Star editor gets bail in Jessore

A Jessore court today granted bail to The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam in a Tk 10-crore defamation case.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Shahjahan Ali passed the order after Anam moved a petition seeking bail in the case.

After hearing, the court granted the bail upon a bond of Tk 5,000 with two guarantors.

The court fixed May 10 for next hearing of the case.

Shahjahan Kabir, former president of Chougachha Upazila unit of ruling Awami League, filed the case on February 16.

After filing of the case, the court fixed today for hearing and issued a summons for Anam to appear before it during the hearing.

Among the lawyers who moved for The Daily Star editor in the court today were Kazi Faridul Islam, Abul Hosen, Mahmud Hasan Bulu and Aminur Rahman Hiru.

A total of 79 cases including 17 pleading to bring charges of treason have been filed against Anam in 53 districts between February 9 and 22. A total of Tk 1,32,811 crore has been sought for the damages.

The barrage of cases began days after the Star editor at a talk show on February 3 made an introspective comment about a lapse in his editorial judgement in publishing some reports, based on information given by the TFIC during the 2007-08 caretaker government's tenure, without being able to verify those independently.

The cases have drawn condemnation from local and international journalists and journalist unions.