Inu, Menon, Justice Manik granted bail in defamation case

Former Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu, former Social Welfare Minister Rashed Khan Menon and Supreme Court Justice A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik have been granted bail in a defamation case filed over objectionable remarks about former President Ziaur Rahman.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rounak Jahan Takia's court granted their bail after a hearing on Tuesday, March 24. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Prosecution Division Deputy Commissioner Mia Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan confirmed the matter.

According to court sources, Hasanul Haque Inu was produced in court following an application to show him arrested in this case. The other two accused, Menon and Justice Manik, were brought to court to appear. After the hearing, Inu was shown arrested, but later when bail applications were filed on behalf of the three accused, the court granted them bail.

Menon and Justice Manik were shown arrested in the same case on January 21. Earlier, on August 22, 2024, lawyer Ziaul Haque filed the case as plaintiff. The court accepted the case and ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to conduct an investigation.

According to the case statement, Justice Manik appeared on a television talk show on October 3, 2022, and referred to Ziaur Rahman as a "Razakar and war criminal." Additionally, it is alleged that the three accused made defamatory remarks about the Zia family while participating in various seminars and events.