The High Court (HC) yesterday granted anticipatory bail for six weeks to Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman in connection with a defamation case filed against him in Sunamganj district. Responding to a bail petition, the HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice SM Mojibur Rahman came up with the order.

On December 14 last year, Nazmul Haque Kiron, then Sunamganj district unit joint convener of the Bangladesh Chattra League, had filed the case with the Sunamganj Model Police Station. The case was filed against Mahmudur Rahman for making derogatory comments about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members.

On December 1 last year, Mahmudur Rahman allegedly made disparaging comments about Bangabandhu and Hasina at a seminar organised by the Bangladesh Democratic Council at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka. After conducting investigation, police submitted a charge-sheet against Mahmudur Rahman and the court summoned him under 500 and 501 of the Penal Code.  

On July 26, a Sunamganj court issued an arrest warrant against Mahmudur Rahman for not appearing before it as per its earlier order.

After appearing before the HC, Mahmudur Rahman yesterday filed a bail petition. After hearing on the petition, the HC bench granted him bail for six weeks.

Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali appeared for Mahmudur Rahman, while deputy attorney general Md Bashir Ullah represented the state during the hearing on the petition.

On July 22, Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman was injured in an attack allegedly carried out by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men in Kushita district when he appeared before a court in the case filed for making offensive comments.