Former SP Babul Akter granted bail after more than three years in jail

Former Superintendent of Police (SP) Babul Akter has been granted bail after spending over three and a half years behind bars. 

The bail order was issued on Wednesday by a High Court bench made up of Justice Md. Ataur Rahman and Justice Ali Reza.

Babul Akter was arrested in 2021 in connection with the murder of his wife, Mahmuda Khanam Mitu, a case that has drawn significant attention. Since his arrest, he has been in prison, unable to secure bail until now.

Just a few months ago, on August 18, a court in Chittagong had rejected his request for bail. The murder case is still ongoing at Chittagong’s Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Court, where Judge Jasim Uddin is presiding. 

So far, 52 out of 97 witnesses have testified in the case.

The tragic murder of Mitu took place on June 5, 2016, in broad daylight near the GEC intersection in Chittagong. 

Mitu was attacked while walking her son to the school bus stop, where she was brutally shot and hacked to death.

At the time, Babul Akter had recently been transferred from Chittagong to Dhaka. The murder happened just days after he started his new role in the capital.

The case had been under investigation for over three years, but the Detective Branch (DB) failed to make significant progress. Then, in January 2020, the court transferred the case to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI).

In May 2021, the PBI revealed shocking findings. They claimed that Babul Akter had orchestrated his wife’s murder and paid the killers three lakh takas through an intermediary.

Following this revelation, a final report was filed implicating Babul. Meanwhile, Mitu‍‍`s father had filed a separate case, but that case was dismissed. However, Babul‍‍`s case was revived and continued.

Finally, on September 13, 2022, the PBI submitted a charge sheet naming Babul Akter and six others as the accused. 

The charge sheet was accepted by the Chittagong Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on October 10, 2022.

This recent bail order marks a significant turn in Babul Akter‍‍`s legal journey, but the murder trial is still ongoing as the court continues to hear witness testimonies and examine the evidence.