Saiful Islam Sarwar, the president of Bamna upazila Jubo League in Barguna, has lodged a case under the Digital Security Act against the editor and news editor of the online newspaper Daily Sagorkul.
The defendants named in the case are Nesaruddin, publisher and editor, and Mahmudul Hasan Asif, news editor of Daily Sagorkul.
The case was registered at the Barisal Cyber Tribunal on Wednesday afternoon.
Judge Golam Farooq of the tribunal, after registering the case, directed the officer-in-charge of Bamna police station to investigate the complaint and submit a report promptly, said Nurul Islam Kakon, the bench clerk of the court.
However, Bamna police station OC Mainul Islam said he was not aware of the case.
“We will start the investigation once we receive the court order,” he added.
Saiful Islam Sarwar, the plaintiff, mentioned in his complaint that there was a disagreement among leaders and activists of the Awami League, Jubo League, Sainik League and other organizations on August 15, National Mourning Day.
While local leaders resolved the issue, the Daily Jugantor went on to publish news online with pictures and information without his consent, damaging his reputation, he said.
Subsequently, Nesaruddin shared the news link on his Facebook profile and posted the same report on his online news portal, Daily Sagorkul, said Saiful.
Mahmudul Hasan Asif, the news editor of Daily Sagorkul, also shared the online news report.
This publication negatively impacted the personal and political reputation of the Jubo League leader and disrupted the life of his family, the complaint added.
When approached for a statement, Saiful Islam Sarwar said he would present his side in court and refrained from commenting further.
However, journalist Nesaruddin said the news, which included clips of speeches by Jubo and Sainik League leaders, was published across various media platforms and is still visible on social media.
He expressed confusion about why he was the sole target of the lawsuit.