BM Desk: The High Court has granted an appeal by Minhaz Mannan Emon, a current director of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), exempting him from a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).

A High Court bench comprising Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice Md. Zobaid Hossain delivered the verdict on Thursday.

Following the ruling, Minhaz Mannan has been relieved from the case, confirmed his lawyer, Moin Firozi.

According to the defense, the Cyber Tribunal in Dhaka had framed charges on February 27, 2022, against seven individuals, including cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, “Rastrochinta” member Didarul Islam Bhuiyan, and Minhaz Mannan Emon. The others accused were Sweden-based journalist Tasneem Khalil, Hungary-based Samiul Islam Khan alias Sam or Zulkar Nine, Ashiq Imran, and Wahidun Nabi.

After the charges were framed, Didarul Islam and Minhaz Mannan filed petitions of dissatisfaction, which were rejected. Minhaz Mannan later appealed to the High Court in 2022. On August 24 that year, the court accepted the appeal for hearing and stayed proceedings against him. The appeal has now been granted following the hearing.

Barrister Moin Firozi appeared for Minhaz Mannan, while Deputy Attorney General Sultana Akter Ruby represented the state.

The case was filed with Ramna Police Station on May 5, 2020, under the Digital Security Act, accusing 11 people of spreading anti-state propaganda and conspiracy through social media. The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police submitted the charge sheet on February 4, 2021, naming cartoonist Kishore, writer Mushtaq Ahmed, and “Rastrochinta” member Didarul Islam as accused, while recommending discharge for eight others.

Court records show that during the charge-framing hearing on February 27, 2022, both Didarul Islam and former DSE director Minhaz Mannan were present and pleaded not guilty, seeking justice from the court. Cartoonist Kishore was absent that day, leading to the cancellation of his bail.