Prothom Alo editor among 5 seeks anticipatory bail

Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman, Kishor Alo Editor Anisul Hoque and three others filed a petition with the High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a case filed over the death of Naimul Abrar Rahat, a student of Dhaka Residential Model School and College.

Other three accused who filed the bail petition are— Kabir Bakul, head of event and activation of Kishor Alo, Shah Paran Tushar, assistant at event and activation of Kishor Alo, Mahitul Alam Pavel, senior assistant editor of Kishor Alo.

A hearing on the petition may be held today in the HC bench of Justice Obaidul Hasan. Barrister M Amir-ul Islam will move for the accused during the hearing.

On January 16, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Kaisarul Islam issued arrest warrants against Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman and nine others in the case filed over the death of Naimul Abrar Rahat.

Nine other accused who received arrest warrants are Kishor Alo Editor Anisul Hoque, Kabir Bakul, head of event and activation of Kishor Alo, Shuvashish Pramanik Shuvo and Shah Paran Tushar, assistants at event and activation of Kishor Alo, Mahitul Alam Pavel, senior assistant editor of Kishor Alo, and four stage decorators -- Jasim Uddin Topu, Mosharraf Hossain, Md Sujan and Kamrul Hawlader.

Abrar, a ninth-grader, was electrocuted during the anniversary programme of Prothom Alo’s youth magazine Kishor Alo on November 1 last year.

The charges brought against all the accused are under section 304(A) of Bangladesh Penal Code. The section deals with deaths caused by “rash or negligent act”.

According to the section, a person may face up to five years in jail if charges are proven against him or her.

The victim’s father, Mojibur Rahman, filed the case with the Fourth Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka on November 6 last year.

In the complaint, Mojibur said his son was electrocuted and became unconscious around 4:30pm on November 1 last year while attending the programme of Kishor Alo.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Aminul Haque took it into cognizance and ordered the OC of Mohammadpur Police Station to submit an investigation report.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Kaisarul Islam on January 16 issued arrest warrants against the accused after investigation officer of the case Abdul Alim, who is also an inspector of Mohammadpur Police Station, submitted the probe report to the court.

Dhaka/Mahadi/AI