The leaders of 31 social and cultural organizations have issued statements expressing concern and anger as the Supreme Court stayed a High Court order that granted bail to Jagannath University student Khadijatul Kubra in two separate cases filed under the Digital Security Act for four months.
The leaders of the organizations issued a joint statement in this regard on Friday.
The statement reads that the leaders are deeply concerned that the chamber judge stayed the High Court order that granted bail to Jagannath University student Khadijatul Kubra, who has been in jail for nearly a year, and adjourned the hearing involving her bail for four months.
People's freedom of expression is a constitutional right, however, under a restrictive law like the Digital Security Act, Khadija will have to remain in jail for another four months without trial, it adds.
“We feel that such an order is against the people's right to justice. In a student's life where every moment is precious, we, like millions of people in the country, are shocked, worried, and angry to see a university student like Khadija being held in jail for more than a year,” it added.
The leaders of the organization demanded the repeal of DSA and demanded the release of all the prisoners, including Khadija, detained under the law.
They said that the freedom of expression and freedom of speech of the people of Bangladesh is being undermined through the Digital Security Act which is in conflict with the spirit of the constitution.
On July 10, the Appellate Division suspended bail of Jagannath University student Khadijatul Kubra for another four months in two cases under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
In October 2020, police filed two cases against Khadija and retired Maj Delowar Hossain at the Kalabagan and New Market police stations for spreading anti-government propaganda and harming Bangladesh's reputation.
The allegations in the two cases filed a week apart, were similar.
Police arrested Khadija on September 17, 2022. She has been imprisoned since then.
According to the case details, Khadija and Delowar conspired to broadcast false, fabricated, and defamatory propaganda about the prime minister, various government agencies, and senior state officials in order to oust the country's legitimate administration. They were aiming to destroy communal harmony through their conspiracy by promoting enmity, hatred, and division among various communities, it said.