DSA case: Prothom Alo reporter Shams’ bail extended till sept 25

A Dhaka court today extended the bail of Prothom Alo reporter Samsuzzaman Shams till September 25 in a case filed with Tejgaon Police Station under the Digital Security Act.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mehedi Hasan passed the order after Shams, through his lawyer, surrendered before it and sought permanent bail in the case.

On April 9, Shams got ad-interim from another Dhaka court after his surrender before it in the case.

Earlier, on April 3, Shams got bail from another Dhaka court in another case filed with Shahbagh Police Station under the same act.

On March 29, Shams was picked up from his home in Savar by law enforcers wearing plainclothes around 4:00am, triggering widespread criticism.

Five days after his detention, Shams walked out of the jail.

On March 26, the Prothom Alo made a "photo card" to post a report written by Shams on Independence Day on social media. The card had a quote from a day labourer named Zakir Hossain, but the photo used on it was of an adolescent boy.

He was detained less than two hours after a Jubo League leader filed a DSA case with Tejgaon Police Station.

Prothom Alo's editor and publisher, Matiur Rahman, an unnamed photographer and other unnamed people were also accused in the case.