'You've turned the country into hell': HC tells state counsel

The High Court has expressed strong resentment over state counsel's opposition during the bail hearing of human rights organisation Odhikar secretary Adilur Rahman Khan and director ASM Nasiruddin Elan in a case filed under  the ICT Act.

"You have turned the country into hell," Justice Md Emdadul Huque Azad made the remarks while addressing the state counsel on Tuesday.
Senior lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali appeared before the single bench of Justice Azad for bail hearing on behalf of Odhikar officials Adilur-Elan at the beginning.

He told the court that his clients were sentenced to two years in prison in the ICT Act case. They were also fined Tk 10,000 each.

At that time, the state counsel Deputy Attorney General Md Rezaul Karim instantly stood up and opposed the bail.

He said, "We also have to say something." Then the High Court asked him to allow the lawyers of the accused to say first. "Why have you jumped up right now?"

When state counsel Rezaul Karim opposed the bail petition, the justice said: "Why did you sentence them to two years in prison? Couldn't you give them life sentences?"

At one point in his speech, the justice also addressed the state counsel and said: "You have turned the country into a hell."

Later, the High Court ordered the hearing of the appeal filed by Adilur Rahman Khan and ASM Nasir Uddin Elan against the two-year prison sentence under the ICT Act case. At the same time, the court suspended their fine and granted bail.

They were convicted on September 14 of disseminating a death figure in an operation against Hefazat-e-Islam members at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka a decade ago.

The trial court canceled their bail and ordered them to be sent to jail with conviction warrants.

They were also fined Tk 10,000 each, in default of which they would have to spend an extra month in prison.

Adilur Rahman Khan and Nasiruddin Elan filed an appeal against their two-year prison term on September 25.

On May 5, 2013, Odhikar claimed the death of 61 people during the eviction of Hefajat-e-Islam leaders and workers from Motijheel Shapla Chattar by law enforcers. However, the government said the figure would be 13. The Detective Branch (DB) of police later filed a general diary (GD) on June 10 of that year for allegedly disseminating confusing figure over the number of death. Later, the GD was recorded as a case under the ICT Act.