Rights activist freed on bail after arrest, sued under Cyber Security Act

A young poet and rights activist of Mymensingh who was arrested under Section 54 for ill publicity against city corporation mayor through posters have received bail.

Shamim Ashraf received bail after hearing at the court of Mymensingh senior judicial magistrate Md Tajul Islam Sohag on Tuesday afternoon.
Confirming the matter, Shamim Ashraf's lawyer Al Husayn said his client got bail after the hearing at the senior judicial magistrate court. He walked out of jail in the afternoon.

On the other hand, a case was filed accusing Shamim Ashraf under the Cyber Security Act at Cyber Tribunal in Mymensingh. Mymensingh City Corporation's administrative officer Kanchan kumar Nandi filed the case. The judge of the tribunal ordered investigation after taking the case into cognizance.

Advocate Sabbir Talukder, who represents the Mymensingh City Corporation, said Cyber Tribunal's judge Bazlur Rahman ordered investigation through any investigation agency.

It has been mentioned in the case that Shamim Ashraf designed posters for making propaganda against the city corporation using the Mymensingh City Corporation logo from February 7 to February 18, and pasted those posters at different places in the city. The city corporation was confirmed about it on February 18.

Police arrested Shamim Ashraf from his business establishment at Atharobari Building in Mymensingh city under Section 54 on Sunday night. At that time, police found the designs of propaganda based posters' design in his computer and other devices. Later, charges were brought against him under Sections 17, 19, 25, 26, 27, 29 and 32 of Cyber Security Act.

Following the arrest of Shamim Ashraf, many poets and writers of Mymensingh condemned his arrest.

Shamim Ashraf usually raises issues related to traffic congestion, waterlogging etc in Mymensingh city. He lives in Mymensingh city. He is a graphic designer by profession. He has a printing press at Atharo Building area.