Woman entrepreneur, arrested after criticising govt, gets bail

A businesswoman secured bail at a Mymensingh court on Wednesday in a case that was filed after she criticised the BNP government on social media.

Judicial Magistrate Sajidul Islam granted the bail to Sathi Akter, 30, around 12:30pm on Wednesday, following the payment of Tk500 bond, said the court’s inspector Mostanisur Rahman.

Lawyer Mahtab Uddin Ahmed moved in her favour during the hearing.

Sathi runs a beauty parlour at Khadiza Palace Market in Masterbari, Bhaluka upazila, Mymensingh.

On Sunday, she went live on Facebook, alleging that electric cables had been stolen. In the video, she said that she had to “suffer” because she had voted for BNP in the February general elections, and helped it assume power.

After the video went viral, local BNP activists besieged the beauty parlour, demanding punishment for Sathi Akter. Later, police arrived at the spot and took Sathi into custody.

On Monday, she was produced before a court under Article 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedures, which allows the police to make arrests without a warrant to prevent a potentially “unavoidable crime”.

Sathi’s lawyer, Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, alleged that she was arrested for criticising the government, which was a clear violation of the freedom of speech provision endorsed under Article 39 of the constitution.

Instead of restraining or detaining the agitated BNP activists, police arrested Sathi, the lawyer claimed.

On Wednesday noon, Mymensingh District Police Superintendent Kamrul Hasan issued a statement, claiming the media was spreading misinformation regarding Sathi’s arrest.

Sathi’s arrest was not linked to her opinions or criticisms of government, the police officer said.

Rather, she was arrested to pre-empt a criminal offence, and preserve public order, Kamrul Hasan said in the statement.