Bangladesh court bails jailed photographer who was critical of government

Nov 15 (AZINS) A court in Bangladesh on Thursday granted bail to award-winning photographer Shahidul Alam, his lawyer said.

Alam had been arrested in August on suspicion of spreading "propaganda and false information" during widespread student protests.

"We're delighted that ultimately the court has granted him bail," said the lawyer, Sarah Hossain, adding she expected her client to be out soon.

Alam was picked up from his home hours after giving an interview to television channel Al Jazeera, in which he accused the government of extrajudicial killings and corruption - accusations the government dismissed. 

Earlier, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says she is convinced that jailed photographer Shahidul Alam instigated trouble by spreading what she describes as "false news" about protests against her rule in August.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Hasina described Alam, who is known as one of South Asia's preeminent photographers, as "mentally sick" and blamed his behavior on his family background – Alam's great uncle was on the opposing side to Hasina's father in Bangladesh's war of independence from Pakistan.

She offered no evidence for her accusations, which Alam's family and lawyer reject. Alam was arrested in August, hours after criticizing the government's response to widespread student protests.

His detention has been widely seen as a test for freedom of speech in the country and has sparked worldwide demands for his release. Hasina, who was returned unopposed in 2014 after the opposition boycotted the poll, is seeking a third term in an election at the end of December against a backdrop of growing dissent at what critics believe is her increasingly authoritarian government.