Jailed Politician Attends Stepmother Funeral Under Police Escort in Joypurhat
Photo Collected
Khetlal, Joypurhat — A local leader of the banned organization Swechchhasebak League, currently detained on charges related to the 2024 student-led movement, was granted a two-hour parole on Tuesday to attend the funeral of his stepmother. Rashedul Islam, the organizing secretary of the Joypurhat district committee, remained handcuffed throughout the funeral proceedings, sparking widespread public debate after images and footage of the event circulated on social media.
Rashedul Islam, a resident of Dhantala village in the Mamudpur Union of Khetlal Upazila, has been incarcerated since August 22 following his arrest in a sabotage case. According to family members, his stepmother, Rahima Bibi, passed away early Tuesday morning due to an illness. Following her death, his family formally petitioned authorities for his temporary release to pay his final respects.
In response to the petition, authorities granted Rashedul a brief parole. Escorted by police, he was transported to his home, where he spent time beside his stepmother’s body while still in restraints. He later participated in the funeral prayer and the burial rites under continuous police supervision before being returned to custody.
Tofael Ahmed Khan, the jailer of Joypurhat District Jail, confirmed that Rashedul was released at 2:15 p.m. and returned to prison at 4:15 p.m. once the parole period expired. When questioned regarding the use of handcuffs during the funeral, the jailer stated he was unaware of the specific circumstances, noting that tactical decisions during transport and public attendance fall under the jurisdiction of the police.
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