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Shams passed the test. Shams has many good friends and well-wishers. Everyone was with him. There was great support at home and abroad.”

Praising Shams’ mother for her patience, courage and strength, the Prothom Alo editor said Shams’ reuniting with her mother is the biggest reward.

The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam was present at the Prothom Alo office to greet Shams.

“We believe in journalism with values. We believe in independent and objective journalism. We are neither in favour nor against anyone. We are for the country. Danger befell Shams while he was doing this brand of journalism. It’s part of the profession,” The Daily Star editor said.

Prothom Alo Managing Editor Anisul Haque said Shams will not stop writing. Freedom means telling people’s stories and stories of hunger.

After meeting his colleagues, Shams left the Prothom Alo office for his home around 9:00pm.

The 37-year-old is the younger brother of the slain Detective Branch assistant commissioner Robiul Karim, who died at the Holey Artisan Bakery attack on July 1, 2016.

While posting on social media a report written by Shams on March 26, the Independence Day, the Prothom Alo made a “card” with a quote of a labourer named Zakir Hossain. Though the card contained Zakir’s quote, it had the photo of an adolescent boy.

The mistake was noticed within 17 minutes, and the card was removed. Besides, corrections were made to the report and the news was again published online mentioning the corrections.

Around 4:00am on March 29, Shams was picked up by law enforcers in plainclothes, hours after he was sued under the DSA.

Apart from Shams, Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman, an unnamed photographer, and unnamed others were accused later in another case filed under the DSA.

Journalist organisations and rights bodies condemned the incident and demanded his immediate release.