Mymensingh’s young poet, rights activist and graphic designer Shamim Ashraf, who was arrested on charges of defamation against the Mymensingh City Corporation and the Mayor, has been granted bail. On Tuesday (February 20) afternoon, Judge Tajul Islam Sohag of Mymensingh No. 3 Amli Court granted bail to Shamim.
Meanwhile, Shamim Ashraf has been granted bail under Section 54 but another case has been filed in the Cyber Tribunal Judge Court of Mymensingh. Kanchan Kumar Nandi, administrative officer of Mymensingh City Corporation, filed the case under the Cyber Security Act on Tuesday.
Regarding the case, Kanchan Kumar Nandi said, the cyber tribunal court has ordered to investigate the case.
According to the RG of the case, graphic designer Shamim Ashraf designed anti-propaganda posters against the City Corporation using the Mymensingh City Corporation logo without permission from February 7 to 18 and those posters were pasted in different areas of the city. The matter was confirmed by the City Corporation on February 18. Police arrested Shamim Ashraf under section 54 on Sunday night. At that time, designs of propaganda posters were found on the computer and other devices used by him. He has been charged under sections 17, 19, 25, 26, 27, 29 and 32 of the Cyber Security Act.
Sabbir Talukder, the lawyer of the case on behalf of the City Corporation, said, ‘Mymensingh Cyber Tribunal Court Judge Bajlur Rahman took the application into account and ordered an investigation through any investigative agency. The matter of the case will be more specific next Thursday.’
Shamim Ashraf is a young poet and graphic designer by profession. He lives in Mymensingh city. His business is called ‘Graffiti’ in Atharobari Building area of the city. Shamim Ashraf is a known face of various civic movements in Mymensingh. In May last year, a protest cultural program named Shout of the Dead was held under his initiative to protest against the irregularities in Brahmaputra river mining. Apart from this, he is regularly vocal about various civic problems including traffic congestion and waterlogging in Mymensingh city. Shamim Ashraf is close to several leaders of the ruling party due to his graphic design work. Recently there was a complaint against him, he made anonymous posters using the logo of Mymensingh City Corporation. He spread propaganda against the city corporation through those posters.
On Sunday night, Mymensingh District Chhatra League President Al Amin and some Chhatra League leaders and District Awami League Vice President Aminul Haque went to Shamim Ashraf’s business graffiti and questioned why he designed the poster and on whose behalf. After some time, the police arrested Shamim and took him away. Mymensingh has created the most excitement about the incident before the police arrested Shamim Ashraf.
On Sunday night, District Chhatra League President Al Amin visited Graffiti and broadcasted a live on his Facebook. It can be seen there, Shamim Ashraf was requested not to do such propaganda. Aminul Haque, the elder brother of district Awami League vice-president and former mayor Ikramul Haque, went to graffiti at one stage. Aminul Haque talks to Shamim Ashraf. At that time he asked Shamim, for whom these posters are designed?
After this incident Shamim Ashraf was arrested by Mymensingh Kotwali Model Police Station. Later on Monday (February 19) afternoon, he was produced in the court. The court adjourned the bail hearing for Tuesday. Shamim Ashraf was released from Mymensingh jail in the afternoon after the court granted him bail.
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