A Mymensingh court on Wednesday granted bail to Sathi Akter, a woman entrepreneur from Bhaluka, who had been sent to jail two days earlier after police produced her in connection with remarks made during a Facebook Live session.
Judicial Magistrate Sajidul Islam’s court granted her bail on a bond of Tk 500 in her own custody following the hearing that concluded around 12:30 pm. Court Inspector PSM Mostachinur Rahman confirmed that Wednesday was the scheduled day for her production in court. Lawyer Mahtab Uddin Ahmed appeared on her behalf.
She was expected to be released from the court’s lock-up later in the day.
Sathi Akter, 30, runs “Sathi Beauty Parlour” at Khadija Palace Market in the Square Masterbari area of Bhaluka upazila. She is the daughter of local resident Amjad Ali. Her arrest created a huge outcry for lack of freedom of speech.
The case originated from two Facebook Live videos she posted on Sunday (25 October) afternoon from the account “Sathi Makeover.” The videos, lasting 5 minutes 22 seconds and 8 minutes 8 seconds, showed her expressing anger over repeated thefts of electrical wires, air-conditioner wires, and other valuables from her business premises, nearby shops, and home. These incidents had caused her financial losses. During the live, she was heard saying she was a “sufferer today for voting for the BNP government.”
After the videos circulated on social media, local BNP leaders and activists surrounded her parlour and demanded action, leading to tension in the area. Police took her into custody around 8:30 pm that night. She was later shown arrested under Section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and produced before the Mymensingh court on Monday (26 October).
On Monday afternoon, Senior Judicial Magistrate Sajidul Islam rejected her bail application and ordered her to be sent to jail.
Police sources, including the Officer-in-Charge of Bhaluka Model Thana, stated that a full review of the Facebook Live videos found no anti-government statements or criminal offence; her remarks were described as expressions of frustration over the thefts and the local law-and-order situation. Police said the detention was aimed at preventing further unrest.