Photographer Shahidul Alam denied bail in ICT case

A court here on Tuesday denied bail to renowned photographer and Drik Gallery managing director Shahidul Alam in a case filed under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act.

Judge KM Imrul Kayes of Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge’s Court passed the order after hearing the bail petition filed on August 14.

Public Prosecutor Mohammad Abu Abdullah moved against the bail petition while Barrister Sarah Hossain stood for Shahidul Alam.

The High Court on Monday directed the lower court concerned to dispose of the bail petition filed by Shahidul within Tuesday (today).

Shahidul filed a bail petition with the HC on August 28 through his lawyers--Sara Hossain and Jyotirmoy Barua--saying he may be granted bail as he is ill.

Earlier on September 4, a judge of a two-member High Court bench felt ‘embarrassed’ to hear the bail petition in the case.

The same day, the bench forwarded the petition to the chief justice for a decision.

On September 5, the HC directed the authorities concerned to provide first-class division to photographer Shahidul in jail after hearing of the writ petition.

Detectives arrested Shahidul Alam from his Dhanmondi residence on August 5 and the case was filed against him with Ramna Police Station on August 6. 

Police claimed that he spread propaganda through his Facebook account during the student movement demanding safe roads.

Source: unb