Shams walks out of jail on bail in DSA case

Prothom Alo journalist Samsuzzaman Shams was freed from Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj on bail on Monday.

Subhash Kumar Ghosh, Jail Super of Dhaka Central Jail, said “We received the bail order around 4:00pm and he walked out of jail around 6:22pm.”

Family members and colleagues of Shams received him from the jail gate.

Earlier in the day, a Dhaka court granted bail to Samsuzzaman Shams until the submission of the police report in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Asaduzzaman Noor on Monday passed the order upon Tk 20,000 bond with two guarantors in the case filed with Ramna police.

Earlier in the day, the defence counsels representing Shams submitted the bail plea for Shams, a staff reporter of the Bangla daily Prothom Alo stationed in Savar.

One of the lawyers, Prashanto Kumar Karmakar told The Business Post that there is no legal bar to his release if he is not shown arrested in the new case.

On Thursday, another Dhaka court refused bail to Shams in the DSA case when he was produced before it and send him to jail.

On Wednesday, Shams was picked up from his home in the Ambagan area of Savar by law enforcers at around 4am, triggering widespread criticism.

A lawyer named Abdul Malek Mashiur Malek on Wednesday night filed the case accusing Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, Shams, an unnamed assistant cameraman, and unnamed others under Sections 25, 31 and 35 of the DSA.

According to the FIR, there is an allegation of using print, online, and electronic media to tarnish the image and reputation of the state. It mentioned that the accused spread falsehood on purpose to deteriorate the country’s law and order situation.

Shams spoke to people including a child named Shobuj on March 25, on the eve of Independence Day, and submitted a report on people’s suffering due to price hikes. The report was published on March 26. The news drew criticism as the newspaper used the child’s photo with a quote from a 40-year-old labourer named Zakir.

Prothom Alo withdrew the report within half an hour and issued a correction later in the day, saying there was an inconsistency between the headline and the accompanying photo. Alongside the report, the newspaper also posted a poster on its social media handle.

Different national and international rights bodies and journalist organisations condemned the arrest of Shams and demanded his immediate release.

Meanwhile, another case was also filed against Shams with Tejgaon police last Wednesday, several hours before he was picked up from his Savar home.