Former Police Superintendent (SP) Babul Akter, the prime suspect in the murder case of his wife, Mahmuda Khanam Mitu, has been released from jail. He was freed from the Chittagong Central Jail at 5:30pm on Wednesday.
Babul Akter’s lawyer, Mohammad Kafil Uddin Chowdhury said that the High Court granted him bail in the Mitu murder case. The release order from the court reached the Chittagong Central Jail on Sunday and after three days, Babul Akter was released by the prison authorities on Wednesday. The Senior Jail Superintendent, Iqbal Hossain, confirmed the release.
On August 14, 2023, Babul Akter had applied for bail in the Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court in Chittagong. His bail petition was rejected by the judge on August 18. Following this, he filed an appeal with the High Court. On Wednesday, the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division, Justice Md. Rezaul Haque, upheld the High Court’s decision. The High Court granted him bail, after hearing his petition.
In the case of the 2016 murder of Mahmuda Khanam Mitu, Babul Akter was initially not implicated in the investigation. The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) later identified his involvement and he was charged as the prime accused in 2021.
On May 12, 2021, the PBI submitted a final report in the case and on the same day Mitu’s father, former police inspector Mosharraf Hossain, filed a second case, accusing Babul Akter. The PBI arrested him and sent him to court.
In October 2021, Babul’s lawyer filed a petition challenging the final report submitted by the PBI and in November, the court ordered further investigation into the case. Both cases continued under investigation by the PBI.
On January 25, 2022, the PBI submitted a final report in the case filed by Mitu's father and in September 2022, the court accepted the charge sheet and named Babul Akter and six others as accused.
In March 2023, the court framed charges against Babul Akter and six other accused and the trial is currently at the stage of recording evidence.
