The High Court (HC) on Monday granted bail to baul singer Abul Sarkar in a case filed over allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
A bench comprising Justice Md Atowar Rahman and Justice Md Sagir Hossain passed the order and issued a rule asking the concerned authorities why permanent bail should not be granted to the accused.
Lawyer Gazi Kamrul Islam Sojal represented the baul singer, while Deputy Attorney General Sultana Akter Rubi appeared for the state.
Detectives arrested Abul Sarkar on the night of 20 November during a musical event in Madaripur. The following day, Mufti Md Abdullah, imam of Ghior Bandar Mosque, filed the case against him at Ghior Police Station. He was placed on remand by the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court of Manikganj.
The accused later applied to the HC seeking bail. On 1 December last year, another case was filed against him at Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court.
The baul singer had allegedly recited a verse from the Quran, provided an incorrect Bangla explanation, and criticised “God’s creations,” which angered worshippers present and later spread on social media.
