Prothom Alo journo Mizanur gets bail

The High Court yesterday granted ad-interim bail to Prothom Alo journalist ABM Mizanur Rahman who was allegedly tortured in police custody, in two cases filed on charge of assaulting lawmen and demanding extortion.

In response to two bail petitions filed by Mizanur, Baufal correspondent of the daily, the court also issued two rules upon the government to explain in four weeks why the journalist Mizanur should not be granted regular bail in the cases.

The HC bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque and Justice Md Khasruzzaman granted the bail till disposal of the rules.

Deputy Attorney General FR Khan told The Daily Star that the government will not appeal to the Supreme Court against the bail.

Police arrested Mizanur from Kalaiya Bazar area around 8:00pm on March 17 on charge of assaulting Halim, assistant sub-inspector of Baufal Police Station, and preventing police from discharging duties.

Later, policemen allegedly tortured the journalist physically and mentally in their custody at night. When Mizanur became senseless, police took him to Baufal Upazila Health Complex at night but returned with him without treatment as some journalists rushed to the hospital hearing the incident.

Police produced Mizanur before a Patuakhali court, which ordered to send him to jail the following day.

Denying the allegation of police, Mizanur's father Abdus Salam after the incident alleged that plainclothes law enforcers tried to kidnap his son as his reports on irregularities of police and ruling party men got published in the media.

Police later filed a case against Mizanur on charge of extortion, he said.

Rafique-Ul Huq and Shahdeen Malik appeared for Mizanur.

Following a writ petition, the HC on March 24 issued a rule upon the government and the police authorities to explain why inhuman physical and mental torture on Mizanur in police custody should not be declared illegal.