State appeals to extend Adilur, Elan's jail term

The state has filed an appeal to the High Court seeking extension of the jail term against Adilur Rahman Khan, editor of human rights organization 'Adhikar' and its director ASM Nasir Uddin Elan in an ICT case.

Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi said, "We will mention the matter in the court as regular judicial proceedings are starting in the High Court tomorrow, after the vacation...Later, when the case is ready for hearing, the appeal will be heard by the High Court."

On September 14 this year, a special court sentenced Adilur and Elan to two-year imprisonment in a case lodged under the ICT Act. The court also fined them Taka 10 thousand each, and a month more behind the bars in default of the payment.

According to the case documents, Adilur and Elan deliberately made false claims regarding death of 61 people during a joint operation conducted by the law enforcement agencies on May 5 in 2013, to remove Hefajat-e-Islam activists and leaders from Shapla Chattar in city's Motijheel area, as they announced a night stay at the rally venue there.

The duo was accused of trying to create confusion among the Muslim devotees, spread hate against the law enforcement agencies and defame the government, said the case docs. 

DB Sub-Inspector (SI) Ashraful Islam made a general diary with Gulshan Police Station in this regard on August 10, 2013.

Chargesheet was submitted against the duo in Dhaka court on September 4 of that year. The trial started against them in 2014, reports BSS.