Mahmudur gets HC bail in 6 cases

The High Court (HC) today granted eight-week anticipatory bail to Bangla daily Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman in six separate sedition and defamation cases.

The HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice JBM Hassan came up with the order after hearing six separate petitions filed by Mahmudur seeking bail in the cases.

The court also asked Mahmudur to appear before the trial courts in connection with the cases when his bail term expires after eight weeks.

Deputy Attorney General Md Bashir Ullah told The Daily Star that the government will move appeals before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the HC’s bail order to Mahmudur.

The cases were filed by ruling Awami League leaders and activists with different police stations in Jessore, Tangail and Barisal following his “derogatory remarks” on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

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Mahmudur Rahman freed on bail

Mahmudur made the comments on December 1 last year while addressing a seminar on restoration of democracy and the role of media, organised by Bangladesh Democratic Council at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.

Mahmudur walked out of Kashimpur jail on November 23 last year following bail of the Supreme Court after staying behind bars for over three-and-half years.

Mahmudur, a former energy advisor and pro-BNP journalist, was in jail since April 11, 2013.