Court rejects Mainul's bail petition

A Dhaka court yesterday rejected Barrister Mainul Hosein's bail petition in a case filed under Digital Security Act for defaming journalist Masuda Bhatti during a TV talk-show.

Metropolitan Magistrate Baki Billah passed the order after the petition was moved by Mainul's lawyer.

Earlier on November 1, Mainul was shown arrested in the case after Ziaul Haque, sub-inspector of Gulshan Police Station, also investigation officer of the case, submitted a petition in this regard.

On October 24, Sumona Akhter Lily, member of Awami League's Youth and Sports sub-committee, filed the case against the lawyer under sections 25 (2) and 29 of the Act.

In the case statement, Sumona said Mainul had “dishonoured all women” by calling Masuda “a person of loose character” during a live television talk-show on October 16.

The former caretaker government's adviser is also charged in 18 other cases.

He was arrested on October 22 in connection with a defamation case filed in Rangpur.

The following day, another Dhaka court sent him to jail after rejecting his bail.

TWO CASES OVER AL-BNP CLASH

Meanwhile, two cases have been filed against around 146 people over a clash on the premises of a Rangpur court on Sunday after Mainul was produced before it, reports our Dinajpur correspondent. The cases were lodged with Kotwali Police Station on that night, and police have arrested six persons so far.

At least 13 people, including three policemen, were injured when Awami League and BNP activists clashed on the premises of the additional chief judicial magistrate's court in Rangpur over hurling shoes and eggs at Mainul when he was being taken away from the court on Sunday. He appeared in the defamation case filed in Rangpur.

Md Zia, a sub-inspector of Kotwali Police Station, filed a case against 78 people for creating obstacles in police duty. He cited 28 names, and the rest were unnamed. On the other hand, Anisur Rahman Anis, organisational secretary of Rangpur city unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League, filed the other case accusing 68 persons, and 28 names were mentioned.