The High Court on Thursday scrapped a Dhaka Cyber Tribunal’s verdict that jailed noted human rights defender and former Odhikar secretary Adilur Rahman Khan and ASM Nasiruddin Elan for two years in a case related to alleged violation of now defunct the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006.
In another development, the High Court declared illegal NGO Affairs Bureau of the Prime Minister’s Office’s June 5, 2022 decision of not renewing Odhikar’s registration in the wake of the Odhikar’s fact-finding report on death of the Hafezat-e-Islam Bangladesh May 5-6, 2013 rally.
The bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Sashanka Shekhar Sarkar pronounced the verdict after disposing of a rule over the Odhikar registration’s issue.
The single-judge bench of Justice Abdur Rob pronounced the verdict after allowing the appeals filed by Adilur, who is now industries and housing ministries’ adviser to the interim government of Professor Muhammad Yunus, and Elan challenging the Cyber Tribunal’s verdict of September 14, 2023.
On October 15, 2023, the single-bench of Justice Md Emdadul Haque Azad granted Adil and
Elan bail for one year, and admitted their appeal for hearing.
The High Court stayed the fine until disposal of the appeal.
Senior lawyer Mohammad Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan, who appeared for Adil and Elan, told New Age that the ICT case was filed during the ousted Sheikh Hasina’s government without any evidence only to harass and intimidate two rights defenders.
Adilur and Elan were freed on bail on October 15, 2023 after 30 days in jail on a High Court order.
They were landed in Dhaka Central Jail after finding them guilty in the ICT case that was filed over Odhikar fact-finding report on violence during Hefazat-e-Islam demonstrations in Dhaka and overnight operations against the protesters in May 2013.
The then cyber tribunal’s judge AM Julfikar Hayat also fined Adil and Elan Tk 10,000 each in the case filed with the Gulshan police in 2013 under Section 57(2) of the ICT Act.
On August 10, 2013, the Detective Branch of the police arrested Adilur and Elan under Section 54 of the Penal code, for his involvement in anti-state activities and he was later implicated in the ICT case.
Adil and Elan were released on bail after two months obtaining bail from the High Court on October 11, 2013.
Lawyer Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan was assisted by his junior Mohammad Ahsanuzzaman while additional attorney general Aneek R Haque represented the state.
Report Published on 20 August 2024 at www.newagebd.net
