Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams was released from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj on bail Monday evening.
Senior Superintendent of the central jail Subhash Kumar Ghosh told the media, “Shamsuzzaman was released following procedures after his bail order arrived from the court. He walked out of jail at 6:22pm.”
A Dhaka court on Monday afternoon granted bail to Shamsuzzaman in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur passed the order after the hearing of a bail petition submitted by the defence lawyer.
Shamsuzzaman’s lawyer Proshanto Kumar Karmakar told The Business Post that the court granted the bail on a bond of Tk 20,000. The bail will remain in effect until the submission of police report in the case, he added.
A Dhaka court on March 30 sent Shamsuzzaman, a staff reporter of vernacular daily Prothom Alo stationed in Savar, to jail after rejecting his bail petition in the case filed with Ramna police station.
On March 29, plainclothesmen claiming to be members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) picked up Shamsuzzaman from his residence in the Ambagan area of Savar.
A lawyer named Abdul Malek alias Mashiur Malek on March 29 night filed the case accusing Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, its staff reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams, an unnamed assistant cameraman, and unnamed others under sections 25, 31 and 35 of the DSA.
According to the case, there is an allegation of using print, online, and electronic media to tarnish the image and reputation of the state.
The first information report (FIR) mentioned that the accused spread falsehood on purpose to deteriorate the law and order situation of the country.
Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman secured six weeks’ anticipatory bail from the High Court on April 2.
Another case was filed against Shamsuzzaman with Tejgaon police station in the early hours of March 29. The case was filed a couple of hours before the journalist was picked up from his home in Savar.
Shamsuzzaman 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 around 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 news item, the newspaper had also posted a poster on its social media handle.
The arrest of Shamsuzzaman by law enforcers wearing plainclothes triggered widespread criticism.
