Former Kurigram DC Granted Interim Bail in Journalist Harassment Case

Mst. Sultana Parvin, the former Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kurigram, who was incarcerated in connection with a journalist harassment case, has been granted a six-month interim bail. The High Court bench, comprising Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Yusuf Abdullah Sumon, issued the bail along with a rule on Tuesday following a hearing on her bail application.

Her lawyer, Md. Foyzullah Foyez, confirmed that there are no legal obstacles to Sultana Parvin’s release from custody at this stage.

Earlier, on September 2, Sultana Parvin appeared before the Kurigram District and Sessions Judge Court and applied for bail. On that day, Judge Mst. Ismat Ara Begum rejected her bail plea and ordered her to be sent to jail. Subsequently, on September 4, she applied for bail at the High Court, which granted her interim bail with a rule after a hearing on Tuesday. During the court proceedings, senior advocates Joynul Abedin, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, and Md. Ruhul Kuddus, along with Md. Foyzullah Foyez, represented the petitioner. The complainant’s side was represented by advocates Azizur Rahman Dulu and Ishrat Hasan, while Deputy Attorney General Sultana Akhtar Rubi appeared for the state. Md. Foyzullah Foyez later told Prothom Alo, “The rule asks why the petitioner (Sultana Parvin) should not be granted regular bail. The state has been directed to respond to the rule within four weeks.” The case stems from an incident on the night of March 13, 2020, when a mobile court led by the district administration raided the residence of journalist Ariful Islam. The raid was allegedly in retaliation for his reports on the naming of a government pond and various irregularities. Ariful was reportedly blindfolded, abducted, tortured, threatened with being killed in a “crossfire,” and physically assaulted at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Subsequently, he was accused of possessing half a bottle of liquor and 150 grams of cannabis, leading to an immediate one-year imprisonment. In addition to the former DC, the then Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Nazim Uddin, NDC Rahatul Islam, and Executive Magistrate Rintu Bikash Chakma were also implicated in the incident. The event sparked widespread criticism of the administration. Ariful Islam was later released on bail and filed a case in the District and Sessions Judge Court, which has been ongoing for five years.