The teenager has spent the past year and a half at a correctional centre for allegedly hurting religious sentiments
UNB: The High Court has finally granted bail to Dipti Rani Das, a college student who has spent the past year and a half at a correctional centre owing to a Digital Security Act case filed against her for hurting religious sentiments.
The bench of Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim granted her interim bail yesterday after her lawyers filed the petition following rejection by a lower court.
Dipti’s case was presented by lawyers ZI Khan Panna, Md Asaduzzaman, Anisul Hasan and Md Shahinuzzaman, while Deputy Attorney General Sujit Chatterjee Bappi represented the state.
Shahinuzzaman said: “Considering the fact that the appellant is a minor girl and has been in the correctional centre for a long time, the High Court granted her bail.”
Panna also told Dhaka Tribune: “There is no barrier to Dipti’s release now. In line with the Children Act, which is a principal act, she is eligible to get bail whatever the charges are against her.”
Dipti will be released from the correctional centre in Rajshahi by Monday, he added.
According to the case details, police arrested Dipti, 17, from Parbatipur, Dinajpur, on August 28, 2020, in a Digital Security Act case after she allegedly insulted the Quran in a photo posted on Facebook. Since then, she has been in the correctional centre.
Her bail application was rejected three times in the lower courts since her arrest. On May 11 last year, the High Court had granted her bail but the appellate division halted that order following a plea from the state.
Dipti obtained admission at Parbatipur Government College in August 2020. But she has not been able to continue her studies since she got arrested. Ain O Salish Kendra is providing her with legal assistance.
