Country’s image to be given priority in DSA cases: Chief justice

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain has said the court will give priority to the country's image in granting bail to the accused in cases filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).

"It should be kept in mind that we would give priority to the country's image first.  We will not consider bail if the image of the country is tarnished through someone's writing," he warned.

The chief justice said this on Sunday during the hearing of an appeal against a High Court order that granted bail to Golam Sarwar of Sylhet, who was arrested in a case filed under the DSA for making derogatory remarks against Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

The chief justice said the image of the country should not be tarnished in any way. He also advised everyone to use social media cautiously.

The Appellate Division bench, later, upheld the bail granted by the HC to Md Golam Sarwar on medical grounds.

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain warned against writing indecent and derogatory words in social media. 

Addressing Golam Sarwar's lawyer, he said, "How do educated people write these?  Even in America, people write 'satire'.  But how do we write such indecent words like these?"

"If this happens again, there will be no bail," he warned Golam Sarwar.

Deputy Attorney General Biswajit Debnath represented the state while Advocate Nahid Sultana moved for the accused.

 Earlier last month, the High Court granted bail to Golam Sarwar.