Shahidul Alam released from jail

Noted photographer Shahidul Alam was released from jail on bail on Tuesday night, five days after securing bail from the High Court, reports UNB.

He walked out of Dhaka Central Jail at Keraniganj around 8:25pm after his bail paper reached the prison, jailer Mahbub Islam told UNB.

On 15 November, the High Court granted bail to Shahidul Alam in a case filed under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act for spreading ‘propaganda’ through his Facebook account during the student movement demanding safe roads.

Earlier on 7 October, the High Court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain within seven days as to why Shahidul Alam, also Drik Gallery managing director and founder of Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, should not be granted bail in the case.

On 11 September, Judge KM Imrul Kayes of Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge’s Court denied bail to the photographer in the case.

Shahidul Alam filed a bail petition with the HC on 28 August through his lawyers.

On 4 September, a judge of a two-member High Court bench felt ‘embarrassed’ to hear the bail petition in the case.

On the same day, the HC bench forwarded the petition to the chief justice for a decision.

On 5 September, the HC directed the authorities concerned to provide first-class division to photographer Shahidul in jail after hearing the writ petition.

Detectives arrested Shahidul Alam from his Dhanmondi residence on 5 August and the case was filed against him with Ramna Police Station on 6 August.