Writ petition filed over releasing of wrongly imprisoned shopkeeper in Bagerhat
Dhali, 38, has been in Bagerhat Jail for almost four months
A writ petition has been filed with the High Court alleging that a shopkeeper was wrongly jailed instead of a fugitive convict in electronics smuggling case.
The petition has sought directives on the release of the shopkeeper Md Salam Dhali and on taking appropriate action against those involved in the imprisoning Dhali.
Lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir filed the writ petition before the virtual High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim on Sunday.
In the writ petition, the home secretary and the people concerned have been made respondents.
A report published in a national daily on July 3 said that instead of a fugitive convict, an innocent person was sent to jail in a smuggling case.
Dhali, 38, has been in Bagerhat Jail for almost four months.
There is the allegation that a sub inspector (SI) of Sonadanga Model Police Station of Khulna Metropolitan Police is involved in the incident.
The SI Sanjit Kumar Mandal arrested Dhali, a resident of Sher-e-Bangla Road under Khulna Sadar Police Station, from the area on March 11 instead of the fugitive convict Md Abdus Salam on the basis of the partial match in their names, fathers' names and addresses.
Md Abdus Salam is the son of late Shafiz Uddin of Sheikhpara Main Road under Sonadanga Police Station while Dhali's father's name is Mofiz Uddin Dhali.
On September 3, 2005, a Coast Guard patrol team searched a mini truck at the bus stand adjacent to the ferry terminal under Mongla Police Station at around 3:00 am.
The petrol team seized electronics goods, which was illegally collected from commercial ships stationed at Mongla port and smuggled to Khulna by truck.
At that time, Md Abdus Salam and three others were arrested and handed over to Mongla Police Station.
A case was filed in this regard and later Abdus Salam was released on bail.
On July 30, 2009 a Bagerhat court found Abdus Salam guilty and sentenced him to two years of rigorous imprisonment. An arrest warrant was issued against him as he was at large.