Two defamation cases have been filed against The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam for running "false corruption stories" against Sheikh Hasina based on information provided by the DGFI during the 2007-2008 military-backed caretaker government.
The cases were filed in Khulna and Lakshmipur districts on Tuesday, two days after a number of lawmakers demanded an immediate legal action on the editor of the English daily.
Mahfuz Anam on a TV talk show on Wednesday admitted that he made a "big mistake" by running "corruption" stories based on information provided by the DGFI during the 2007-2008 caretaker regime.
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"I admit it. It was a big mistake as an editor, in my journalism career,” Anam said on the talk show.
Our Khulna Correspondent reported that Chhatra League General Secretary of Khulna district unit Mushfiqur Rahman filed the Tk1 crore defamation suit with the court of district's Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate.
Magistrate Hakim Faruque asked the OC of Khulna Sadar police station to investigate the allegation and submit a report within seven working days after taking cognisance of the case.
He fixed March 3 for hearing.
Our Lakshmipur correspondent reported that President of Lakshmipur district unit of Chhatra League Chowdhury Mahmudunnabi Sohel filed the other case, seeking Tk50 crore in compensation for defaming Sheikh Hasina, the symbolic head of the organisation.
District's Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Farzana Akter took cognisance of the case. However, she kept the case pending for an order.
Plaintiff's lawyer Rasel Mahmud Manna told the Dhaka Tribune: “The case has been filed against Mahfuz Anam for publishing false stories against Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina without cross-checking the information.”
Earlier in February last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament warned of stern action against The Daily Star for provoking militants through a photo published in the daily.
The daily published a poster of banned Hizb-ut Tahrir, with the caption "Fanatics raise their ugly head again" on February 11, 2015.
On February 15, 2015, a Dhaka court asked police to launch an inquiry against Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam and two of his colleagues.
