Former NCP central joint member-secretary Gazi Salauddin Tanvir has been granted one-year bail by the High Court in a case filed under the Cyber Security Act over an allegedly defamatory Facebook post about the prime minister.
He was released from Dhaka Central Jail on Tuesday evening after completion of the necessary legal procedures. He was subsequently taken to the National Institute of Neurosciences Hospital in Dhaka for advanced medical treatment, his lawyer said.
Ejaz Al Wasi, senior joint member-secretary of the NCP’s Bogura district unit and Tanvir’s lawyer, confirmed the matter.
The High Court granted Tanvir bail on September 9 following a petition filed by senior Supreme Court lawyer Tajul Islam, a member of the defence team and former chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal.
Tanvir was arrested by a Bogra Detective Branch team from a rented house in Monipuripara, Mirpur, Dhaka, in the early hours of August 5. A BNP leader had earlier filed the case against him under the Cyber Security Act.
He was produced before the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court in Bogra the same day and sent to jail. On August 10, the court granted police three days to interrogate him after investigators sought seven days’ remand.
Tanvir later fell ill and was admitted to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogra. He was subsequently transferred to Dhaka Central Jail for advanced treatment and received treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital while in custody.
His lawyers later sought an early bail hearing citing his deteriorating health. The matter was subsequently taken up by the higher courts.
Ejaz Al Wasi said Tanvir was suffering from several health complications, including panic disorder, severe headaches and cervical spondylosis. He also suffered a stroke while in custody on August 15, the lawyer said.
“Given his critical condition and urgent need for medical treatment, we sought bail through legal proceedings. The court has granted our application,” he said.
