Shahidul Alam release halted for ‘address’ discrepancy

The jail officials on Tuesday did not release internationally reputed photographer Shahidul Alam on bail after a High Court order in this regard due to the discrepancy in jail address.

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

“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,” she said.

In a press statement she urged the media to publicise the unrelenting efforts by the government to block Shahidul Alam’s freedom and said a “contempt notice” had been issued.

Lawyers left for the chief metropolitan magistrate’s court to get it corrected, she added. “But this is an immaterial issue,” the release added.

Shahidul 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 ruling Bangladesh Awami League government.