A Dhaka court on Sunday granted bail to Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) with Tejgaon police station.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Sheikh Sadi passed the order when Shamsuzzaman surrendered before the court and sought bail in the case.
Advocates Ehsanul Haque Samaji and Prashanto Karmakar stood for the petitioner.
On March 29, members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in plainclothes picked up Shamsuzzaman from his residence in the Ambagan area, adjacent to Jahangirnagar University, around 4:30am.
The same day, a Jubo League leader filed a case under the DSA against Shamsuzzaman, accusing him of publishing a "false and fabricated report" on the Prothom Alo website.
On March 29, lawyer Abdul Malek (Mashiur Malek), filed another case with Ramna police station accusing Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams, an unnamed “assistant cameraman,” and unnamed others of “using print, online, and electronic media to tarnish the image and reputation of the state.”
In the first information report (FIR), the lawyer also mentioned that the accused were “purposefully spreading misinformation to deteriorate the law and order situation of the country.”
The High Court on April 2 granted six weeks anticipatory bail to Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman in the case filed under the DSA.
On April 3, a Dhaka court granted bail to Shamsuzzaman in a case filed under the DSA with Ramna police station. He was later released on bail.
