Court Backtracks on Custody Order After Jailing Mother and Baby

Bangla Press Desk: A Dhaka court has granted bail to Jubo Mohila League activist Shilpi Begum just hours after she was sent to jail with her 46-day-old daughter in an attempted murder case linked to the July movement

The court order had triggered widespread attention and criticism on social media on Tuesday.

The order came later in the night from Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mostafizur Rahman after a petition seeking reconsideration of the earlier bail rejection.

Earlier in the day, Shilpi was sent to jail along with her infant daughter after the court denied bail, despite urgent pleas highlighting her medical condition and the child’s dependence on breastfeeding.

The case drew intense discussion online after images and accounts emerged of a mother being taken into custody with her newborn.

Her lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi said, “I hope they will be released [on Wednesday].”

Shilpi Begum is an activist of Ward No. 26 unit of Dhaka North City Jubo Mohila League. She was arrested on Monday evening at the Railway Colony of Tejkunipara.

On Tuesday afternoon, investigating officer Sub-Inspector Sheikh Nazrul Islam of Tejgaon Police Station produced her before the court seeking her detention in custody.

Around 2pm, she was brought into the courtroom, where her husband, sister, sister-in-law and aunt were present.

They told the court that the child was born via caesarean section on Mar 4 at a private hospital and is fully dependent on breast milk.

They also said Shilpi had suffered a fractured left arm after a fall and was unable to care for the child properly.

After hearing both sides, the court initially rejected her bail plea and ordered her sent to jail custody. Following the verdict, Shilpi broke down in tears.

As police escorted her out around 3:12pm, she was seen descending the courthouse stairs from the fourth floor, clutching her infant and crying.

“This is happening because of politics,” she said. “My child is being sent to jail because of politics. She will not survive in jail.”

Her family members were seen taking turns holding the child in the courtroom, feeding her when necessary.

Later in the night, a review petition was filed and the court reconsidered the matter, ultimately granting bail.

According to case details, Dhaka University student Tahmid Mubin Ratul was shot in Chankharpul on Jul 16, 2024 during the anti-discrimination movement.

He was later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.

The prosecution alleges that on Jul 23, a group of 120–130 people, under Shilpi’s instructions, attacked the student’s Tejgaon residence, vandalising furniture and electronics causing damage worth Tk 500,000 and looting goods worth Tk 300,000, while also assaulting his father Sohel Rana.

The case was filed on Jan 25 by Ratul’s mother Shahnur Khanam, naming 103 individuals, including former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, along with 120–130 unidentified suspects.