the paper's printing press. National media also carried news of the paper's shutdown and editors' arrest. According to Reporters without Borders, Mohammad Hasmat Ali, publisher of Amar Desh, the previous day had been taken by the National Security Intelligence (NSI), interrogated, and forced to sign two blank pieces of paper. NSI agents later filled these in with the following statements: Ali claimed still to be the newspaper's publisher after having transferred ownership to Rahman's media company, and he wanted to sue Rahman for fraud. The press organisation said that the NSI appeared to intend to "trap both men in order to have the newspaper's licence withdrawn under the 1973 press law." Several days later, the leaders of around 25 newspapers in Bangladesh signed a letter which demanded that the ban on Amar Desh publication be rescinded. Different government entities filed a total of four charges against Rahman: two by police for an altercation that arose when they shut down the printing press and newspaper offices; one for sedition for allegedly publishing posters and publicity material for Hizb-ut-Tahrir, a banned Islamist group; and one for fraud based on his publisher's signed statement. Rahman was remanded into custody for eight days. On 12 June, the High Court stayed the ban on Amar Desh operations, allowing it to resume publication. On 17 June 2010, Rahman's attorneys released his statement asserting torture during police custody. Rahman was released on bail in mid-July. On 12 October 2010, the government deferred the sedition case. Rahman was acquitted of the other charges, a verdict upheld by the Appeals Court. In August 2010, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh sentenced Rahman to six months for contempt of court for a 21 April 2010 Amar Desh article, which said the top court was pro-government. Rahman is the only person ever sentenced for contempt by the Bangladesh Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had a separate, pending charge for contempt for a 10 May article but withdrew it. International human rights groups described the government's cases against Amar Desh as "legal harassment". Reporters Without Borders released a statement saying, On 17 March 2011, Mahmudur Rahman was freed from prison. Many national figures arrived to welcome his release, including the film maker Chashi Nazrul Islam, writer Farhad Mazhar, journalist Abdul Hye Shikdar, and former Inspector-General of Police M.A. Quayum. Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal In fulfilment of its campaign promises, the Awami government initiated