Another Jaha Alam case?

The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain why it should not be directed to release Md Arman, a technician at a Benarasi Palli in Mirpur area, who has allegedly been languishing in jail for more than three years in a drug case in place of the real accused.

In the rule, the court asked authorities concerned of the government to show cause why is detention should not be declared illegal, and why they should not be ordered to give adequate compensation to Arman.

The HC in the rule also asked authorities to explain why they should not be directed to produce Arman before the court to convince it that he was not arrested illegally.

Besides, it ordered the Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Dhaka to send the record of the case, in which Arman was arrested, before the HC in seven days.

The bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with the rule and order following a writ petition filed by rights organisation Law and Life Foundation, seeking necessary order.

The bench also set May 6 for passing further order on this issue, petitioner’s lawyer Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallab told The Daily Star.

He said the police reportedly arrested Arman in a drug case in January 2016 instead of original accused of the case Shahabuddin Bihari. Both their fathers’ names are Md Yeasin.

The detention of Arman is like that of jute mill worker Jaha Alam, who was released from jail following a HC directive, Barrister Pallab added.