Gayeshwar, Shawkat get bail

The High Court yesterday granted bail to BNP leaders Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Shawkat Mahmud in seven arson cases.

Gayeshwar, who got bail in one case yesterday, can get released from jail, as he has earlier got bail in 26 cases, his lawyer Nitai Roy Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

Shawkat's lawyer M Masud Rana said his client, who got bail in six cases yesterday, cannot get released, as he is arrested in eight other cases.

An HC bench granted ad-interim bail to Gayeshwar and Shawkat, former president of Jatiya Press Club, after hearing seven separate bail petitions filed by them.

The bench also issued separate rules asking the government to explain as to why Gayeshwar and Shawkat should not be granted regular bail in the cases.

The ad-interim bail will continue till disposal of the rules, the HC said.

The case against Gayeshwar was filed for torching a vehicle in the capital's Malibagh on December 29, 2013.

The cases were filed against Shawkat with Lalbagh, Paltan, Motijheel and Mugda police stations in January, February and March after vehicles were torched and vandalised during BNP-led alliance's anti-government movement.