Plea against HC order on Shahidul Alam's treatment dismissed

The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition of the state against a High Court order that directed the authorities concerned of the government and police to immediately send the detained photographer Shahidul Alam to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for his treatment.  

A three-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order on Monday as the state did not move the petition today.   

The petition has become invalid now as the directive of the High Court has already been implemented, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said at the beginning of the hearing. 

Shahidul Alam's lawyer Sara Hossain, however, said the HC asked to submit medical test reports to the trial court but this was not done yet. Then the SC advised the HC to see the matter.   

Earlier on August 5, detectives detained Shahidul Alam, Drik Gallery Managing Director and Chairman of Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, from his Dhanmondi residence following his Facebook posts on the student protests demanding road safety.

Shahidul Alam had been taken back to the office of the DB police from BSMMU after medical tests on August 8. Then police officials informed media that doctors did not find any reason to admit him into hospital. 

The photographer was produced before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court yesterday after a seven-day remand, and the court sent him to jail.