Maidul's remand postponed after HC grants bail

A Chattogram court yesterday postponed the three-day remand of Chittagong University (CU) teacher Maidul Islam after he secured bail from the High Court (HC) for six months in a case filed against him under section 57 of the ICT Act for “making defamatory remarks against the prime minister on social media”.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Kamrunnahar Rumi passed the remand postponement order after the lawyers moved a special plea before the court yesterday afternoon, mentioning Maidul's bail from the HC in the case, said Advocate Bhulan Lal Bhowmik, Maidul's lawyer.

In the morning, the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Mustafizur Rahman granted the six-month bail after hearing a petition filed by Maidul, seeking bail in the case.

There is no legal bar for Maidul to be released from jail following the HC order, his lawyer Advocate Hasnat Qayyum told The Daily Star.

However, Advocate Bhulan Lal said Maidul will be released from jail by tomorrow as the necessary documents will be sent by that time.

On Monday, Maidul was put on a three-day remand after the investigation officer of the case produced him before a court seeking a five-day remand in the case.

STUDENTS, TEACHERS DEMAND MAIDUL'S RELEASE

Master's graduates of Chittagong University's Sociology Department boycotted their farewell programme, demanding immediate and unconditional release of their teacher.

Meanwhile, 21 teachers of four public universities -- Dhaka, Jahangirnagar, Chattogram and Jagannath -- yesterday formed a human chain on Dhaka University campus, demanding withdrawal of the case filed against Maidul.

Speaking at the programme, the teachers also demanded that the government ensure freedom of expression and urged the CU authorities to reinstate Maidul in his post.

A Chattogram court on September 24 sent Maidul, an assistant professor of CU's Sociology Department, to jail in a case filed with Hathazari Police Station on July 24 on charge of defaming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on social media. Md Iftekhar Uddin Ayaz, a former executive member of BCL's CU unit, filed the case.