HC wants Shahidul’s Al-Jazeera interview video

The High Court today sought for the interview video of Shahidul Alam, given to Al Jazeera – which led to him landing in prison.

The bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice SM Mozibur Rahman asked for the video footage on Thursday, the next date of hearing.

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Attorney General Mahbubey Alam has been asked to produce the footage.

WHY DID THE COURT WANT THE VIDEO?

The court passed the order during hearing the rule earlier issued by it over granting bail to Shahidul, who has been in jail for 85 days.

Attorney general told the bench that Shahidul provoked the people against the state through giving the interview to Al Jazeera English and posting a status to his facebook, Deputy Attorney General Dr Md Bashir Ullah told The Daily Star.

Shahidul’s lawyer Barrister Sara Hossain told the court that Alam, an internationally-acclaimed photographer, has been languishing in jail in the case filed on false and baseless allegations.

HOW WAS SHAHIDUL ARRESTED?

The renowned photographer was picked up by plainclothes men from his home in the capital's Dhanmondi on August 5.

Police filed the case against him and produced him before a Dhaka court the following day. He was then placed on a seven-day remand.

In court, Shahidul said he was tortured in custody. Police denied the allegation.

On completion of his seven-day remand, Shahidul was denied bail and sent to jail by a Dhaka court on August 13.

Many notable personalities, including Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and 11 other Nobel prize winners, have called for immediate release of Shahidul.