After five and a half years behind bars on militancy charges, two students of Khulna University (KU) were released from Khulna District Jail on Monday night after securing bail from the High Court (HC).

Campus sources said Nur Mohammad Anik and Mozahidul Islam Rafi -- students of Human Resource Management and Statistics departments respectively -- were arrested on January 8 in 2020 on charges of militant activities, and later sentenced to 30 years in prison in multiple cases.

They were finally released from jail following the efforts of KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Rezaul Karim and legal assistance provided by the university’s legal cell.

The duo alleged that they had been kept in an unknown location for 17 days and tortured before being arrested on January 25 in connection with bomb attacks at the Krishak League office and a vehicle garage of police. Initially they were sued in two cases.

Later, four more cases were filed against them, prompting fellow students, teachers and family members to protest and hold press conferences demanding release.

Khulna University student found hanging at residence

After the political changeover on August 5 last, the university began the legal fight to release the students from the jail.

Of the cases, they were acquitted in two and granted bail in two others. In the remaining two cases under Sonadanga police station, they were sentenced but later secured bail from the High Court.

University authorities said the bail order was delayed due to the Ashura holidays and was executed on Monday evening.

They students claimed that they had falsely been implicated for criticising the previous government’s anti-national activities on social media.

Besides, law enforcers allegedly attempted to make them disappeared before any cases were filed.