Court exempts Probir Sikdar from appearing in person

A Faridpur court yesterday exempted Journalist Probir Sikdar from personal appearance in a case filed under the Information and Communication Technology Act for "tarnishing the image" of LGRD Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.

Faridpur Senior Judicial Magistrate Hamidul Islam also fixed December 6 for the next hearing.

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Mostafa Zaman Ujjal, lawyer for the journalist, said the order came after they had filed a petition to the court, seeking exemption on medical grounds.

Probir, who was present at the court, expressed satisfaction.

On August 16, he was picked up from his office in the capital's Indira Road in the case filed with Faridpur Sadar police in connection with one of his Facebook posts.

Expressing fear for his life, Probir in the post said that the minister, controversial businessman Moosa bin Shamser and condemned fugitive war criminal Abul Kalam Azad would be responsible if he were killed.

Local Awami League leader Swapan Kumar Paul, also assistant public prosecutor of Faridpur Judge's Court, lodged the lawsuit, claiming the post had "tarnished the image" of the minister.

Probir's arrest created a huge stir among the people. Many labelled the incident "an abuse of power."

Following his arrest, Probir was taken to a Faridpur court which granted a three-day remand for him.

However, he was released on bail on August 19, only a day after he was placed on remand.