A court here today (21 November) granted bail to veteran journalist Shafik Rehman in a case lodged for allegedly plotting to abduct and murder ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy in the USA in 2015.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Zakir Hossain passed the order, allowing bail to Rehman on condition of filing appeal in the case.
A discharge petition was also filed for Shafik Rehman at the time. The court accepted the petition and said it would hear the plea later.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque on 30 September withdrew the arrest warrant issued against Shafik Rehman as he surrendered before the court.
The home ministry on 22 September suspended Rehman’s sentence for a year on the condition of surrendering before the lower court and filing an appeal against his conviction.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur on 17 August 2023, convicted and sentenced five people including Shafik Rehman and daily Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman to seven-year imprisonment in the case.
The other convicts of the case are Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) vice-president Mohammad Ullah Mamun, his son Rizvi Ahmed Caesar and Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, an expatriate businessman living in the USA.
Police on 3 August 2015, filed the case with Paltan Police Station and on 19 February 2018, filed the charge sheet against the five.
A total of 12 witnesses including Joy testified in the case on different hearing dates.
