Former Student League Leader Released on Parole for Father’s Funeral

Former president of the banned Student League’s Natore district unit, Rakibul Islam, was temporarily released on parole for two hours on Saturday night to attend his father’s funeral prayer and burial. He was taken back to Natore Jail under police escort after the burial was completed.

According to Natore Sadar police, Rakibul had been in custody since 22 June after being arrested in a political case. On Saturday afternoon, his father, Abul Kalam Azad, died at his residence in the Hajipara area of Natore town.

Following his father’s death, Rakibul’s family submitted an application to the district magistrate seeking permission for him to attend the funeral prayer and burial. The request was subsequently approved, allowing him to leave prison temporarily under strict security arrangements.

At around 8pm, police escorted Rakibul to the grounds of Bura Darga Mosque in the Baragaicha area of the town, where the funeral prayer for his father was held. Upon seeing his father’s body, he became visibly emotional and broke down in tears. He touched the body and spent a brief period with relatives before joining the funeral prayer.

Rakibul then accompanied his father’s body to a local cemetery, where he took part in the burial. Police officers remained with him throughout the process to ensure that the conditions of his temporary release were observed.

Once the burial rites were completed, Rakibul was taken back into custody. Natore Sadar police station officer-in-charge Mansur Rahman confirmed that he was returned to Natore Jail under police escort at around 10pm, roughly two hours after he had been brought out of custody.

Parole or temporary leave for a prisoner to attend the funeral or burial of a close family member is subject to official approval and security considerations. Such permission does not ordinarily alter the underlying detention or legal proceedings against the prisoner; the individual is required to return to custody after the authorised period ends.

Rakibul, a former district-level leader of the now-banned Student League, remains in detention in connection with the political case for which he was arrested in June. His brief release on Saturday night was specifically intended to allow him to attend his father’s final rites.

The episode brought together two very different aspects of the case: the legal restrictions surrounding Rakibul’s detention and the family’s request for him to be present at a deeply personal moment. After taking part in the funeral prayer and burial, however, he was required to return to prison the same night.