Digital Security Act: Cartoonist Kishore, writer Mushtaq denied bail

A virtual court in Dhaka yesterday rejected both the remand and bail petitions of four accused, including cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore and writer Mushtaq Ahmed, 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 two other accused are: Didarul Islam Bhuiyan, an activist of a platform called "Rastrachinta", and businessman Minhaj Mannan Emon.

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

Before the hearing yesterday, Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jasim sent a video link to the authorities of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj, who are the custodians for the accused.

The conducting magistrate then witnessed the accused through videoconferencing and then held hearings on the prayers submitted on May 7.

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

Eleven people -- including the four arrestees -- were charged with "spreading rumours and carrying out anti-government activities" 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 case's investigation officer, submitted the two remand prayers for interrogating the detained accused.