TWo Chittagong courts yesterday granted bail to three high-ups of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in two cases filed for "demeaning judiciary" by its survey report.

After the yesterday's hearing, Judge MM Osman Gani of Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Court-2 and Judge Mohammad Ibrahim Miah of Senior Judicial Magistrate Court granted the bail.

The courts also exempted the three — former TIB chairman M Hafizuddin Khan, Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman and Senior Fellow Wahid Alam —from appearing before the courts in person.

Earlier lawyer of the defen-dants, Akhter Kabir Chowdhury, prayed to the courts for exempting their clients from appearing before the courts in person and allowing their counsels on behalf of the TIB executives saying that they are “respectable persons” in the society.

The three TIB high-ups were present at the courts. The courts fixed June 28 for further hearing.

M Hafizuddin Khan told The Daily Star yesterday that they are fully respectful to the law. The TIB report has been prepared based on the information collected from the people as well as the media, he said. He added that it was not our intention to defame anyone by the survey.