Shafik Rehman out on bail

Journalist Shafik Rehman walked out of prison yesterday around five months after he was arrested in a case filed in connection with an alleged plot to abduct and kill prime minister's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

He was freed from Kashimpur-2 Central Jail in Gazipur around 12:50pm after his bail order reached the jail authorities, said Prasanta Kumar Banik, jail superintendent.

His wife Taleya Rehman and other relatives received him at the jail gate, Shafik's Personal Assistant Sajib Onasis told The Daily Star.   

Later, Shafik, a pro-BNP intellectual, was admitted to Birdem Hospital as he is suffering from various complications, including high blood pressure and diabetes, Onasis said.   

Detectives posing as television reporters arrested him on April 16 from his Eskaton Garden house in the city.

On August 31, the Supreme Court granted him bail for three months or until the charge sheet of the case is submitted. His bail will expire if police submit the charge sheet before three months, the apex court said in its order.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order after hearing Shafik's appeal petition seeking bail in the case.

Earlier on June 7, the High Court rejected his bail petition in the case.

Later, Shafik, former editor of the daily Jaijaidin, filed the appeal with the SC, challenging the judgement of the HC and seeking bail in the case.