A Dhaka court on Thursday granted bail to veteran journalist Shafik Rehman in a case lodged for allegedly plotting to abduct and murder ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy in the US in 2015.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Zakir Hossain passed the order, allowing bail to Rehman on condition of filing appeal in the case.
A discharge petition was also filed for Shafik Rehman at the time. The court accepted the petition and said it would hear the plea later.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque on September 30 withdrew the arrest warrant issued against Shafik Rehman as he surrendered before the court.
The home ministry on September 22 suspended Rehman's sentence for a year on the condition of surrendering before the lower court and filing an appeal against his conviction.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur on August 17, 2023, convicted and sentenced five people including Shafik Rehman and daily Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman to seven-year imprisonment in the case.
The other convicts of the case are Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) vice-president Mohammad Ullah Mamun, his son Rizvi Ahmed Caesar and Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, an expatriate businessman living in the US.
Police on August 3, 2015, filed the case with Paltan Police Station and on February 19, 2018, filed the charge sheet against the five.
A total of 12 witnesses including Joy testified in the case on different hearing dates.
