Imran faces arrest for skipping court hearing

A Dhaka court yesterday issued an arrest warrant against Gonojagoron Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker and cultural activist Sanatan Ullash as they skipped hearing on a defamation case filed for making “derogatory remarks” about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sheikh Chhamidul Islam passed the order as their lawyers did not take any step for their non-appearance before the court yesterday.

Yesterday was the first scheduled date in the court where they were supposed to secure bail. But they did not comply with the order. Later their bail was cancelled and the warrant was issued.

The court set October 26 to submit report on execution of the arrest warrant.

BCL leader Golam Rabbani filed the case against them on May 31 with the court. The court then summoned them to appear before it. According to the case statement, Imran and Sanatan chanted defamatory slogans against the premier on May 27 over the removal of the statue of Lady Justice from the Supreme Court premises.

The SC authorities removed the statue early on May 26 and later reinstalled near the court's Annex Building.