The bench, comprising Justice SK Sinha and Justice Shahidul Islam, granted bail to senior lawyer and human rights activist Rana Das Gupta, Chandan Biswas, Chandan Talukder and Ashok Das.

Barrister Amir-Ul-Islam submitted the bail prayer on behalf of the four lawyers who are also the members of Chittagong District Bar Association.

Sources said the court issued a rule nisi on the government asking it to reply within four weeks why the case would not be declared 'false' and as such cancelled.

Mohammad Cherag Ali, a constable and driver of the Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), lodged the case against the four lawyers along with 10 to 12 other unknown persons with the Kotwali Police Station on August 22 accusing them of damaging government vehicles during hartal hours.

The case drew strong protest and condemnation and the members of Chittagong Bar have been demonstrating against the filing of this case which they termed 'false' and 'fabricated.'

Barrister Rokon Uddin Mahmud, Abdul Baset Majumder, Habibul Khan and Hari Sadhan Dev Barman were present during the submission of the bail prayer yesterday.