The High Court has granted six-week anticipatory bail to editor of Prothom Alo Matiur Rahman in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
The HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Aminul Islam granted the bail plea of Prothom Alo on Sunday (April 2) after he appeared before the court.
The court also asked him to appear before the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court in six weeks and seek bail in the case. Senior lawyer of the Supreme Court Advocate Fida M Kamal argued for Matiur Rahman in the court, while additional attorney general Mehedi Hasan and deputy attorney general Sujit Chatarjee Bappi represented the state.
Earlier in the day, a petition was submitted before the High Court seeking anticipatory bail for Matiur Rahman.
The case against Matiur Rahman was filed with Ramna Police Station in Dhaka on March 29.
A lawyer named Abdul Malek (Mashiur Malek) filed the case, accusing Matiur Rahman, Prothom Alo 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 case statement, the lawyer also mentioned that the accused were purposefully spreading misinformation to deteriorate the law and order situation of the country.
The case was filed under sections 25, 31 and 35 of the DSA.
The plaintiff said that the news reported by Shamsuzzaman Shams went viral on social media which tarnished the image of the country and triggered criticism at home and abroad.
Moreover, there was a possibility of deterioration in the law and order situation in the country over the matter, the case statement said.
Later, Shamsuzzaman Shams, the Savar correspondent of the newspaper, who wrote the report was sued in a separate case under the DSA on March 29.
