A tribunal in Dhaka has accepted charges brought against Islamic speaker Rafiqul Islam Madani, popularly known as "Shishu Bokta", and another person in a case filed with Motijheel Police Station under the Digital Security Act (DSA), reports The Daily Star.
The development came on Wednesday after the tribunal rejected a bail petition of Madani after his lawyer moved it on grounds that his client did not make any derogatory remarks about the president and prime minister. Moreover, Madani has been in jail since April last year.
The prosecution, however, opposed the bail petition, saying that the charges brought against Madani were primarily proved.
The other accused is Mahmudul Hasan Murtuza. The tribunal granted him permanent bail in the case.
After hearing both the sides, Judge Mohammad Ash Sams Joglul Hossain of Dhaka Cyber Tribunal rejected Madani's bail petition and fixed February 22 for hearing on charge framing in the case.
The tribunal relieved Mohammad Amzad, HM Lokman Hossain and Tawhid Islam from the charges of the case as the IO did not find their involvement with the incident.
Md Rezaul Karim, an inspector of Cyber and Special Crime Unit of Detective Branch of police and also the investigation officer of the case, on November 6 last year submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka.
On April 8 last year, one Syed Adnan Shanto filed the case against five people, including Madani, on charges of making anti-state remarks and incitement of chaos.
