Dhaka, Sep 25 (Just News): The Supreme Court today fixed October 1 for hearing a leave to appeal petition filed by the government challenging a High Court order that asked the authorities concerned to give first-class division facilities to internationally noted photographer Shahidul Alam in jail.
Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice M Imman Ali fixed the date after a brief hearing on the petition.
The full-bench of the Appellate Division will hear the petition on October 1.
Shahidul Alam is getting division facilities in jail since September 7 following the High Court order passed on September 5, Barrister Tamim Hossain Shaon, a lawyer for Shahidul told The Daily Star.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam appeared for the government.
Earlier on September 17, the Supreme Court upheld a High Court order asking the government to provide first-class division facilities in jail to Shahidul Alam.
On the same day, the government filed a petition seeking a stay on the HC order.
But SC Division's Chamber Judge Justice M Imman Ali dropped the government’s petition from the hearing list and asked to move a leave-to-appeal petition before the court.
The 63-year-old internationally acclaimed photographer is now in Dhaka central jail in a case filed under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act for “spreading propaganda and false information against the government”.
Shahidul was picked up by law enforcers from his home in the capital's Dhanmondi area on the night of August 5. The following day, police filed the case against him.
He was placed on a seven-day remand after police produced him before a Dhaka court the same day, seeking a 10-day remand.
In court, Shahidul said he was tortured in custody. Police, however, denied the allegation.
Upon completion of his remand, he was sent to jail on August 13.
On September 4, a judge of the HC bench felt “embarrassed” to hear Shahidul's bail petition in the case against him.
The bench, however, did not disclose a reason for it.
(Justnews/ys/1300hr)
