Mainul Hosein gets bail, no legal bar to release

Sayeed Muhammad of DOT
The High Court has granted bail to Barrister Mainul Hosein for six months in a case filed over defaming journalist Masuda Bhatti at a television talk show in October last.
The High Court bench comprising Justice Md Rezaul Haque and Justice Zafar Ahmed passed the order yesterday, reports UNB.
There is no bar for his release if the government does not create obstacle by showing him arrested in other cases, Advocate Masud Rana, a lawyer for Mainul.
With the current one, Mainul secured bail in four cases, Rana added.
Earlier on October 26, an Awami League leader filed the case with Gulshan Police Station.
According to the case dockets, Mainul, also a newspaper editor, who was connected to a talk-show ‘Ekattor Journal’ through videoconferencing aired on Ekattor TV hosted by Mithila Farzana, made an ‘offensive comment’ against Masuda Bhatti on October 16.
He tarnished the image of Masuda Bhatti, the statement said.
During the talk-show, Masuda Bhatti asked Mainul, “You say that you’re in the Jatiya Oikyafront as a citizen of the country but in social networking sites, many people are saying that you are there as a representative of Jamaat.”
Outraged by the comment, Mainul said, “I’m thanking you for your audacity and I want to believe you as ‘characterless’. There’s no question about Jamaat link’s with me and what question you have asked is embarrassing for me.”