Are you the owners of the state?

The High Court yesterday rebuked two police officers of Patuakhali for arresting a college student, Ashraful Hawlader, in a case although he was on bail.

“You have arrested him [the college student] though he was on bail. You did not abide by this court’s order. You disconnected the phone calls [made by his lawyer] over this issue saying that you were in a meeting. Even after the meeting you did not take any step,” said the HC.

“Are you the owners of the state? You have responsibility to protect the dignity of the court,” the HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Aminul Islam told Patuakhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Moniruzzaman and its Assistant Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman during hearing of a suomuto (voluntary) rule.

Earlier in the day, the two police officers appeared before the bench in compliance with its earlier summons order and apologised unconditionally for their acts.

The HC fixed July 30 for further hearing of the matter.

The HC on May 21 issued the suomuto rule and summons order against OC Moniruzzaman and ASI Mizanur following a newspaper report published on May 20.

According to the newspaper, police arrested Ashraful on May 18 in a case though his lawyer informed the police over cellphone that he was granted anticipatory bail by the HC in the case.

But police picked up him, took to the police station and produced before a magistrate on May 19. The magistrate released him the same day after seeing the HC bail order.