Dhaka, Oct 02 (V7N) – Law Adviser Professor Asif Nazrul has addressed the circumstances leading to the imprisonment of Mahmudur Rahman, the acting editor of the daily Amar Desh, following his surrender to the court. He explained that the government had no recourse since the journalist did not submit a stay petition.

“If he had filed such a petition, we would have recommended a stay of his prison sentence,” Asif stated in a video message on Wednesday.

“This situation has caused sadness for many and anger for some. There might be questions about why Mahmudur Rahman, a prominent figure in the anti-fascist movement during the current government's tenure, is behind bars,” he added.

He expressed his respect for Mahmudur Rahman, highlighting his role in opposing what he termed fascist rule under Sheikh Hasina and noted the hardships Mahmudur faced due to his activism.

Asif pointed out that the trial against Mahmudur has concluded and a sentence has been imposed. He mentioned that a baseless case was filed against Mahmudur's wife prior to his return to Bangladesh.

“He had applied for a stay regarding that case, and when the Ministry of Home Affairs consulted us, we strongly supported his application,” he explained.

Asif compared Mahmudur's case to that of another journalist, Shafique Rehman, who was also sentenced in the same matter.

“Shafique Rehman filed for a stay, and based on our recommendation, his request was granted. Mahmudur Rahman did not pursue this option,” he clarified.

He elaborated on the legal context of Mahmudur's situation, noting: “The court that sentenced him is the same court where he applied for bail. Under our criminal procedure code, if a court imposes a sentence exceeding one year, it cannot grant bail. However, a higher court can grant bail if an appeal is filed.”

The law adviser expressed hope for Mahmudur's future contributions to society, saying, “I hope he can contribute freely to the country as a journalist or intellectual, driven by his patriotism.”

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