BNP leader Pintu released from jail after 17 years

BNP leader Pintu released from jail after 17 years

Abdus Salam Pintu, BNP vice-chairman and former deputy minister, has been released from Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur after nearly 17 years in prison, report agencies.

Pintu, who was arrested in connection with the Aug 21 grenade attack case, was released around 11:00 am on Tuesday, according to Senior Jail Superintendent Al Mamun.

Mamun said the BNP leader was released after verifying all the documents. He added that there were no other arrest warrants issued in any other cases against Pintu.

Tangail district BNP founding general secretary Pintu was elected as a member of parliament for the Tangail-2 constituency in 1991, and 2001. In 2001, he was appointed deputy minister for education under the BNP-led government.

He was arrested in January 2008 due to his alleged involvement in the grenade attack on the Awami League's rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka on Aug 21, 2004.

He has been in jail since. Later, 19 people, including Pintu, were sentenced to death in the case verdict.