Staff Correspondent

The government has deferred the jail sentence of journalist Shafik Rehman and businessman Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, an expatriate in the US, in a case over a plot to abduct and kill Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her information technology advisor.

Mohammad Abu Sayed Molla, deputy secretary of the Protection Service Department in the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued the order in the light of an opinion from the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

Following the appeal for deferral of the punishment of Shafik and Mizanuron the case at Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court No. 2, the sentence for the case filed with Paltan Model Police Station has been deferred for a year under the power bestowed by section 401 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, based on the opinion from the Ministry of Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs provided the accused surrender to the court, the order said.

On Aug 3, 2015, a police officer filed a case against Shafik with the Paltan Police Station and he was arrested on Apr 16, 2016 in the case. Later, he was released on bail and left the country for the United Kingdom.

Shafik returned home on Aug 18 this year after living in the UK for six years. He was admitted to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital after 24 days.

The journalist is receiving treatment under Prof Shameem Ahmed.