Journo Kajol shown arrested in case filed under DSA

Journo Kajol shown arrested in case filed under DSA

Photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol has been shown arrested in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Dhiman Chandra Mandal passed the order for the arrest on Tuesday.

He was shown arrested in a case filed with the Sher-E-Bangla Nagar police station, by Inspector Motlubur Rahman of police's Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, also the investigation officer of the case.

Before the hearing, the court sent a link to the authorities of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj, who are the custodians of the accused in the case. During the hearing, the conducting magistrate witnessed the accused on a videoconference.

On Monday, the same court refused to hear Kajol's bail petition, filed by his defence counsel Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, since his "shown arrested" petition was pending in the case filed with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station under the DSA.

Earlier on May 5, a Dhaka court set June 1 for hearing on a petition submitted by the police to show journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol arrested in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).

Metropolitan Magistrate Baki Billah passed the order after granting the petition filed by the CTTC unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

On June 16, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jasim directed police to produce Kajol in a Dhaka court on June 23 in connection with the case. He also directed Dhaka Central Jail authorities to bring the journalist in from the Jessore Central Jail.

Kajol, who had previously worked as a photojournalist at national dailies such as the "Dainik Samakal" and "Banik Barta," is the editor of the fortnightly magazine "Pokkhokal."

After his 53-day disappearance, Kajol was detained by the members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at the Benapole border in Jessore on May 3.

The journalist went missing on March 10, a day after the case was filed by Awami League's Magura 1 MP Saifuzzaman Shikhor with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station in Dhaka on March 9.

Kajol and 30 others, including Manabzamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, were accused in the case, filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA), for publishing and sharing a news article on social media regarding expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Noor Papia.

Detained on charge of trespassing by the BGB, Kajol was produced before a Jessore court on May 3.

Although the court granted him bail in the case, he was sent to jail as Kotwali police brought another charge against Kajol under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Three separate cases were filed against photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Kamrangirchar, and Hazaribagh police stations under the Digital Security Act in March.