Helena Jahangir denied bail in DSA case
The High Court yesterday refused bail to Helena Jahangir, a businessperson turned politician, in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.
The case was filed against Helena, who was sacked as member of an Awami League sub-committee in July this year, on charges of spreading propaganda and misleading information on digital platforms to defame important personalities and create panic and confusion in the public mind.
The HC bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque and Justice Md Badiuzzaman rejected her bail petition during a virtual hearing considering that the petition was not presented properly.
Deputy Attorney General Dr Md Bashir Ullah told The Daily Star that the HC refused to grant bail to Helena Jahangir as there are specific allegations against her.
Helena's lawyer ZI Khan Panna told this correspondent that a fresh bail petition will be moved on behalf of his client before the HC after it reopens on October 20, following the ongoing annual vacation.
Panna said Helena sought bail in the case on the grounds that there is no specific allegation against her and she was physically ill.
The law enforcers filed the case against Helena with Banani Police Station under the DSA after she was arrested on July 30, he said.
Former additional attorney general Momtaz Uddin Fakir also appeared for Helena while Additional Attorney General Sk Md Morshed, Deputy Attorneys General Md Bashir Ullah and AKM Amin Uddin Manik opposed the bail petition during the virtual hearing.
Helena, 49, drew criticism from different quarters after announcing the launch of "Bangladesh Awami Chakrijibi League" before her arrest.
After announcing the formation of "Awami Chakrijibi League" on Facebook, Helena reportedly declared that the organisation would pick presidents and general secretaries for its units at home (districts, upazilas) and abroad.
The Facebook post went viral.
Helena, the founder and CEO of JayJatra IPTV, became a member of the AL sub-committee on women affairs on January 18, said sources in the ruling party.
Earlier, she became a member of the advisory council of Cumilla (north) unit of the AL.
On July 25, Meher Afroz Chumki, AL women affairs secretary, issued a press release stating that Helena was sacked from the AL sub-committee for "breaching party polices" as her name surfaced on social media as the president of "Awami Chakrijibi League".