Defaming PM: SC stays bails of two in DSA cases

The Supreme Court yesterday stayed two High Court orders that granted bail to a Swechchhasebak Dal leader and a youth in two defamation cases filed under the Digital Security Act.

Md Tariqul Islam, a leader of the associate body of BNP from Narail, was sued for making "derogatory" remarks about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on his Facebook account on August 6 after the government increased prices of petroleum products on August 5.

District Chhatra League president Akash Ghosh filed the case with Lohagora Police Station on August 8 and police arrested Tariqul the same day.

Raju of Belsara village under Baliadangi Police Station in Thakurgaon was arrested in the case filed for distorting photos of PM Hasina and Indian PM Modi and posting those on Facebook on March 29 last year.The HC recently granted bail to Tariqul and Raju after hearing bail petitions filed by them.

Yesterday, chamber judge of the Appellate Division of the SC Justice M Enayetur Rahim stayed the HC orders till October 31 following two petitions filed by the state.

                    Additional Attorney General SM Munir told The Daily Star that the government will file leave to appeal petitions with the Appellate Division challenging the HC orders by October 31.