Family members and relatives of businessman Selim Pradhan held a human chain protest in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Wednesday, demanding his unconditional release. They alleged that despite having no political affiliation, he was being deliberately implicated in multiple false cases and kept in jail even after securing bail. His sister Smriti Pradhan broke down in tears during her speech, calling the cases against him fabricated and conspiratorial.

Smriti Pradhan said her brother, who grew up in Japan, returned to Bangladesh to launch cleanliness initiatives in Rupganj and contribute to social welfare. She claimed that vested interests tried to harm him commercially and that he was previously detained for over four years under the Awami League government on false charges of aiding the BNP. Other family members, including Riyadul Islam and Mohibur Rahman Joy, echoed similar allegations, saying Selim Pradhan faced repeated arrests and harassment despite no proven political involvement.

Speakers at the protest urged the government to ensure equal justice for all citizens as guaranteed by the constitution and to consider Selim Pradhan’s case from a humanitarian perspective.