Staff Reporter :
The High Court (HC) on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to four journalists for four weeks in nine cases filed under Special Power Act.
The High Court bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan passed the order after hearing on the bail petitions filed by the journalists.
The journalists are— Mohammad Shahadat Hossain of the Daily Fenir Somoy, Solaiman Hazari Dalim of Banglanews24.com, Mainuddin Patwary of the Daily Star Line and S M Yousuf Ali of the Daily Odhiker.
Advocate Mohammad Kamal Hossain, Mohammad Mohsin Kabir and Advocate S M Saleh Ahmed appeared in the court on behalf of journalists.
After the court’s order, Advocate Mohsin Kabir said, “Journalists’ name came into the charge sheet after they had reported on the negligence of police in the investigation of the murder case of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi. But their name was not mentioned in the FIR.”
“Nine cases were filed in four police stations before 11th Parliamentary election. Journalists name were not mentioned in the FIR of the cases. But the police submitted charge sheets of all the cases secretly between May 7 and May 12 this year,” the lawyer said.
After knowing the matter, the journalists filed bail application with the HC. After hearing, the court granted the bail for four weeks. After four weeks, they are directed to surrender in the Feni Judge Court.
Four journalists alleged that the former Police Superintendent of Feni, S M Jahangir, who was transferred after Rafi’s death, involved their name in the cases intentionally.
