DHAKA: The government on Tuesday (Oct 23) filed petitions with the Supreme Court seeking stay on the High Court orders that granted bail to Barrister Mainul Hosein and Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury in separate cases.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Hasan Foyez Siddique fixed Thursday (Oct 25) for a full bench hearing on the appeals.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam moved for the state while lawyer Joynul Abedin moved for the defendants in court. 

Barrister Mainul Hosein, a former adviser to the military-controlled caretaker government, made derogatory comments about a female journalist Masuda Bhatti on a talk show broadcast on October 16. Later on Oct 21, Masuda Bhatti and Mahila League leader Farzana Yasmin Lita filed separate defamation cases with Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court and Jamalpur court. 

Courts separately issued arrest warrant against Mainul. Following the order, he appeared before the High Court and secured anticipatory bail on the same day.  

On the other hand, The High Court on October 21 granted anticipatory bail to Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury in two cases filed in Savar on charges of grabbing land and demanding extortion.

BDST: 2035 HRS, OCT 23, 2018
AP/SMS