A Bogura court on Sunday granted bail to journalist Rezanur Islam, acting editor of Agrajatra Pratidin, in a case filed by another journalist over reports related to local government rural development state minister Mir Shahe Alam.

Senior judicial magistrate Mehedi Hasan of Bogura sadar cognisance court passed the bail order at around 12:00pm, said defence lawyer Tanjim Al Mesbah.

During the hearing, plaintiff lawyer Abdul Wahab told the court that the case stemmed from a misunderstanding and that a compromise had been reached between the two parties.

The complainant side also supported granting bail to the accused, following which the court approved the bail petition.

Earlier, detectives from the Bogura District Police arrested Rezanur at his residence in Joydebpur of Gazipur on Thursday night, sparking criticisms and protests by journalist organisations, including Editors’ Council.

He was arrested in a case filed under the Cyber Security Act, which also includes extortion allegations, over claims of spreading propaganda and defamatory content involving Mir Shahe Alam.

The case was filed with the Bogura sadar police station on June 17 by Tanvir Alam Rimon, a Bogura-based journalist, following the publication of a report on the state minister. Six people were named in the case, including Rezanur.

The other accused were publisher and editor Mehedi Hasan, news editor Ashraf Ali Faruqui, Bogura correspondent Shams, and district correspondent Md Sabbir Hasan.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday sent a letter to the Bogura deputy commissioner’s office directing the renaming of three newly formed unions in Mokamtala and Shibganj upazilas.

DC Md Toufikur Rahman on Saturday told journalists that the letter instructed authorities to change the names of Simanta and Diganta unions in Mokamtala, and Mirbari union in Shibganj.

The move came amid criticism after the three unions were named after the family identity and relatives of Mir Shahe Alam, also a lawmaker for the Bogur-2 constituency.

Earlier, verbal instructions were given to rename Simanta and Diganta unions, and the latest letter extended the directive to include Mirbari union as well.

On June 11, the Bogura district administration issued a notification restructuring two upazilas under the district.

As part of the notification, four new unions were created — Mirbari under Shibganj upazila, and Simanta, Diganta, and Swarnagram under the newly formed Mokamtala upazila.

Of these, Mirbari, Simanta, and Diganta drew public criticism on social media for being names linked to the state minister’s family. Mirbari is the name of his ancestral home, while Simanta and Diganta match the names of his two sons.