HC asks Farroque to surrender to lower courts

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The High Court (HC) Monday asked Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque to surrender to the designated lower courts within eight weeks, in connection with six identical defamation cases filed against him, reports UNB.
The order came while the Opposition Chief Whip surrendered before the High Court and prayed anticipatory bail.
Passing the order, a division bench headed by Justice MA Wahhab Miah, directed the lower courts to grant the petitioner bail upon his surrender in connection with the defamation cases.
The HC also asked the government not to arrest or harass the petitioner in the meantime.
The defamation cases were filed against the Opposition Chief Whip by district level leaders of the Awami League with different courts in Shariatpur, Lalmonirhat, Pabna, Comilla, Faridpur and Chittagong for making 'derogatory remarks' about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
Earlier this month, Farroque at a press briefing alleged that Joy had been doing illegal VoIP (voice over internet protocol) business from abroad, causing a loss of Tk 15 billion to the state exchequer.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed assisted by Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan appeared for Farroque.