Mithun Biswas, a Chittagong lawyer, has issued a legal notice to the Daily Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman and three others over an article published on March 26.
The notice, which was delivered to the newspaper's office on Wednesday, demanded an unconditional apology to the nation within seven days.
This notice has been sent to Prothom Alo editor Motiur Rahman, executive editor Sajjad Sharif and reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams.
Lawyer Mithun Biswas has mentioned himself as a member of Awami League's 22nd National Conference Preparation Office Sub-Committee.
Mithun Biswas said: “It appears to us that they have intentionally published the baseless, purposeful visual report with the dishonest intention of tarnishing the historic Independence Day. They attempted to instil fear in the public mind in order to create an unstable situation. Their journalistic malpractice is a punishable offense under the country's current criminal law.”
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 up from his rented house in Ambagan area of Ashulia. Later, a case under DSA was filed against Shams.
On Thursday, another case was filed against Prothom Alo Editor Motiur Rahman and others over the article.
