HC grants six-month bail to Baul singer Abul Sarkar

The High Court has granted six months’ bail to Baul singer Abul Sarkar in a case alleging insult to religious sentiments and defamation of religion. At the same time, the court issued a rule asking why he should not be granted permanent bail and directed the concerned parties to respond.

The bail and rule were granted on Monday (6 April) by a High Court bench comprising Justice Md Atowar Rahman and Justice Md Sagir Hossain during a hearing on the related petition.

Abul Sarkar was represented in court by lawyer Gazi Kamrul Islam Sojal, while Deputy Attorney General Sultana Akter Rubi appeared for the state.

Earlier, on 4 November, during a Palagan performance at the Khala Pagli fair in the Jabra area of Ghior upazila, Manikganj, Abul Sarker allegedly made remarks that insulted religion. A video of his comments circulated on social media, drawing criticism.

On the night of 19 November, he was arrested by a team of Manikganj DB police during a musical event in Madaripur and brought to the Manikganj District DB office the following morning. Later that day, a complaint was filed against him by Mufti Md Abdullah at Ghior Police Station. Subsequently, he was remanded in custody by the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court of Manikganj.

Following his arrest, Abul Sarkar applied to the High Court seeking bail in the case.