‘Bail in Baridhara case could send wrong message about justice’

A Dhaka court on Sunday rejected the bail petition of juvenile Ajan Ali Sharif in connection with the death of construction worker Mehedi Hasan Mim, who was run over by a car on a footpath in the capital’s Baridhara area.

Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-8 Judge Md Abdul Moktadir passed the order after a hearing, said State Prosecutor Mohammad Sharif Uddin Mamun.

During the hearing, defence lawyer Golam Mostofa Khan said, “It was not the boy who was driving the car. Following the accident, the driver avoided coming out through the door next to the driver’s seat, choosing the one on the other side, sending a wrong message that Ajan was driving the car.”

Golam Mostofa told the court that the juvenile was innocent. “We have compensated the victim’s family, and they have come to court and have no objection,” the lawyer told the court, adding, “He is a child and is entitled to bail.”

The public prosecutor, however, opposed the petition and told the court that the juvenile did not have a driving licence and had no permission to drive the vehicle.

Later, the court rejected the bail petition, observing that granting him bail could send a wrong message to society.

“If he is granted bail now, a message will go to society that even after committing such an offence and driving recklessly, the rich and underage people can get away with it,” the judge said.

On 23 September, construction worker Mehedi Hasan, 24, was killed when a speeding private car mounted the pavement and ran him over on Road No 1 in the Baridhara Diplomatic Zone while he was sitting and taking a rest.

Mehedi’s brother Moktadir Islam filed a case with Gulshan Police Station over the incident, accusing a man named Akash Mark, 44.

Later, CCTV footage showed Ajan Ali Sharif getting out of the car from the driver’s side, and police detained him after finding his involvement in the incident during the investigation.

Police have yet to arrest Akash Mark.