I didn’t refuse bail to UNO: Magistrate

The Barisal magistrate whose order led to the arrest of the Barguna upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) today said he did not refuse bail to the UNO in the case.

Barisal’s Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Ali Hossain told the Supreme Court administration that he was late to grant bail to UNO Tariq Salman, Sabbir Faiz, additional registrar of the High Court division, told The Daily Star.

READ MORE: Case against Barguna UNO withdrawn

The magistrate spoke to the administration via cell phone as it had asked him to inform details about the incident, he said.

He said he was late because the necessary documents took time to reach him, Faiz said. The magistrate is scheduled to send the case record to the SC administration tomorrow [Monday].  

READ MORE: Case Against UNO: AL suspends Barisal leader

Tariq Salman, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Barguna Sadar, was sued after he printed the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, painted by a child, on an invitation card.

Obaidullah Saju, the religious affairs secretary of Barisal district and president of Barisal Lawyers' Association, filed the Tk 5 crore defamation case last month.

READ MORE: Six policemen closed over negligence

In the latest development, he was suspended from the party and the case withdrawn.

The case triggered a social media outcry with many praising the UNO's move of placing Bangabandhu's portrait painted by a child on the invitation card.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself criticised the action and said the portrait and the UNO’s initiative had deserved recognition and reward.