Law Adviser Mainul Hosein does not see the justification for the demand for unconditional release of detained Dhaka University (DU) teachers before their conviction.

"How do they demand unconditional release before conviction?The Rajshahi University teachers could demand it because they were already convicted," he told reporters when asked about DU teachers' demand.

Legal experts, however, did not agree with the law adviser and said anyone can uemanu unconditional release at any point of investigation or trial. The government can also withdraw the charges against anyone anytime.

When asked about the government’s withdrawing the cases filed against the DU teachers, Mainul did not give any direct answer and said, "The government can do everything. But would it not need to justify?"

The matter regarding their release needs to be resolved through legal procedures, he said while talking to reporters at the law ministry.

"Some legal steps need to be maintained to get the benefit of options in a legal procedure," he said when asked whether the DU teachers can be freed before Eid.

Expressing his contentment at the release of four Rajshahi University (RU) teachers, he said, "A respectable solution has been made in the case of the Rajshahi University teachers. Something similar needs to be done in the case of Dhaka University."

Negotiation is on between the two sides, he said. "This is a process between the two sides. Both sides will have to reach an agreement," he added.

Both the sides need to maintain due legal procedures, he said.

On the claim of convicted RU teachers' wives that they did not demand presidential pardon, the law adviser said, "I am happy that they are freed. Teachers are respectable people and I want that they do not get entangled in such difficulties. I am not thinking about the language (of the letterj."

Asked whether the government placed a petition before the president for clemency of the RU teachers, Mainul said, "I cannot give details about this. Yuu see the president has the power to pardon and he has exercised this power."

Asked again who submitted the petition, Mainul said, "Their (teachers') wives."

On whether they submitted the petition directly to the president, he said, "I cannot give you these details. The petition certainly reached the president, otherwise how could he pardon them?"

Meanwhile, the law adviser called on President (ajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban yesterday and thanked him for the clemency to the RU teachers.