A virtual court in Dhaka has placed photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol on a two-day remand in a case filed against him under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
Metropolitan Magistrate Devdas Chandra Adhikary passed the order on Sunday after holding a virtual hearing on a ten-day remand petition, filed by Detective Branch Sub-Inspector Md Rassel Mollah, the investigation officer of the case , for interrogating the accused in the case.
The court also granted a shown arrested petition submitted by the investigation officer.
Before the hearing, the court sent a link to the authorities of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj, who are the custodians for the accused in the case. During the hearing, the accused joined the court through videoconferencing.
Opposing the remand plea, defence counsel Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua submitted two separate bail petition and also a remand rejection petition through email, and took part in the hearing through videoconferencing.
However, the court rejected the bail petition and the court rejected his bail petition after hearing.
In the remand prayer, Sub-Inspector Md Rassel Mollah mentioned that he needed to quiz Kajol and find out the other accused involved in the incident, and recover Kajol’s Facebook account and Messenger.
Earlier, the Dhaka court set on June 28 for the hearing of the remand plea.
On May 3, the investigation officer of the case, filed a 10-day remand prayer for interrogating Kajol in the case.
According to the case documents, journalist Kajol was accused of engaging in extortion by obtaining information illegally and publishing false, intimidating, and defamatory information via Facebook and Messenger.
The complaint alleged that Kajol had defamed Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Bangladesh Jubo Mohila League President Nazma Akhter and General Secretary Apu Ukil, among others, by posting false information on social media.
Usmin Ara Bailey, a party member of the Awami League, filed the case against Kajol under Sections 25, 26, and 29 of the Digital Security Act with Hazaribagh police station on March 10.
Usmin Ara Bailey, in her statement, said that she had filed the case after consulting with senior leaders of the ruling party.
