Abu Tayyab, a senior journalist and the bureau chief of NTV in Khulna, has been denied bail again in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) by the city mayor.
Khulna Metropolitan Sessions Judge Shahidul Islam rejected the bail plea on Wednesday, defence lawyer Akter Jahan Ruku confirmed.
Earlier on April 22, Khulna Metropolitan Magistrate Tariqul Islam also denied him bail in the same case.
On April 20, police arrested Tayyab from his residence in the city’s Nurnagar around 10:30pm, hours after Khulna City Corporation Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleq filed the case.
He was produced before a magistrate’s court the next day and subsequently sent to jail.
According to the case statement, Tayyab defamed Khaleq, also the president of Awami League's city unit, by publishing several “false” and “baseless” reports on social media, which alleged that the mayor was involved in irregularities and corruption.
Most cases filed under the DSA have been controversial as critics allege that the law is used as a tool to silence any dissent, along with journalists and others unearthing corruption or other criminal acts.
In a latest statement, ARTICLE 19 has expressed deep concern over the widespread filing of cases and arrests of journalists under the DSA across Bangladesh for writing reports on corruption and posting opinions on social media.
At least 38 DSA cases have been filed in the first three months this year, and among the accused, five are journalists, according to ARTICLE 19, which in the statement also mentioned the arrest of Tayyab.
