The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule asking the government to explain why Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamal Dutta should not be granted bail in a case filed over the killing of Fazlur Rahman during the student-led mass uprising on August 5, 2024.
The bench of Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja passed the order after hearing Shyamal鈥檚 bail petition. The case was lodged by one Sabuj Miah with the Bhasantek police station on September 11, 2024. It names deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 164 others as accused. Shyamal Dutta is the 28th accused in the case and is alleged to have ordered Fazlur Rahman鈥檚 killing during the uprising.
Shyamal Dutta and Ekattor TV managing director Mozammel Babu were arrested on September 16, 2024, by police while allegedly trying to cross the border into India through Dhobaura in Mymensingh. They were later shown arrested in multiple cases connected to killings during the July uprising.
Earlier, in February and April, two High Court benches issued similar rules asking the government why Mozammel Babu should not be granted bail in two of the murder cases. The rulings remain pending as the state has yet to submit its replies.
According to Shyamal鈥檚 lawyer Nazmus Sakib, Mozammel Babu is facing four separate cases linked to the July unrest. Bail petitions in the remaining two cases are currently pending before the lower courts, with hearings expected later this week.
On August 6 in 2024, a day after the uprising, Shyamal Dutta, along with his wife and daughter, was barred from entering India at the Akhaura land port in Brahmanbaria.
Senior lwyer ZI Khan Panna and his junior Nazmus Sakib appeared for Shyamal Dutta and Mozammel Babu in court.
