a “No mask, no service” policy will be implemented to combat the Coronavirus.