Dhaka, Sep 30 (V7N) – Veteran journalist Shafiq Rehman, convicted in a case related to the conspiracy to kidnap and kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajib Wazed Joy, has surrendered in court. Rehman appeared before Dhaka's Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque on Monday.

Following his surrender, Rehman's lawyer, Zainul Abedin Mejbah, submitted an application requesting the withdrawal of the arrest warrant and suspension of his sentence to allow for an appeal. The court granted the request, with Rehman’s one-year sentence being suspended on the condition that he surrenders and files the appeal.

Rehman was previously convicted alongside four others, including Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman and US-based businessman Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, in connection with the conspiracy. All five were sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in August 2023.

This case stems from an incident in 2015 when the police filed a case with Paltan Police Station accusing Rehman and others of plotting to abduct and murder Joy. Shafiq Rehman was arrested in 2016 but was released on bail after five months. He had been residing in the UK since 2018 and returned to Bangladesh in August 2024 to face the sentence.

Rehman is currently undergoing medical treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) due to illness. Meanwhile, Mahmudur Rahman also returned from exile recently and was taken into custody after surrendering to the court on Sunday.

Rehman's legal team has confirmed that they will file the appeal soon, seeking to challenge the conviction and sentence.

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