US expatriate journalist Kanak Sarwar’s sister charged in two cases

Bangladesh desk: Two charge sheets were submitted against Nusrat Shahrin Raka, sister of US expatriate journalist Kanak Sarwar, in connection with two cases filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) and the Narcotics Control Act.

Investigation officers of the cases submitted the charge sheets with a Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

Sub-Inspector Md Liakat Ali, general recording officer (GRO) of the court, confirmed the matter.

On February 28, Sub-Inspector Badrul Millat of Uttara West Police Station, also the IO, submitted the charge sheet against Raka in the DSA case.

On the other hand, the IO of the other case submitted another charge sheet under Narcotics Control Act on January 30.

Later, on March 14, the Hight Court bench comprising of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice SM Mozibur Rahman granted bail to Raka on the grounds that she is a mother of three children, and has been languishing in jail for a long period of time in the cases.

Earlier, Raka’s lawyer ZI Khan Panna prayed to the High Court for the bail of Nusrat as nobody was left in Dhaka to take care of her three minor children since her husband has been staying in the Middle-East for job purposes.

He said that 38-year-old Nusrat had been suffering from asthma in jail and she had recently recovered from Covid-19.

On October 6 last year, Raka was arrested from the capital’s Uttara area on charges of spreading anti-state propaganda and possessing drugs.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) allegedly seized a mobile phone with anti-state contents, a passport, and some Crystal Meth and another illegal drug from her possession during the arrest.

Later, the RAB filed two cases against Raka.

One case was filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) against her for criticising the prime minister and some other ministers, and another was filed for reportedly carrying illegal drug Crystal Meth or Ice in her purse during the time of her arrest.

The DSA case accused Nusrat of defaming the prime minister, various ministers of her cabinet and other important personalities by posting ‘slanderous remarks’ on her Facebook page.

RAB termed her expatriate brother Kanak Sarwar ‘a traitor’ and said that his sister was involved in a group of anti-state propagandists and conspirators.

Her bail was opposed by the state law officer at the lower court, stating that she might flee abroad if she got bail.