Three lawsuits, including a petition to bring sedition charges, have been filed against The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam in Chittagong.
Two separate courts have asked the editor of the English daily to appear before those by March 29.
Assistant Commissioner (Prosecution) Nirmalendu Bikash Chakraborty of Chittagong Metropolitan Police told the Dhaka Tribune: “President of Chittagong North Jubo League SM Al Mamun filed a sedition complaint against the editor of the English daily.
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In response, Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Farid Alam ordered the OC of Kotwali police station to launch investigation after obtaining permission from the government.”
“Satkania unit Bangabandhu Parishad General Secretary Prabir Paul filed a Tk100 crore defamation case against Anam with the same court and the court asked him to appear before it by March 29,” added the CMP official.
Besides, Chittagong district unit BCL General Secretary Giasuddin filed another libel lawsuit with Metropolitan Magistrate Jhalak Roy, said the AC. “The court also asked The Daily Star editor to appear before it by March 29.”
Earlier on Tuesday, a Narayanganj court issued a warrant for the arrest of Mahfuz Anam in a defamation case.
Thirteen more cases were filed against The Daily Star editor the same day for publishing “confusing” and “defamatory” reports in his daily about Awami League President Sheikh Hasina during the 2007-08 military-backed caretaker regime.
Mahfuz Anam on a TV talk show on February 3 admitted that he made a "big mistake" by running "corruption" stories based on information provided by the DGFI during the 2007-2008 caretaker regime.
"I admit it. It was a big mistake as an editor, in my journalism career,” Anam said on the talk show.
Of the cases, 11 were filed on defamation while the rest two on sedition charges.
Earlier, 27 more cases were filed against The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam in different parts of the country.