Dhaka, July 24 (V7N) — Popular content creator Touhid Afridi has been released from jail after obtaining bail in three cases related to the July uprising. He was released on Thursday (July 23) in a relatively low-profile manner, despite being named as an accused in the first information reports (FIRs) of five additional cases linked to the July mass movement.

Afridi was not shown arrested in those cases, although his name appeared in the FIRs, raising questions over the handling of the cases by law enforcement authorities.

Afridi was arrested from Barishal on the night of August 24 last year. He remained in custody for nearly 11 months until his release on Wednesday (July 22).

Supreme Court lawyer Ishrat Hasan described the issue as a failure of both the police and the Home Ministry, saying that authorities should have been aware of the number of cases filed against a well-known public figure like Afridi.

“Since Touhid Afridi is a recognised personality, the police should have known how many cases were pending against him. Why was he not shown arrested in those cases while he was already in custody? The officer-in-charge of the concerned police station should be held accountable,” she said.

According to case records, eight cases have been filed against Afridi in connection with the July uprising. Except for one case filed with Wari Police Station, he has been named as an accused in the remaining seven cases.

Among these, he was shown arrested in three cases — a fraud case filed with Wari Police Station and two separate attempted murder cases filed with Jatrabari and Badda Police Stations.

However, apart from these three cases, he is also named in a murder case filed with Rampura Police Station and four separate attempted murder cases filed with Badda, Jatrabari, Mohammadpur and Banani police stations. Although his name appears in the FIRs of those cases, no initiative was taken to show him arrested, according to available information.

Sources familiar with the legal process said that when an accused in a July uprising-related case receives bail, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s prosecution department is usually informed. Authorities then verify whether the accused is involved in any other pending cases.

If additional cases are found, the investigating officer generally submits an application to show the accused arrested in those cases. A hearing is then held in the presence of the accused, and if the person is named in the FIR, the court may formally recognise the arrest according to legal procedures.

However, sources said this process was not followed in Afridi’s case despite the existence of other cases against him.

Court documents and case records show that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested Afridi from Barishal on August 24, 2025. The following day, a court granted a five-day remand in a murder case filed with Jatrabari Police Station. After completion of the remand, he was sent to jail on August 30.

Later, he was shown arrested in an attempted murder case filed with Badda Police Station. After investigation, police recommended his discharge from that case.

Subsequently, he was shown arrested on June 15 in a fraud case filed with Wari Police Station involving allegations of financial misconduct.

Afridi secured bail from the High Court in the murder and attempted murder cases. The Appellate Division later upheld his bail on May 4. Most recently, Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam granted him bail on July 21 in the Wari fraud case upon a bond of Tk 1,000.

Afridi’s lawyer Iqbal Mahmud said on that day that there was no longer any legal obstacle to his client’s release as he had secured bail in all cases.

The media wing of the Department of Prisons confirmed that Afridi was released after verification of his bail documents.

Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court Public Prosecutor (PP) Omar Faruk Faruki said showing an accused arrested in additional cases is not always mandatory. He said the decision depends on the police based on the requirements of the investigation.

He added that Afridi’s release from jail would not affect the ongoing investigations.