DC denies parole to Chhatra League leader; father’s body taken to jail gate for last glimpse

A jailed Chhatra League leader in Barishal was denied parole to attend his father's funeral, with DC instead allowing him a brief viewing of the body at the prison gate.

The incident took place at Barishal Central Jail yesterday afternoon (29 April).

Family members said they had applied for parole to allow Ahsan Shah Rukh, president of Ward No 15 Chhatra League, to attend the janaza and burial of his father, Mohammad Abul Bashar. However, the application was not approved by the district administration.

They alleged that despite waiting for nearly two hours, they were unable to meet the deputy commissioner regarding the application. Eventually, based on verbal permission, the family transported the body by ambulance to the jail gate, where Shah Rukh was allowed to see his father's body for around five minutes.

According to family sources, Shah Rukh, a resident of the Gazibari area on New Circular Road in Barishal city, was arrested earlier this month.

His younger brother, Al Amin said, "He has been arrested three times. Our father was deeply worried about him. He died around 11am on Wednesday. We went to the DC office with a parole application through a lawyer so that Shah Rukh could attend the janaza and burial. But after hearing it was a political case, no one assisted us for a long time. We waited in front of the DC's office gate for nearly two hours, but no one met us."

"Later, after repeated requests, we met the additional deputy commissioner, who informed us that parole would not be granted. Instead, we were told to bring the body to the jail gate. We had no option but to take our father's body there for him to see," he added. 

Lawyer Mizanur Rahman Mintu, who filed the parole application, said, "We submitted an application for parole. However, the administration informed us that parole would not be possible. Instead, they would allow a meeting at the jail gate."

Additional District Magistrate Upama Farisa said, "An application for parole was submitted to me, addressed to the deputy commissioner. I informed the DC sir about the matter. As he was not in the office, I sent the application via WhatsApp. Based on the application, he decided that the inmate could meet the body at the jail gate. The entire decision was taken by the DC sir. I later informed the family of the decision."

Attempts to contact the Barishal Deputy Commissioner, Md Khairul Alam Sumon, by phone and WhatsApp were unsuccessful.

Officials of Barishal Central Jail, including Senior Jail Superintendent Muhammad Manjur Hossain and Jailer Mohammad Mahbub Kabir, also did not respond to calls or messages. No official at the prison gate agreed to comment when approached.