Activist, poet Shamim granted bail

Shamim Ashraf, a graphic designer and poet, secured bail from a local court on Tuesday, two days after his arrest for designing posters allegedly as part of a "propaganda campaign".

Mymensingh Court Inspector Md Shafiqul Islam said, Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Tajul Islam Sohagh granted Shamim bail after hearing a petition filed by him.

Earlier, Shamim was detained from his business establishment, Graffiti, located in the Atharo Bari Building area of the city, around 10.00pm on Sunday without any specific complaints.

However later, he was sent to jail on Monday afternoon after being booked under section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which police use to make arrests without a warrant.

Kotwali Model Police Station OC Mohammad Main Uddin said he is accused of designing posters criticising the development initiatives taken by former city mayor and also the president of the ruling Awami League Mymensingh City unit, Ekramul Hoque Titu.

This arrest triggered a debate among the residents of the city as just before the police picked him up, BCL leaders, including Al Amin, its president of the district unit, entered Graffiti and asked Shamim not to produce the posters.