Kazi Jahidur Rahman, a lecturer at Rajshahi University’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering, has gotten bail in a case filed against him under the Digital Security Act.
He was sued for a social media post allegedly criticizing senior Awami League leader and former minister Mohammed Nasim, who died on June 12.
After spending 71 days in Rajshahi Jail, the lecturer secured bail on Thursday.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, Jahid said he was sued by opposing elements in previous conflicts tied to university politics. “I said this before and I’ll say this again, I wrote against corruption not against anyone personally.”
On June 18, Kazi Jahidur Rahman was picked up by police from his home at around 2am.
The arrest was made after local Awami League leader Tapash Kumar Saha filed a case with Motihar police station the night before.
Prior to Jahidur's arrest, a lecturer of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur was arrested in a case filed under the same law for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Nasim on social media.
According to journalists and rights activists, the controversial Digital Security Act enacted in 2018, effectively stifles freedom of speech and the media.
Since the coronavirus outbreak, the number of cases framed on the basis of the law has surged.
