Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Wednesday rejected a bail petition filed by the Editor of Bengali Daily Sangram, Abul Asad, in a case filed under Digital Security Act after publishing a report describing executed Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla a ‘martyr.’
The HC Bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain passed the order after holding a virtual hearing on the petition placed by Asad’s lawyers seeking bail in the case.
In its order, the Bench said the lawyers for the
accused might place the bail petition before it after the court resumes its regular functions, which has been suspended following the coronavirus outbreak.
Advocate Shishir Monir, one of the counsels of Sangram editor, said that his client could not be released from the jail following the High Court order. Asad is now in Kashimpur Jail, he said.
During the hearing, attorney general Mahbubey Alam vehemently opposed the bail petition of Asad saying that the accused has committed a serious offence by terming convicted war criminal Abdul Quader Molla as a ‘martyr’ in his newspaper.
Terming a war criminal as a martyr is a mockery with the Constitution and the nation, he argued.
On the other hand, Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain, a Senior Counsel for Sangram editor, prayed to the High Court to grant him bail saying that the accused petitioner is 80 years old and has been suffering in jail for the last five months with asthma and eye problems.
The bail petition was filed with the high court on May 11 after being rejected by the trial courts.
Hatirjheel police took him in to custody on December 13, 2019, after the newspaper published a report describing executed Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla a ‘martyr.’
Quader Molla was hanged on December 12, 2013 after being convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal. On December 12, 2019, the newspaper ran a report under the headline “Today is the sixth martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Abdul Quader Molla.”
Later a case was filed on December 13 by Freedom Fighter Afzal Hossain accusing Abul Asad and two others. Then a Dhaka Court on December 14 sent him on a three day remand and after the remand the court sent him to jail on December 18.
The High Court on Wednesday rejected a bail petition filed by the Editor of Bengali Daily Sangram, Abul Asad, in a case filed under Digital Security Act after publishing a report describing executed Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla a ‘martyr.’
The HC Bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain passed the order after holding a virtual hearing on the petition placed by Asad’s lawyers seeking bail in the case.
In its order, the Bench said the lawyers for the
accused might place the bail petition before it after the court resumes its regular functions, which has been suspended following the coronavirus outbreak.
Advocate Shishir Monir, one of the counsels of Sangram editor, said that his client could not be released from the jail following the High Court order. Asad is now in Kashimpur Jail, he said.
During the hearing, attorney general Mahbubey Alam vehemently opposed the bail petition of Asad saying that the accused has committed a serious offence by terming convicted war criminal Abdul Quader Molla as a ‘martyr’ in his newspaper.
Terming a war criminal as a martyr is a mockery with the Constitution and the nation, he argued.
On the other hand, Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain, a Senior Counsel for Sangram editor, prayed to the High Court to grant him bail saying that the accused petitioner is 80 years old and has been suffering in jail for the last five months with asthma and eye problems.
The bail petition was filed with the high court on May 11 after being rejected by the trial courts.
Hatirjheel police took him in to custody on December 13, 2019, after the newspaper published a report describing executed Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla a ‘martyr.’
Quader Molla was hanged on December 12, 2013 after being convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal. On December 12, 2019, the newspaper ran a report under the headline “Today is the sixth martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Abdul Quader Molla.”
Later a case was filed on December 13 by Freedom Fighter Afzal Hossain accusing Abul Asad and two others. Then a Dhaka Court on December 14 sent him on a three day remand and after the remand the court sent him to jail on December 18.
