Staff Reporter :
Barrister Mainul Hosein has secured anticipatory bail for five months in the High Court in two separate defamation cases filed over hurling abuses at journalist Masuda Bhatti in a live television talk show.
The HC Bench of Justice Muhammad Abdul Hafiz and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim passed the order after hearing separate petitions filed by him on Sunday afternoon.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Advocate Zainul Abedin defended Barrister Mainul Hosein while Deputy Attorney General Rafi Ahmed stood on behalf of the State.
After getting bail Zainul Abedin told journalists that Barrister Mainul Hosein said the case was filed only for political motive. Though Barrister Mainul Hosein said sorry to journalist Masuda Bhatti for his comment, filing of the case on this issue is unexpected and unnecessary.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Advocate Zainal Abedin, Khondker Mahbub Hossain, Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Barrister Hasan MS Azim, Barrister Raghib Rouf Chowdhury, Barrister Bipul Bagmar and a huge number of senior lawyers were present with Barrister Mainul Hosein at the High Court.
Earlier on the day, a Dhaka court issued an arrest warrant against Barrister Mainul Hosein after journalist Masuda Bhatti filed a defamation suit against him on Sunday for hurling of abusive words at her during a television talk show.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Asaduzzaman Noor passed the order after taking the charges brought against him into cognizance.
Meanwhile, a Jamalpur court also issued arrest warrant against Barrister Mainul in a Tk 20,000-crore defamation case filed by a Jubo Mohila League leader.
Convener of Jamalpur Jubo Mohila League Farzana Yasmin Lita filed the case with the cognizance of local court yesterday, our Jamalpur Correspondent reports quoting court sources.
Senior Judicial Magistrate Soleiman Kabir took the case into cognizance.
Barrister Mainul Hosein, who is also the Chairman of the Editorial Board of The New Nation, apologised to Masuda on phone and explained his remarks in a statement. Masuda and women’s rights activists demanded Mainul to apologize publicly for his remarks made in public. They also threatened him with legal action if he does not offer a public apology. As Mainul did not respond, Masuda started the case at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka.
