The Appellate Division on Monday granted bail to Sabera Aman, wife of BNP leader Aman Ullah Aman, in a case filed over acquiring wealth beyond known income source. Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice M Enayetur Rahim granted the bail till January 15 next year following a bail petition filed by Sabera. Read: RAB arrests fugitive Hizb ut-Tahrir leader in Dhaka At the same time, the court fixed the day for hearing on the petition in the full bench of the Appellate Division. Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon stood for Sabera Aman while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) during the hearing. Read: Graft case: Sabera Aman lands in jail upon surrender On September 3, Judge Abul Kashem of Dhaka Special Judge Court-1 sent Sabera Aman to jail after she surrendered before the court. The court also rejected her bail petition in the case. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on March 6, 2007, filed the case with the city's Kafrul police station against Aman Ullah Aman and his wife Sabera Aman. On June 21, 2007, a court sentenced Aman to 13 years imprisonment and his wife to three years jail in the case. Read: Fardin’s death: Court fixes October 1 for submitting further investigation report Later, they filed an appeal challenging the lower court order. On August 16, 2010, the High Court acquitted them. The Anti-Corruption Commission submitted a petition to the Appellate Division challenging the HC order. On May 26, 2014, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court asked the High Court to re-hear the petition. On May 30, the High Court upheld the lower court order that had sentenced Aman to 13 years jail and his wife Sabera to three years. It also asked them to surrender before the court within 15 days of getting the text of the verdict.  

The Appellate Division on Monday suspended bail of Jagannath University student Khadijatul Kubra for another four months in two cases under the Digital Security Act(DSA). An Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order. Advocate BM Elias Kachee and Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua stood for Khadija, while Assistant Attorney General Saiful Alam represented the state. Students demand release of JnU student Khadija Khadija was granted bail by the High Court on February 16 in two Digital Security Act cases. The state filed petition challenging the bail. During the hearing, Khadija's lawyer Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua argued that she was not accountable for the opinions expressed by guests in videos on her YouTube channel. The Appellate Division responded that Khadija, “as a first-year honours student, should be able to accept responsibility for the opinions aired on her talk show program.” Steps taken to prevent misuse of DSA: Law Minister In October 2020, police filed two cases against Khadija and retired Maj Delowar Hossain at the Kalabagan and New Market Police Stations for 'spreading anti-government propaganda and harming Bangladesh's reputation.' The allegations in the two cases filed a week apart, were similar. Police arrested Khadija on September 17, 2022. She has been imprisoned since then. Over 7,000 cases under DSA: Law Minister According to the case details, Khadija and Delowar conspired to broadcast false, fabricated, and defamatory propaganda about the Prime Minister, various government agencies, and senior state officials in order to oust the country's legitimate administration. They were aiming to destroy communal harmony through their conspiracy by promoting enmity, hatred, and division among various communities, it said. Khadija was 17 when the cases were filed under the Digital Security Act in 2020, but the case was filed showing her as an adult, according to her lawyer. Despite having kidney disease, Khadija's bail petitions were repeatedly denied by a Dhaka court, he said.    

A Dhaka court on Monday granted bail to singer Mainul Ahsan Noble in a fraud case filed with Motijheel Police Station. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shafi Uddin passed the order till the submission of a chargesheet on bond of Tk 5,000. Earlier in the day, DB inspector also the investigating officer of the case Humayun Kabir produced him before the court after completion of his one-day remand in the case. Advocate Abdullah Al Mamun stood for Noble. Md Safayet Islam filed a case on May 16 on behalf of Shariatpur’s Vedorganj Headquarter Pilot High School’s HSC 16th batch. Later, a court granted one-day remand to Noble on May 20. Also read: Airhostess, musicians blamed for Noble’s drug addiction According to the case details, Noble received TK 1.72 lakh for performing at the high school’s reunion programme but he didn’t perform at the event organised for April 28 and he did not even return the money. Earlier, his ex-wife Salsable Mahmud complained to the police and wrote on social media about the constant physical and emotional abuse of Noble, citing that he is an avid drug addict and his demeanour got drastically changed in recent years due to his addiction. Noble won the 2nd runner-up position in the popular Indian TV reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’s West Bengal edition on Zee Bangla in 2019 and received the "Viewer's Choice" award, winning hearts in both countries. However, his addiction led him to several miserable acts one after another, degrading his popularity among his audiences.  

