Journo Anis Alamgir released from jail on bail

Journalist Anis Alamgir has been released from jail on bail after spending around three months in custody in connection with anti-terrorism and corruption-related cases.

He was freed from Kashimpur Central Jail-2 in Gazipur at approximately 2:30pm on Saturday, according to Jannat Ul Farhad, assistant inspector general of prisons.

“He was released after the required bail papers were received and verified,” Farhad said.

Anis secured bail on Mar 11 in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which had kept him behind bars despite earlier obtaining High Court bail in a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

A team from the Detective Branch picked up Anis on the night of Dec 14 last year and took him to the agency’s office for “interrogation”.

Later that night, a case was lodged against him and three others, accusing them of plotting to destabilise the state and provoking a banned organisation.

The other individuals named in the case are actor Meher Afroz Shaon, model Maria Kispotta, and television presenter Imtu Ratish.

Anis was placed on a five-day remand on Dec 15 and was sent to jail on Dec 20.
In a separate matter, the ACC filed another case against him on Jan 15 over alleged illegal wealth accumulation. On Jan 28, a court also showed him arrested in that case.

According to the case statement, investigators discovered that Anis had obtained assets worth nearly Tk 42.5 million, while his known legitimate income was estimated at Tk 9.9 million, leaving Tk 32.6 million as unexplained wealth.

The High Court granted him bail in the Anti-Terrorism Act case on Mar 5, but he could not walk free at the time due to the ACC case.

Anisur Rahman Alamgir, who has worked with several media outlets including the Daily Ajker Kagoj, is widely recognized by his pen name Anis Alamgir.

A part-time university lecturer, he has often drawn public attention for his comments on various issues, particularly contemporary politics, during television talk shows. Several of his Facebook posts have also attracted media coverage.

Earlier, his wife Shahnaz Chowdhury alleged that he had been detained for exercising his right to freedom of speech.