The High Court has suspended the court proceedings in three cases against photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol, filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
The bench of Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice Md Atoar Rahman halted the proceedings for two months after hearing Kajol’s appeals on Wednesday.
Lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua stood for Kajol while Deputy Attorney General Sujit Chatterjee Bappi represented the state.
The final hearing has been set for July 27, Bappi told the media.
Kajol was named in a case filed against Daily Manab Zamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury on March 9.
The case was filed over the publication of a report that named people involved in the Shamima Noor Papia escort services scandal.
Following the filing of the case, Kajol remained missing for about two months. Later, he was arrested by Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) in Benapole and brought to Dhaka.
He was shown arrested and presented before a virtual court on June 23, turning down his bail plea.
Two months later, on August 24, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s court rejected another bail plea filed on Kajol’s behalf.
On September 8, he moved the High Court challenging the lower court rejection. Subsequently, the court issued a rule asking the government to explain why Kajol would not be granted bail on October 19.
On November 24, the High Court granted him bail. On December 12, he was granted bail in two more DSA cases, removing any bar for his release.
