The lawyers of Mainul Hosein are set to apply to the court for first class division facilities for the former caretaker government’s adviser today.
“We will apply for his division status tomorrow,” Mainul’s lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday.
Mainul, also the publisher and editorial board chief of the Daily New Nation, was sent to jail on Tuesday after a Dhaka court rejected his bail petition in a defamation case filed with a Rangpur court. He was arrested by the Detective Branch of police in Uttara, Dhaka late Monday night.
Prison officials said Mainul has been kept in the jail like other ordinary prisoners, as no court directive to provide him with special facilities has been issued.
Law Minister Anisul Huq said on Wednesday that Mainul or his lawyers are yet to apply for a division status.
“If he applies, the decision on division status will be considered, based on his offence,” he said.
“Third parties cannot file a case in this matter, because he told Masuda Bhatti that, ‘For your insolence, I think you are, I want to call you characterless.’ So he was speaking to Bhatti only, not to entire womankind,” Khandaker Mahbub said. “This is a bailable offence,” he added.
First class division facility in jail includes a bed, table, chair, mosquito-net, newspaper and better food.
Section 617 of the Jail Code says those who are well-mannered, non-habitual offenders, maintain a high standard of living because of social dignity, education and practice, do not carry explosives or firearms, are not convicted in offences related to properties or provoking others to commit such crimes will qualify for Division I treatment in jail.
The court has to send a primary recommendation to the Home Ministry for approval, before an inmate can be provided with Division status.
