Helena Jahangir gets bail in fraud case

A court in Dhaka on Wednesday granted bail to businesswoman Helena Jahangir who was sentenced to two years in jail for forgery.

The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Asaduzzaman passed the order after a hearing.

Earlier on November 2, the court of Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain sent her to prison after she surrendered before the court.

On the same day, her lawyer filed a petition to the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Asaduzzaman seeking bail on condition of appeal, and the court set November 15 for hearing in the plea.

On March 20, five people, including dismissed Awami League leader Helena Jahangir, were convicted and sentenced to five years in prison in a fraud case.

An arrest warrant was issued against her as she was absent in court during the verdict.

Abdur Rahman Tuhin, a journalist, filed the fraud case with Pallabi Police Station on August 2, 2021. 

However, the Rapid Action Battalion raided Helena's residence at Gulshan on July 29, 2021, and detained her. 

The elite force said it also recovered foreign wine, illegal walkie-talkie, knives, foreign currencies, casino materials, and deer hide from her possession during the drive.

Later, RAB lodged a case against her with Gulshan Police Station under the Digital Security Act (DSA).

Helena Jahangir is a director of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI), and owner of 'Joyjatra Television'. 

She was a member of the Awami League’s subcommittee on women’s affairs but the body, later, removed her from the post after her name came up on social media as the president of ‘Bangladesh Awami Chakrijibi League’ that is not approved by the party.

JA/SU