Former Speaker Shirin Sharmin granted bail

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, former Speaker of the House during the Awami League government, has been granted bail in an attempted murder case linked to an incident during the 2024 Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

The bail was granted by the court of Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossein after a hearing on Sunday, according to Sub-Inspector Ashraful Alam of the Prosecution Department.

Her lawyer ABM Hamidul Mezbah said there are no arrest warrants against her in any other cases, adding that there is no bar to her release from jail.

“Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has no other arrest warrants against her. We will file a bail application. We hope she will be released from jail

At the bail hearing, her lawyer Ibnul Kawsar argued that her name appears only in statements and not in any direct allegations in the case.

“There is not a single word about Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in this case. Only her name is mentioned in the statement. Everyone knows about her qualifications.”

He also told the court about her medical condition, saying she is seriously ill and requires continuous treatment.

“She is sick, a dying person. She has not been able to receive any treatment since Aug 5, 2024. She was in hiding. She had a heart attack in 2016. She had to go to Singapore for treatment every six months.”

“But since Jun 11, 2024, she has not been able to go out for treatment. She has to take many different medications. They are not available in all countries. She is physically and mentally disturbed. She is suffering from different diseases. Her eyesight is slowly fading due to retinopathy.”

Ibnul further said she no longer has access to her previous medical prescriptions and warned that her condition could become life-threatening without treatment.

“She does not have any of her prescriptions from before Aug 5 because she fled for her life. Some prescriptions were retrieved online. If she is not treated, her life will be in danger.”

“There is no allegation of embezzlement, corruption or abuse of power against her. She is an impartial person. A woman. She deserves privileges. If she is not released on medical grounds, her life will be in danger. Accidents can happen at any time.”

Opposing the bail plea, Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi said she was involved in political wrongdoing and the case is under active investigation.

“She is an illegal MP, an illegal speaker. She has supported Sheikh Hasina and helped make her a ‘fascist’.”

“When the protesters attacked the parliament building, she was in the underground of the parliament building.”

He added that granting bail could affect the investigation.

“She is a suspect in this case. She was arrested. The case is under investigation. A suspect older than her is in jail. We are providing treatment according to the jail code. They are doing well with treatment.”

“This is not a case of embezzlement or corruption -- indiscriminate firing was carried out to suppress the protesters. A person named Ashraful was injured in this. She is involved in this incident. I pray that her bail plea be rejected. If she is granted bail, the investigation of the case may be hampered.”

After hearing both sides, the court granted bail on a bond of Tk 50,000.

In its order, the judge said she was serving as Speaker at the time of the incident and is currently ill.

“She is a former speaker. She was performing the duties of the speaker at the time of the incident. She is sick. Bail has been granted on a bond of Tk 50,000 until the police report is submitted.”

According to the case details, a protest was held near Azimpur Bus Stand on Jul 18, 2024 during the July Uprising when protesters were attacked with weapons.

A bullet hit Ashraful alias Fahim in the eye. He sought treatment at different hospitals.

Ashraful has named 130 people, including Hasina, and 115–120 unknown others in a case filed on May 25, 2025.

On Apr 7, around 4:30am, detectives arrested Shirin from her house on Dhanmondi’s 8/A Road.

That day, a court sent Shirin to jail after her arrest in connection with the July Uprising case.

The Detective Branch (DB) of police had sought a two-day remand for interrogation, while her lawyer also applied for bail. After hearing, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana rejected both petitions and sent her to jail.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the parliament the day after Sheikh Hasina fled the country.

Although constitutional rules state that the Speaker remains in office until a successor is sworn in, Shirin stepped down before that transition.

She entered parliament in 2009 through a reserved women’s seat and later served as State Minister for Women and Children Affairs before becoming Speaker.

She made history on Apr 30, 2013, becoming the first woman to preside over the national legislature.

She succeeded Abdul Hamid, who left the Speaker’s post after being elected President.

She served as Speaker for over a decade and was re-elected after the Jan 7 national elections.

Her tenure ended on Sept 2, 2024, when she resigned 27 days after the fall of the Hasina government on Aug 5.