No bar to releasing Irfan Selim on bail

The Appellate Division has upheld the bail granted by the High Court to Irfan Selim, son of Haji Mohammad Selim, a member of parliament from Old Dhaka, in a case of beating a naval officer, and there is nothing to prevent his release from jail on bail.

An appellate bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain on Sunday dismissed the state's plea to cancel bail.

Advocate Abdul Baset Majumder and Advocate Saeed Ahmed Raja appeared for Irfan Selim in court. Additional Attorney General Sheikh Mohammad Morshed represented the state.

On 28 March, the Appellate Division Chamber Court stayed the bail granted to Irfan Selim by the High Court. At the same time, the matter was sent to the full bench of the Appellate Division for hearing. Following this, a hearing was held in the Appellate Division on Sunday.

On 18 March, Irfan was granted bail. On 27 January, the High Court had issued a rule asking why Irfan Selim would not be granted bail.

On the evening of 25 October last year, Haji Selim's car with a "Member of Parliament" sticker, hit the motorcycle of a Navy officer, Lieutenant Wasif, at Kalabagan Crossing in Dhanmondi. Haji Selim's son Irfan and the security guard were in the car.

The naval officer then stopped the motorcycle and introduced himself. At that time, two persons got out of Selim's car and beat Lieutenant Wasif. At one point, the officer tried to defend himself. Wasif's wife was also assaulted at the time.

When people gathered at the scene, the assailants fled. Later, the police seized the car and motorcycle.

Lieutenant Wasif filed a case against Irfan Selim and four others with Dhanmondi Police Station on 26 October last year.

Irfan was arrested on the same day. His bail application in the case was rejected by the Dhaka court on 27 December. Irfan then applied for bail in the High Court.