Abul Kalam Azad, a Godagari resident in Rajshahi accused in a case over attacks on students and civilians during the July movement, was granted bail by the Rajshahi District and Sessions Judge Court on August 12 after two certificates were submitted with his bail petition. One certificate identified him as an active BNP worker and bore the purported signature and seal of former Godagari municipal BNP general secretary and former mayor Anwarul Islam. Islam said both the signature and seal were forged.

A second certificate was signed by Hanif Ali, president of BNP’s municipal ward 2 unit. Hanif acknowledged issuing it after Azad’s wife approached him as a neighbour, but called the decision a mistake. Azad’s lawyer, Tawsik Ahmed Masum, said relatives had brought the documents and he had certified and submitted them without knowing whether they were genuine. The state lawyer described filing forged certificates as deception of the court.

Police and local sources allege Azad has long been involved in heroin trafficking and faces seven narcotics cases. Student movement leaders demanded his re-arrest. Godagari police said he had been arrested on specific evidence of links to attacks on students and civilians, and that he would be arrested if involvement in any offence is established.