A case was filed against the daily Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman under the Digital Security Act (DSA) early Thursday.
Prothom Alo reporter Samsuzzaman Shams, an unnamed assistant cameraman, and unnamed others were also accused in the case filed with Ramna police station at 2am on Thursday over an article published on March 26, according to media reports.
The first information report (FIR) of the case mentioned that it was filed at 11:10pm on Wednesday.
A lawyer named Abdul Malek Mashiur Malek, 61, filed the case under the Digital Security Act.
Malek accused them of using print, online, and electronic media to tarnish the image and reputation of the state, the FIR said.
The FIR mentioned that the accused spread falsehood on purpose to deteriorate law and order situation of the country.
The case was filed under the sections 25, 31 and 35 of the DSA.
Section 25 of the DSA criminalizes publishing or propagating “any information with the intention of tarnishing the image of the nation,” as well as knowingly publishing false or distorted information.
Section 31 refers to publishing or propagating in digital format any file that creates “hostility, hatred or adversity among people or destroys communal harmony or creates unrest or disorder or deteriorates or threatens to deteriorate law and order” in the country.
Section 35 covers aiding or abetting any of the offences listed under the act.
Controversy
Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shamns spoke to people including a child named Shobuj on March 25, on the eve of Independence Day, and submitted a report on people's suffering due to price hikes. The report was published on March 26.
The news drew criticism as the newspaper used the child's photo with a quote from a 40-year-old labourer named Zakir, identifying the child as Zakir and not Shobuj.
Prothom Alo withdrew the report within around half an hour and issued a correction later in the day, saying there was an inconsistency between the headline and the accompanying photo. Alongside the news item, the newspaper had also posted a poster on its social media handle.
On Wednesday, law enforcers picked him from his rented house in Ambagan area of Ashulia. Later, a case under DSA was filed against Shams.
