Journalist gets bail in case over report on State Minister Mir Shahe Alam

A Bogura court has granted bail to a journalist in a cyber security and extortion case filed over a news report on State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam.

Judge Mehedi Hasan of the Sadar Amoli Court granted bail to Md Rezanur Islam, acting editor of the daily Agrajatra Pratidin, on a Tk500 bail bond around noon today (21 June), confirmed his legal counsel Tanzim Al-Misbah.

Rezanur was arrested on Thursday night (19 June) in the Board Bazar area of Gazipur by the Bogura Detective Branch (DB). 

He was later sent to jail on Friday under a court order.

According to court sources, the cyber security and extortion case was filed on 17 June at Bogura Sadar Police Station by Tanvir Alam Rimon, bureau chief of Bangla TV Bogura and treasurer of the Bogura Press Club, following the publication of the report whose headline roughly translates to "Corrupt state minister's fraud with the PM exposed in Bogura." 

Six people were named in the case, and Rezanur was arrested in connection with it.

Rezanur is a resident of Bosura village under Joydebpur Police Station in Gazipur. 

He also works as a teacher at a local educational institution, alongside his role as acting editor of the newspaper.

The case is linked to Facebook posts and reports published by the outlet. 

On 4 May, a post titled "Corruption debate involving State Minister Mir Shah Alam" allegedly carried false and defamatory information.

On 11 June, another post with a similar allegation was published. 

On 12 June, the paper published another article following a press conference at the Bogura Press Club involving the same state minister.

The complaint also states that during preparations to file the case, Agrajatra Pratidin Editor Mehedi Hasan contacted Tanvir Alam via WhatsApp, demanded extortion, and threatened to defame him along with the state minister if payment was not made.