Court orders

Give Shahidul division as per jail code

Give Shahidul division as per jail code

Dhaka, Aug 27 (Just News): A Dhaka court yesterday directed the jail authorities to take initiatives to provide division to eminent photographer Shahidul Alam as per the Jail Code.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Saifuzzaman Hero passed the order after Shahidul's lawyer Ehsanul Haque Shomaji submitted a petition seeking first class for his client in jail.

The photographer is behind bars on charges of “spreading propaganda and false information against the government”.

In the petition, Ehsanul said his client was an internationally renowned personality, adding that he got a number of awards for his contributions to the nation. Moreover, his parents were also given national awards for their outstanding activities. Shahidul should be provided first class division considering his social status, the lawyer argued.

Shahidul, 63, was picked up by law enforcers on the night of August 5 from his Dhanmondi home.

The following day, he was placed on seven-day remand after police had produced him before a Dhaka court seeking 10-day remand. He told the court that he was tortured in custody, but the police denied the allegation.

He was sent to jail on August 13 on completion of his remand.

In response to a writ petition filed by his wife Rahnuma Ahmed on August 7, the High Court directed the authorities concerned to immediately send him to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), arrange his medical examination and submit a report by 10:30am on August 9.

The BSMMU authorities formed a four-member medical board to examine his health and mental condition. The board's report submitted to the HC mentioned that he was physically and mentally sound.

During hearing at the HC on August 9, the defence argued that there was no psychologist in the medical board to examine his mental condition.

The hearing of Shahidul's bail petition would be held on September 11 at the court of Metropolitan and Sessions Judge, Dhaka.

Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen has meanwhile extended his support to Shahidul.

With this, Sen joins many artists, Nobel laureates, rights activists, academics and politicians who have condemned the arrest and demanded his immediate release.

(Justnews/ys/2310hr)