Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim has served a legal notice to Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite and cable news television channel Ekattor TV.
The notice served by Shihab Uddin Khan, Barrister-at-Law Advocate, Bangladesh Supreme Court claimed during the first innings of the second Test match against New Zealand at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Mushfiq was given out obstructing the field.
Following such dismissal, a news report was broadcasted/published/uploaded by Ekattor TV in the YouTube Channel under the title/caption/headline “মিরপুর টেস্টে স্পট ফিক্সিংয়ের গন্ধ! সন্দেহ সিনিয়র ক্রিকেটারের দিকে! presented by reporter Saiful Rupak.
The notice on behalf of Mushfiq mentioned that the report, both in words and through images, made serious derogatory and defamatory remarks and innuendos against the cricketer, suggesting that he deliberately got out obstructing the field and that his dismissal may be evidence of match- or spot-fixing.
The legal notice was served to the Head of News, Sports Editor and the Reporter of Ekattor Television through email on behalf of Mushfiq.
The legal notice demanded immediate amendments to the aforesaid report by:
a) Immediately taking steps to remove the offending report from YouTube and all other social media sites where it may have been published;
b) Broadcasting on Ekattor TV an unconditional apology for having broadcast the offending report, stating that it was false and unverified;
c) Issuing a public press release seeking unconditional apology for having broadcast the offending report, stating that it was false and unverified; and
d) Assure our client in writing that the reporter Saiful Rupak has been cautioned to be more careful in future.
Mushfiq’s legal notice to the news channel claimed that the report and its publication in the manner it has been seen, accessed, and downloaded by countless millions throughout Bangladesh and the rest of the world, has lowered the cricketer’s image and therefore constituted criminal defamation punishable under Section 500 of the Penal Code, 1860 and cyber-bullying contrary to Sections 25(1)(Ka), 25(2) and 29 of the Cyber Security Act, 2023, besides entitling our client to proceed against you for exemplary damages as compensation by instituting civil legal action.