HC to deliver verdict on photographer Shahidul Alam’s petition tomorrow

The High Court will deliver its verdict tomorrow on a petition filed by internationally acclaimed photographer Shahidul Alam -- challenging legality of a case filed under Section 57 of Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006, in which he was imprisoned for 107 days.

The bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil set the date for delivering verdict after concluding hearing on the petition today.

Lawyers AF Hasan Ariff and Sara Hossain appeared for Shahidul, while Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy represented the state.

On March 14, 2019, the HC stayed the investigation of the case and issued a rule asking why the case filed under Section 57, even after the law was abolished through formation of Digital Security Act, should not be declared illegal.

On March 3, 2019, Shahidul filed a writ petition challenging the legality of the case, in which he was imprisoned for 107 days.

In the petition, he sought stay on the proceedings saying that it was filed against him "in violation of his fundamental rights and by abusing the process".

On August 5, 2018, Shahidul, founder of Drik Gallery and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, was picked up from his Dhanmondi home during a widespread demonstration for safe roads.

Police lodged the case against him under section 57 of the ICT Act and produced him before a Dhaka court the following day.

On November 15, 2018, HC granted bail to Shahidul, while he was released from Dhaka jail the following day.