Veteran journalist Shafik Rehman has been acquitted in the case filed over an alleged plot to abduct and kill Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The verdict was delivered on Tuesday (May 27) by Tarik Ejaz, the judge of Dhaka’s Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Court.

Shafik Rehman’s lawyer, Syed Zainul Abedin Mezbah, confirmed the matter. The 90-year-old journalist was present in court when the verdict was announced.

Earlier on April 27, the court completed hearing his appeal against a seven-year jail sentence given by a lower court in 2023.

During the hearing, Rehman’s lawyer argued that the case was politically motivated and that Joy, the alleged victim, did not file the case himself. He added that police showed unusual interest and filed the case instead.

He also noted that there was no confessional statement and no strong evidence. A total of 12 witnesses, including Joy, testified in the case.

Prosecutor Khalilur Rahman told the court that Shafik Rehman is a respected journalist and the case seemed politically motivated. He said the state had no objection to his acquittal.

On August 17, 2023, Dhaka’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Noor sentenced five people including Shafik Rehman and former Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman to seven years in jail in two separate charges under sections 365 and 120B of the Penal Code.

The three other convicts were JASAS leader Mohammad Ullah Mamun, Rizvi Ahmed Caesar and Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan.

The case was filed on August 3, 2015, at Paltan Police Station by Detective Branch Inspector Fazlur Rahman. Police alleged the plot was planned between 2011 and 2015 in Bangladesh, the US, and the UK.

Rehman was arrested on April 16, 2016, and later released on bail. He returned to Bangladesh on August 5, 2023, and filed the appeal.

Mahmudur Rahman also appealed after surrendering to the court and later secured bail from a higher court.

MSK/