A Dhaka court on Monday (April 03, 2023) granted bail to Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA). Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur granted the bail on a bond of Tk 20,000. A Dhaka court on Thursday sent him to jail rejecting his bail petition. Another petition was filed on Monday seeking bail. Later, the journalist was shifted to Kashimpur Central Jail from Keraniganj on March 31. Meanwhile, he was taken back to Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj from Kashimpur Central Jail on April 1. Also read: Journalist Shamsuzzaman taken back to Dhaka Central Jail On March 29, members of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in plainclothes picked up Shams from his residence in Ambagan area, adjacent to Jahangirnagar University, around 4:30 am. The same day, a Jubo League leader filed a case under the Digital Security Act against Shams, accusing him of publishing a "false and fabricated report" on the Prothom Alo website. On March 29, an FIR was filed by a lawyer named Abdul Malek (Mashiur Malek), accusing Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams, an unnamed “assistant cameraman”, and unnamed others of “using print, online, and electronic media to tarnish the image and reputation of the state.” In the FIR, the lawyer also mentioned that the accused were “purposefully spreading misinformation to deteriorate the law and order situation of the country.” Read More: Prothom Alo Editor seeks anticipatory bail in DSA case, hearing yet to begin The High Court on Sunday (April 02, 2023) granted six weeks anticipatory bail to Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.

A Dhaka court on Thursday (March 30, 2023) sent Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams to jail in a case filed under the Digital Security Act after rejecting his bail petition. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka Md Tofazzal Hossain turned down the bail petition. Earlier, Ramna Model Police Station Inspector Abu Ansar, also investigating officer of the case, requested the court for sending him to jail when Shams was produced before the court. Read More: CID arrested Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuzzan in a case: Home Minister Proshanto Kumar Karmakar, lawyer of Shamsuzzaman, appeared for the bail plea. On March 29, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) men in plainclothes picked up Shams from his residence in Ambagan area, adjacent to Jahangirnagar University, around 4:30 am. The same day, a Jubo League leader filed a case under the Digital Security Act against Shams, accusing him of publishing a "false and fabricated report" in the daily Prothom Alo. Read More: Prothom Alo journalist Shams taken to court

A court in Gujarat's Surat today (March 23, 2023) found Indian Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi guilty, and sentenced him to two years in prison in a 2019 defamation case -- over his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname. Gandhi was granted bail, however, and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the verdict, reports NDTV. Purnesh Modi, a BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister, filed the lawsuit against Gandhi for saying, "How come all thieves have the surname Modi?" He made the remark while speaking at a rally in Kolar, Karnataka, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, targeting PM Modi because of his surname, which he shares with fugitive financiers Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi, said the report. Read More: Hasina, Modi inaugurate ‘Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline’ to boost energy cooperation The Congress leader quoted Mahatma Gandhi in his first response following the judgement, tweeting in Hindi, "My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence the means to get it." Gandhi arrived in Surat earlier in the day for the verdict and was greeted by key Congress leaders from Gujarat. Posters glorifying him as 'Sher-e-Hindustan' (Lion of India) and banners saying that the "Congress will not bow before the dictatorship of the BJP" were displayed at various spots all over town as a show of strength and support for him. After his conviction, Rahul Gandhi received rare support from Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, who tweeted that he "disagreed" with the judgement. Read More: Tax officials search BBC's Delhi offices weeks after Modi documentary "A conspiracy is being hatched to eliminate non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them. We have differences with the Congress, but it is not right to implicate Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case like this. It is the job of the public and the opposition to ask questions. We respect the court but disagree with the decision," Kejriwal wrote. Rahul Gandhi had last appeared in the case before the Surat court in October 2021 to record his statement.

A Gazipur court on Monday granted bail to Rakib Sarkar, husband of actress Mahiya Mahi, in a case filed under Digital Security Act. Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Niaz Makhdum passed the order when his lawyer filed a petition seeking Rakib’s bail in the two cases. Actress Mahi was present at the court with her husband. Rakib Sarkar returned home from Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning. Later, he appeared before the Gazipur court on Monday and filed a petition seeking bail in the two cases. The bail will remain in force until the police submit a report in this regard before the court. Also Read: Actress Mahiya Mahi has been arrested on specific allegations: Home Minister The court also fixed April 24 for next hearing in the case filed under DSA. Earlier, on Saturday, a Gazipur court granted bail to actress Mahiya Mahi, hours after she was arrested from Dhaka airport in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA). Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, filed the case under the Digital Security Act against Mahi and her husband Rakib on Friday night on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook. Mahi was arrested from the airport after her arrival from Saudi Arabia but husband Rakib Sarker, also an accused in the case, did not return home with her. Later, a Gazipur court sent her to jail. Also Read: DSA case: Actress Mahiya Mahi gets bail Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, a businessman, filed another case with Bason Police Station against 28 people including the couple on charges of assault, vandalism and land grabbing. According to the case statement, Mahi, from her Facebook page, went live early Friday — making allegations against police. During the live session, she said Ismail Hossain and Mamun Sarkar, through their people, carried out an attack on a car showroom, Sony Raj Car Palace, owned by Mahi, on Dhaka-Tangail highway near Bhawal Badre Alam Government College. The actress and her husband also alleged that the Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner “supported the attackers” after taking bribes. She also said she feared getting arrested after returning to the country from Mecca. During the Facebook live, Mahiya’s husband Rakib alleged that police arrested security guards of the car showroom. Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, owner of Rod Binding Factory in Itahata area of Gazipur city and plaintiff of a case, in his complaint said he has been running a factory in the area for the past 10 years after purchasing land there. On Friday, some people on behalf of Rakib and Mahiya attacked and vandalized the factory, he said. They also beat up 5 people at the factory, leaving them injured, while trying to occupy the land, according to the complaint.    

