HC questions why journalist Shyamal Dutta shouldn’t get bail

He was arrested along with journalist Mozammel Haque Babu near the border in Mymensingh’s Dhobaura Upazila on Sept 16

The High Court has issued a rule asking why Shyamal Dutta, the editor of the daily Bhorer Kagoj and the general secretary of the Jatiya Press Club, should not be granted bail in a murder case.

The defendants have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.

The HC bench of Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja issued the rule on Tuesday, according to advocate Nazmus Sakib who stood for Shyamal in the court.

Deputy Attorney General Md Hemayet Ullah represented the state.

The Bhorer Kagoj editor was arrested along with journalist Mozammel Haque Babu near the border in Mymensingh’s Dhobaura Upazila on Sept 16.

He was also remanded for seven days in a case over the murder of Fazlu in Dhaka’s Vasantek during the Anti-discrimination Movement. He was sent to jail on Sept 23 after the remand.

The case was initiated at the Vashantek Police Station on Sept 11, accusing 164 people, including deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

According to the case dossier, on Aug 5, Fazlu, the victim identified by a single name, went to join a victory march after the fall of the Hasina government. At 7pm, Fazlu was shot near the Diganta Filling Station at the Mirpur-14 intersection.

The bullet pierced through his waist, leading to profuse bleeding. When Fazlu was rushed to hospital, a doctor on duty declared him dead.