SC upholds division facility for Shahidul Alam

SC upholds division facility for Shahidul Alam

Dhaka, Sep 17 (Just News): The Supreme Court today upheld a High Court order that asked the government to give division facilities to imprisoned internationally-acclaimed photographer Shahidul Alam.

It came to effect after Appellate Division’s chamber judge Justice M Imman Ali dropped a petition from its hearing list filed by the government seeking stay on the facility.

The apex court chamber judge however asked the government to move a leave to appeal petition before the Supreme Court against the High Court order.

Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, a lawyer for Shahidul, said the previous High Court order that facilitated Shahidul with division in jail will remain in force now.

He also said that Shahidul is getting division facilities in jail following a HC order passed on September 5.

The HC bench of Justice Borhanuddin and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order following a writ petition filed by Shahidul Alam's wife Prof Rahnuma Ahmed.

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/1210hr)