SC upholds bail for suspended Sylhet mayor Ariful

The Supreme Court today upheld a High Court order that granted bail to suspended Sylhet City Corporation mayor and BNP leader Ariful Haque Chowdhury in an explosive case, paving the way for him to walk out of jail.

Chamber judge of the Appellate Division of the SC Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed "no order" on a petition filed by the government seeking stay on the HC order of bail, meaning that the HC order will remain in force.

On November 13, Ariful secured bail from the HC in the case filed under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 over the killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria.

HC passed the order after hearing a bail petition filed by him.

The then opposition lawmaker and Awami League leader Kibria and four others including his nephew Shah Manzur Huda were killed in a grenade attack on a rally in Habiganj on January 27, 2005.

Two cases -- one for killing and the other for blasting bombs-- were filed in connection with the incident.

Earlier on September 6, Ariful got bail from the HC in the murder case.