Photojournalist Kajol gets bail

Photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol has finally obtained bail in one of the three cases filed against him under the controversial Digital Security Act (DSA).

The High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman granted him bail on Tuesday in a case filed with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station, confirmed Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, who argued for the journalist.

Earlier, a Dhaka court denied bail to Kajol in the case filed by Awami League lawmaker from Magura 1 constituency Saifuzzaman Shikhor.

The member of parliament (MP) lodged the case on March 9 against Kajol and 31 others, including Manabzamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, on charges of publishing a report with false information regarding expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Noor Papia and circulating it on social media.

Also Read - High Court to govt: Why should photojournalist Kajol not get bail?

On October 19, the same High Court bench issued a rule asking the government why the journalist should not be granted bail in the case. 

Kajol, who had previously worked as a photojournalist at national dailies such as Dainik Samakal and Banik Barta, is the editor of the fortnightly magazine Pokkhokal.

Two more cases were also filed against him under the same act with Hazaribagh and Kamrangirchar police stations in the capital on March 10 and 11.

On Tuesday, the High Court bench also asked the investigating officers of the two cases to submit reports to it on December 15 explaining whether they took permission from the cyber tribunal or not for continuing their investigation for the next 30 days after completion of 75 days since the cases were filed.  

The bench also asked the tribunal to submit separate reports to it on whether the tribunal granted permission to the investigating officers as per the concerned law.

On March 10, Kajol went missing after leaving his office in the capital. After a 53-day disappearance, he turned up in police custody on May 3 after the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested him on charges of trespassing on the Benapole border in Jessore.

Shown formally arrested in the cases, Kajol has been in jail since then.