Digital Security Act: Photojournalist Kajol denied bail again

A Dhaka court again rejected a bail petition of photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka passed the order today after his lawyer submitted a criminal appeal against the rejection order of the lower court.

Earlier on June 28, Metropolitan Magistrate Debdash Chandra Adhikary rejected Kajol's bail petition and placed him on a two-day remand in the case filed with Hazaribagh Police Station.

Usmin Ara Beli, a member of Bangladesh Jubo Mahila League's Central Committee, filed a case against Kajol under the Digital Security Act on March 10.

During today's hearing, his lawyer Md Jaydur Rahman told the court that his client has been suffering from various ailments, including cardiac problems and hypertension. His mobility was also affected as one of his hands is paralysed and he cannot see properly as he was blindfolded for over 53 days.

As such, the lawyer appealed to the court to grant his client.

The prosecution, however, opposed the appeal saying that the accused had committed offence by posting derogatory remarks on social media.

Earlier on September 9, the same court rejected Kajol's bail in another case filed on March 11 with Kamrangirchar Police Station.

On June 23, Kajol was shown arrested in a case filed against him by ruling party lawmaker Saifuzzaman Shikhor from Magura-1 with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

Fifty-three days into his disappearance, Kajol was found by Border Guard Bangladesh in Benapole on May 3. He was then arrested initially on charges of trespassing, but was granted bail by a Jashore court.

However, that same evening he was shown held under section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure after police informed the court that three more cases against Kajol were pending with different police stations in the capital.

The court then sent him to Jashore Jail. Later, he was shifted to the jail in Keraniganj.