Photojournalist Kajol finally walks out of jail

Photojournalist and Editor of the Daily Pakkhakal Shafiqul Islam Kajol has been finally released on bail after spending nearly eight months in jail.

He was released from the Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 11:15am on Friday.

The matter has been confirmed by his son Manoram Palak. "My father is physically very weak, and mentally upset,” he said.

Kajol had been missing since March 18. 

The family then filed a case with Dhaka's Chawkbazar police station alleging abduction. 

After 53 days, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained him at Benapole port in Jessore. 

The border force then alleged that the photojournalist had been detained during illegal entry into Bangladesh.

He was later shown arrested. There was a total of five cases against Kajol.

Kajol's bail was confirmed in all the cases on December 18. Since then he has been waiting for a formal release. His bail was submitted to the court on December 24 and later sent to the jail authorities.

Following Kajol's arrest, various international human rights bodies and media organisations issued statements demanding his release. 

Various programmes have also been held in the capital. His son Manoram Palak's initiatives to free him also caught the attention of society and social media.