BNP leaders Abdus Salam and Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie were freed from jail on bail on Wednesday evening. They walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 6 pm after the bail order reached the jail authorities, said BNP’s media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. Read more: Nayapaltan clash: BNP’s Salam, Annie get 6-month interim bail Leaders and activists of BNP's Dhaka Metropolitan South received them at the jail gate. On January 16, the High Court granted BNP's Dhaka Metropolitan South convener Abdus Salam and publication secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie six months’ interim bail in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. On December 7 last year, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, ahead of its December 10 rally. Police arrested 470 BNP activists and leaders in connection with the clash and they were sued in two cases filed with Paltan and Motijheel police stations. Read more: Nayapaltan clash: 445 BNP activists including Rizvi, Annie sent to jail, 2 get bail Abdus Salam and Annie were arrested on the same day following the clash. A Dhaka court sent 445 BNP leaders and activists including Annie and Salam to jail in two cases filed over the violence and order to give division in jail to the five leaders on the following day. Party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chairperson’s Special Assistant Shimul Biswash, Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon, former organizational secretary Fazlul Haque Milon, Co-Organisational Secretary Selimuzzaman, are among others who were sent to jail in the case.

The High Court on Monday granted BNP leaders Abdus Salam and Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie six months’ interim bail in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan on December 7 last year. The HC bench of Justice Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Shahed Nuruddin passed the bail order. The court issued a rule questioning why the BNP leaders should not be granted permanent bail. Read more: Anti-state plot: SC stays bail of BNP leader Aslam Senior lawyer Zainul Abedin and lawyer Zahirul Islam Sumon appeared for the two BNP leaders in the court. On December 7 last year, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, ahead of its December 10 rally. Police arrested 470 BNP activists and leaders in connection with the clash and they were sued in two cases filed with Paltan and Motijheel police stations. BNP's Dhaka Metropolitan South convener Abdus Salam and publication secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie were arrested on the same day following the clash. Read more: SC upholds bail of Fakhrul and Abbas, no bar to release A Dhaka court sent 445 BNP leaders and activists including Annie and Salam to jail in two cases filed over the violence and order to give division in jail to the five leaders on the following day. Party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chairperson’s Special Assistant Shimul Biswash, Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon, former organizational secretary Fazlul Haque Milon, Co-Organisational Secretary Selimuzzaman, are among others who were sent to jail in the case.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday (January 15, 2023) upheld the High Court order granting bail to Sonia Akter Smrity, a Mahila Dal leader of Rajbari, in a case filed over posting "offensive" content on Facebook against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Hasan Foyez Siddiqui passed the order withdrawing the stay order of the Chamber Court. Senior Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali, Barrister Kayser Kamal and Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal appeared in the court for Smriti. Additional Attorney General Sheikh Mohammad Morshed represented the state. Read more: Defaming PM: Chamber Judge stays bail to Rajbari Mahila Dal leader Now there is no bar to the release of the Mahila Dal leader, Barrister Kayser Kamal said. Smrity, wife of Md Khokon Mia of No 3 Beradanga area of Rajbari Sadar, is a member of Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal’s Rajbari district unit. On November 2 last year, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division, M Enayetur Rahim, stayed the bail order granted by the High Court till November 7. The High Court granted interim bail to Smrity in the case on November 1. Read more: Rajbari Mohila Dal member arrested under DSA for 'comment on PM' Police arrested Smrity on October 4 in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for posting offensive status on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Facebook. Arefin Chowdhury, member secretary of Rajbari district Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, lodged an FIR against her. On October 5, Judge Kaisun Nahar Surma of Rajbari No 1 Judicial Magistrate Court rejected Smrity’s bail plea and ordered to send her to jail. On October 26, Rajbari Sessions Judge Court also denied bail to Smrity which prompted her to seek bail from the HC. Read More: Fardin's death: Bushra finally granted bail In her bail plea, Smrity requested the HC to consider her as a woman and a mother of two children. According to the FIR, the accused BNP activist made "insulting remarks" about PM Sheikh Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, from her personal Facebook account in two separate statuses on August 31 and September 28.