Photojournalist Kajol denied bail in Digital Security Act case

A Dhaka court on Monday rejected the bail petition of photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol in a Digital Security Act (DSA) case filed at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

Metropolitan Magistrate Court Judge KM Imrul Kayes passed the order.

Kajol's counsel Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua said they filed the bail petition as the photojournalist is very sick and one of his hands is paralysed. He is also having serious eye problems and has been vomiting blood.

Meanwhile, Mahbubul Islam, jailer of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj said Kajol was taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital for health check-up at 10am.

The doctors said he has hypertension and fixed date for next check-up after a month.

Earlier on June 24, the court denied Kajol bail in the case.

The journalist had gone missing on March 10, a day after the case was filed by the Awami League's Magura-1 MP Saifuzzaman Shikhor.

Kajol and 30 others, including Manabzamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, were accused in the DSA case for publishing and sharing an article on social media regarding expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Noor Papia.

Two other cases were filed against Kajol at Kamrangirchar and Hazaribagh police stations under the DSA on March 10, 11.

After his 53-day disappearance, Kajol was detained by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at the Benapole border on May 3 and was produced before Jashore court on the same day.

Although the court granted him bail in the case, he was sent to jail as Kotwali police brought another charge against him under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.