The High Courted has granted bail to renowned photographer and activist Shahidul Alam who has been behind the bars for over 100 days in a case filed under the ICT Act.
The bench of Justice Sheikh Abdul Awal and Justice Bhismadev Chakrabortty gave the order on Thursday (Nov 15) after disposing of a rule it issued earlier.
“The copy of the court’s order will be first sent to the chief metropolitan magistrate’s court where we will file for a bail bond. It will then forwarded to the prison authorities to process Shahidul’s release,” Jyotirmoy Baru, Shahidul’s legal counsel told Bangla Tribune.
The verdict came after the hearing of a rule that was given by another bench a month ago asking why Shahidul should not secure bail.
Before this, the veteran photographer moved the HC for bail on three occasions, after which on Oct 7, the rule was issued.
During the hearing of the rule, the court ordered the State to exhibit the live videos and interview which were used as grounds for his arrest.
“There is no legal bar for his release now,” said his legal counsel Sarah Hossain adding, “We will decide what to do next if the State decides to appeal.”
“We will move the Appellate Division to stay his bail, after receiving a copy of the court’s order,” said Assistant Attorney General Md Ali Jinnah.
However, neither parties have yet been able to confirm when they will receive it.
One of the judges of a HC bench felt “embarrassed” to hear Shahidul's bail petition in the case on Sept 4.
On Sept 10, the HC ordered the lower court concerned to resolve of Shahidul’s bail plea. The same day, the bench forwarded the petition to the chief justice for a decision as one of the judges of the bench felt ‘embarrassed’ to hear the matter.
The chief justice then nominated the bench of justices Awal and Chakrabortty to hear the matter.
Founder of Drik Gallery, Pathshala and the South-Asian Media Institute, Shahidul was arrested in a case filed under Section 57 of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act on Aug 5, few hours after he had given an interview to Qatar-based television channel Al Jazeera on the student protests for road safety.