Provide division to Shahidul Alam in jail: HC

The High Court directed the authorities concerned on Wednesday to provide first-class division to photographer Shahidul Alam in jail, reports UNB.

A bench of Justice Borhanuddin and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Shahidul's lawyer Sarah Hossain.

Sarah said they earlier filed the writ petition with a lower court seeking first-class division and the court ordered taking proper steps as per the jail code.

"But Shahidul was not provided with the division facility in jail despite the court order. So, we filed the writ petition again with the High Court," Sarah.

The HC ordered the Home Secretary and the Inspector General of Prison to take necessary steps in this regard.

On Tuesday, one judge of a two-member High Court bench felt embarrassed to hear a bail petition filed by Shahidul, managing director of Drik Gallery who is now in jail in a case filed under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act.

The bench comprising Justice Md Ruhul Quddus and Justice Khandaker Dilurujjaman forwarded the petition to the Chief Justice for a decision.

Detectives arrested Shahidul Alam from his Dhanmondi residence on August 5 and the case was filed against him with Ramna Police Station on August 6. He was also placed on a seven-day remand in the case.

Police claimed that he spread propaganda through his Facebook account during the student movement demanding safe roads.