Dhaka, May 6, 2025:
The High Court has issued a rule asking why veteran journalist Shyamal Dutta should not be granted bail in a murder case linked to violence during an anti-discrimination student movement in the Vasantek area of Dhaka in Bangladesh. The rule was issued on Tuesday by a High Court bench comprising Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja.
Advocate Nazmus Saqib appeared before the court on behalf of the bail petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Md Hemayet Ulla represented the state.
According to the case statement, the incident took place on August 5, shortly after the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, during a period of widespread political unrest. A man named Fazlu was reportedly shot near the Diganta Filling Station in Mirpur 14 during a so-called “victory rally” organized by student and youth activists. The bullet struck him in the waist, causing massive bleeding. He succumbed to his injuries soon after being taken to a nearby hospital.
Shyamal Dutta, the editor of the daily Bhorer Kagoj and a former General Secretary of the National Press Club, was named as the 28th accused in the case filed at Vasantek Police Station on September 11. Law enforcement authorities arrested him on September 16 at the Dobaura border area in Mymensingh as he was allegedly attempting to leave the country. He was subsequently taken into custody and placed on a seven-day remand for interrogation.
Dutta’s arrest sparked outrage among media professionals and rights organizations, who condemned the move as an attack on press freedom. Several journalists’ unions and civil society groups have since staged protests demanding his immediate release, arguing that he has long been a respected figure in the media and has no direct connection to the incident.
In a brief statement earlier this month, the Editors’ Council expressed “deep concern” over the arrest and called for a transparent and impartial investigation into the case. Human rights watchdog Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) also urged authorities to ensure that legal procedures are not misused to suppress dissent or curtail journalistic activities.
The High Court has asked the state to respond to the rule within four weeks. The outcome of the bail hearing is expected to set a precedent in light of growing concerns over the treatment of journalists amid political tensions in the country.