Shahidul Islam Rubel, Netrakona

Former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar has been in prison for almost 17 and a half years.

The BNP leader, who was convicted in cases such as the August 21 grenade attack and the recovery of 10 trucks of weapons, is gradually overcoming legal obstacles.

After Sheikh Hasina left the country in the face of student and public protests on August 5 this year, the appeal hearing of the cases filed against former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar began. As a result, he has been acquitted in several cases. Most recently, on December 18, he was acquitted of the death penalty under the Special Powers Act in the 10 trucks of weapons case.

However, Babar's release still depends on one case. According to his lawyer, another life sentence case against Lutfuzzaman Babar is pending in the High Court. If he is acquitted in this case, there will be no further obstacles to his release. Public leader Lutfuzzaman Babar was born on October 10, 1958 in Madan Upazila of Netrokona. In 1991, he was first elected as a member of parliament from the Netrokona-4 (Madan, Mohanganj, Khaliajuri) constituency.

Later, he was re-elected as a member of parliament in the national elections on February 15, 1996 and 2001. In 2001, he was given the responsibility of State Minister for Home Affairs. He was arrested on May 28, 2007 during the military-backed caretaker government. Since then, he has been in prison after being convicted in various cases. Of the cases filed against him, two were death sentences and one was life imprisonment. This year, he was acquitted of the death sentence under the Special Powers Act in a corruption case, the death sentence in the August 21 grenade attack case, and the 10-truck arms case.

Lawyers hope that if Lutfuzzaman Babar is acquitted in the pending case, he will be released from his long 17-year imprisonment.