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Metropolitan Magistrate Md Zakir Hossain granted her bail on health grounds after a petition was submitted by the defence, said a sub-inspector working at the court.

During yesterday’s hearing, defence lawyer Abul Hasanat Imrul Qausar said, “Not a single word about her [Shirin] appears in the case. Her name is mentioned only once in the FIR. Everyone knows about her qualifications.

“She is suffering from multiple illnesses. She has not been able to receive any treatment since August 5, 2024, as she had been hiding. In 2016, she suffered a heart attack. Every six months, she has to go to Singapore for treatment. But since June 11, 2024, she has not been able to go abroad for treatment. If she is not given treatment, her life will be at risk.”

The lawyer said, “There are no allegations of embezzlement, corruption, or abuse of power against her. She is a neutral person. She is a woman and deserves certain privileges. If mercy is not shown on medical grounds, her life will be in danger. An unfortunate incident could happen at any moment.”

Opposing the bail petition, Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi said, “She is an illegal MP and an illegal Speaker. By supporting Sheikh Hasina, she helped turn her into a fascist. When protesters attacked the parliament building, she was in the underground area of the parliament.

“She is a named accused in the FIR. She was arrested, and the case is currently under investigation. There are accused who are older than her and are also in prison. According to the jail code, they are being provided medical treatment and are doing well with that treatment.”

After hearing the prosecution and the defence, the court granted the ex-Speaker bail on a bond of Tk 50,000.

In the order, the metropolitan magistrate said, “She is a former Speaker. At the time of the incident, she was performing the duties of the Speaker. She is ill. Bail is granted on a bond of Tk 50,000 until the police submit the investigation report.”

On April 7, detectives arrested her from her cousin’s home in the capital’s Dhanmondi.

She was sent to jail the same day, after the court rejected a two-day remand prayer submitted by Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

On May 25 last year, victim Mohammad Ashraful filed the attempted murder case with a Dhaka court, accusing deposed prime minister Hasina and 129 others.

Following a court directive, the officer-in-charge of Lalbagh Police Station recorded it as a first information report (FIR) on July 17.

According to the case documents, Ashraful was shot in Azimpur on July 18, 2024.

Shirin Sharmin served as Speaker from April 30, 2013, until her resignation on September 2, 2024, according to the parliament website.

According to lawyers and court sources, there are six cases against her linked to the quota reform protests, including four murder cases. Five were filed with police stations under the DMP and one was lodged with Kotwali Police Station under the Rangpur Metropolitan Police.