The High Court on Monday granted anticipatory bail for eight weeks to suspended Mayor of the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) Mohammad Zahangir Alam in a defamation case filed in Faridpur.
The HC bench of Justice Md Rezaul Hasan and Justice Md Atabullah passed the order after hearing a bail petition filed by Zahangir.
Lawyer MK Rahman who appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the ex-GCC Mayor said the High Court has granted eight weeks bail to Zahangir Alam.
Following a case filed by Ataur Rahman, organising secretary of an organization named ‘Manobik Bangladesh Society’ senior judicial magistrate of Faridpur, Farid Uddin, on August 31 this year issued an arrest warrant against Zahangir Alam.
A total of eight cases were filed against him for his ‘controversial comments’ on Bangabandhu and Liberation War martyrs. Earlier he secured High Court in seven other cases filed on the same ground.
Speaking at a programme in late September in 2021, Zahangir made some comments on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the number of Liberation War martyrs. Its video footage went viral on social media.
Incensed, AL leaders and activists and its associated organisations demonstrated and demanded punishment for the Gazipur mayor.
On the allegation the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) on November 25 in 2021 suspended the Gazipur City Corporation Mayor.
On the same day Babul Akhtar, Legal Affairs Secretary of Madaripur District Awami Laegue, filed a case against him with a Madaripur Court. Later seven more cases were filed against him in Faridpur, Panchagarh, Rajbari, Gazipur, Naogaon and Gopalganj districts.
Meanwhile, Zahangir has already filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the decision taken by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development suspending him from the Mayor post.
