The High Court on Tuesday refused to grant bail to Nusrat Shahrin Raka, the sister of controversial expatriate journalist Kanak Sarwar, in two cases filed under the Digital Security Act and Narcotics Control Act.
The bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice SM Mozibur Rahman passed the order after hearing arguments on the bail petitions.
The court, however, issued a rule asking the state to explain in a week why Nusrat should not be granted bail in the case filed under the Digital Security Act.
The High Court also said it would deal with her bail petition in the drug case at the hearing of rule.
Raka’s lawyer ZI Khan Panna told the court that his client is not involved in spreading any anti-state propaganda.
Considering that Nusrat, a mother of three, has been in jail for a very long time, she might be eligible for bail, the lawyer said.
Additional Attorney General SM Munir opposed the bail petitions, saying that Nusrat has made derogatory comments about the state and the prime minister.
On October 7 last year, Raka was arrested from Dhaka’s Uttara on charges of spreading anti-state propaganda and possessing drugs.
They seized a mobile phone set with anti-state contents, a passport, and some Ice or Crystal Meth, an illegal drug, from her possession during the arrest.
Later, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) filed two cases against Raka under the Digital Security Act and Narcotics Act.
