Bail Denied for Baul Singer Abul Sarkar in Religious Defamation Case

A court in Manikganj denied bail to Baul singer Abul Sarkar, who was arrested in a case filed over allegations of religious defamation. Justice SKM Tofayel Hasan of the Manikganj District and Sessions Judge Court delivered the verdict on Monday (08 December) afternoon.

At the time, several lawyers held a procession in the court premises demanding punishment for Abul Sarkar.

Zinnat Ali, the lawyer for Baul singer Abul Sarkar, said that the first bail hearing for Abul Sarkar took place at the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on 23 November. Following that hearing, the judge denied his bail. Subsequently, an application for bail was filed with the District and Sessions Judge Court in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure. The bail hearing for the Baul singer Abul Sarkar was held at the District and Sessions Judge Court on Monday afternoon.

The defence team for the accused included 15 to 16 lawyers, among them High Court lawyers Shahidul Islam, Zahir Ahmed, Md. Shafiq Uddin, and Manikganj Judge Court lawyers Zinnat Ali, Md. Shorhab Hossain, Mohiuddin Swapan, Kamrul Hasan Khokon, Helal Uddin Ahmed, and Fate Ibn Jhontu.

Representing the State during the bail hearing was government prosecutor Nurtaj Alam Bahar. After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice SKM Tofayel Hasan of the District and Sessions Judge Court denied bail to Baul singer Abul Sarkar.

Zinnat Ali, the lawyer for the defence, stated that if Abul Sarkar is proven guilty in court, the maximum penalty under the country's prevailing law under section 295(A) is two years of imprisonment or a fine, or both, which the judge may impose.

Khaborwala/SS