Detention of Shahriar, Shafi illegal: HC

The High Court yesterday declared illegal detention of writer-journalist Shahriar Kabir and Awami League leader Shafi Ahmed under the Special Powers Act (SPA).

The division bench of Justice Hamidul Haq and Justice Salma Masud also instructed the authorities to carry out the court order within 24 hours.

The 24-hour timeframe attached to the order came on the heels of the government's failure to promptly implement High Court orders in recent times.

Barrister Amir-ul-Islam moved the case on behalf of Shahriar and Shafi, now in Chittagong and Rangpur jails respectively.

Shahriar and Shafi were arrested on December 8 without any specific charge. The government later implicated Shahriar in a sedition case, originally filed against two foreign journalists.

Although the High Court granted both Shahriar and Shafi bail, the government sent them to jail on a month's detention under the SPA.

Later, upon a writ moved on their behalf, challenging the detention order, the High Court served a show cause on the government.

If the government does not detain them in any new case, Shafi and Shahriar will be freed today.

Meanwhile, although the High Court had declared illegal detention of Awami League leader Bahauddin Nasim on Monday last, the government did not release him till yesterday.

Bahauddin, now in Rangpur jail, has been granted bail in all the cases filed against him.