Shomi Kaiser’s bail stayed

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has stayed the High Court order that granted interim bail to Shomi Kaiser, former president of the E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB) and actress, in a case filed over an attempt to murder businessman Ishtiak Mahmud during the protests led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

Chamber Judge Justice Md Rezaul Haque issued the stay order on Thursday (December 12), following a hearing on a state petition seeking suspension of the bail.

The court set January 6 for hearing the petition before the Appellate Division’s regular bench.

On December 10, the HC bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain granted a three-month interim bail to Shomi Kaiser in the attempt to murder case.

Later, the state side filed a petition seeking a stay on the High Court order that granted a three-month interim bail to Shomi Kaiser in the attempt to murder case.

On November 5, police arrested Shomi from a house in the capital’s Uttara area. She was also remanded for three days later that day.

According to the case documents, Ishtiak Mahmud, along with others, joined a rally of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on July 18. As the rally reached Azampur Nawab Habibullah High School in Uttara Sector-4, Awami League supporters pounced on them, firing indiscriminately at the protesters.

One bullet hit Ishtiak in the abdomen, and he was rushed to Evercare Hospital, where he underwent treatment for his injuries.

Ishtiak filed the case at Uttara East Police Station on September 29 against 126, including former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, Shomi, and Gaan Bangla television channel chairman Kaushik Hossain Taposh.