Mainul gets interim bail in 2 defamation cases

The High Court on Sunday granted bail for five months to former adviser to a caretaker government Mainul Hosein in two defamation cases, reports UNB.

An HC bench of justice Muhammad Abdul Hafiz and justice Mohi Uddin Shamim passed the order after hearing separate petitions filed by him.

Earlier in the day, two courts -- one in Dhaka and the other in Jamalpur -- issued arrest warrants against Mainul Hosein in two cases filed for hurling abusive words at journalist Masuda Bhatti in a television talk-show.

In Dhaka, additional metropolitan magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur passed the order after recording the statement of Masuda Bhatti and fixed 22 November for submission of records regarding the arrest of Mainul.

Mainul was also sued in Jamalpur district by Farzana Yasmin Lita, convener of ruling Awami League’s associate body Jubo Mohila League.

Judge Solaiman Kabir of cognisance court issued the arrest warrant after Farzana filed a Tk 200 billion defamation case against Mainul.

According to the case statement, Mainul who was connected to the talk-show 'Ekattor Journal' through a videoconference aired on Ekattor TV hosted by Mithila Farzana, made an 'offensive comment' against Masuda Bhatti on 16 October.

He tarnished the image of Masuda Bhatti, the statement said.

During the talk-show, Masuda Bhatti asked Mainul, "You say that you're in the Jatiya Oikya Front as a citizen of the country but in social networking sites, many people are saying that you are there as a representative of Jamaat."

Angered at the comment, Mainul said, "I'm thanking you for your audacity and I want to believe you as 'characterless'. There's no question about Jamaat link's with me and what question you have asked is embarrassing for me."