Tag: Freedom of speech in Bangladesh

Bangladeshi Photographer Shahidul Alam Released

He was granted permanent bail from the high court on November 15, considering his age and the time he spent behind bars. 

New Delhi: Bangladeshi photographer Shahidul Alam was released on Tuesday evening after languishing in jail for 108 days.

He walked out of the Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 8:20 pm Dhaka time (7:50 PM Indian time) after jail authorities processed his bail order. As reported by The Wire earlier, jail authorities had in the afternoon stalled Alam’s release citing discrepancy in the address in jail custody papers and the judgment noted by jail authorities. His lawyers had then gone to the chief metropolitan magistrate’s court to get it corrected.

Also read: Why the Bangladesh Government Is Scared of Shahidul Alam

He was granted permanent bail from the high court on November 15, considering his age and the time he spent behind bars.

Alam had been in custody since August 5, facing various charges, including violations of the country’s draconian IT act and bringing the country “into disrepute” by giving interviews to international media sharply critical of the Awami League government.

Bangladeshi Jail Officials Stall Shahidul Alam’s Release Citing ‘Address’ Discrepancy

“A jail official came out and told us that there was a discrepancy in the address in jail custody papers and the judgment noted by jail authorities,” Alam’s lawyer Sara Hossain said.

Dhaka: Lawyers for jailed Bangladeshi photographer Shahidul Alam on Tuesday, November 20, said jailers were blocking his release on bail by a high court order citing “the petty issue of discrepancy in jail address”.

The bail bond and release order were furnished to jail authorities at 11:30 am on Tuesday “but they are still not releasing Dr Alam,” said his lawyer Sara Hossain from outside the prison.

She called on the media to publicise the unrelenting efforts by the Bangladesh government to block Alam’s freedom and said a “contempt notice” had been issued.

Also read: Why the Bangladesh Government Is Scared of Shahidul Alam

“A jail official came out and told us that there was a discrepancy in the address in jail custody papers and the judgment noted by jail authorities,” Hossain said. Her colleagues have left for the chief metropolitan magistrate’s court to get it corrected, she added. But this is an “immaterial issue”.

Alam has been in custody for over 100 days since August and has been accused of various charges, including violations of the country’s draconian IT act and bringing the country “into disrepute” by giving interviews to international media sharply critical of the Awami League government.