Digital Security Act: Cartoonist Kishore, 3 others denied bail

A virtual court in Dhaka today rejected both the remand and bail petitions of four accused, including cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.

The court, however, allowed police to interrogate the accused at jail gate for two days, within seven working days.

The three other accused are: writer Mushtaq Ahmed, Didarul Islam Bhuiyan, an activist of a platform called 'Rastrachinta', and businessman Minhaj MannanEmon.

On completion of the interrogation, the defence lawyers can again submit bail petitions for their clients, court sources said.

Before the hearingtoday, Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jasimsent a link to the authorities of Dhaka Central Jail in Keranigonj, who arethe custodians for the accused in the case.

The Supreme Court on June 7 cleared the barriers and directed all magistrates across the country to hold virtual hearings on remand prayers through videoconferencing with concerned jail authorities.

During today's hearing on remand prayers, the conducting magistrate witnessed the accused through videoconferencing and then held hearings on the prayers submitted on May 7.

On the other hand, defence lawyers submitted two separate bail petitions along with cancellation of the remand prayers through email, and took part in the hearing through videoconferencing.

Before issuance of the gazette notification, it was a mandatory provision of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) that during the hearing of a remand prayer, the accused must be produced before the court.

Eleven people -- including the four arrestees -- were charged with "spreading rumours and carrying out anti-government activities" under the Digital Security Act on May 6.

Swedish-Bangladeshi journalist Tasneem Khalil, who runs Netra News, US-based journalist Shahed Alam and blogger Asif Mohiuddin are also among those named in the case.

Sub-Inspector Md Jasshedul Alam of Ramna Police Station, also the investigation officer of the case, on May 7 submitted the two remand prayers for interrogating the detained accused.