A Dhaka court yesterday asked police to launch an inquiry against The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam and two of his colleagues for publishing the photograph of a poster on February 11, released by banned Islamist outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir, calling upon the armed forces to topple the ruling government.
Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Anwar Sadat passed the order in response to a complaint filed yesterday by lawyer Shahjalal Kibria.
The plaintiff alleged that the photograph of the “provocative statement” published by the newspaper had hampered the peaceful situation in Bangladesh.
Hizb ut-Tahrir, which has chapters in many countries around the globe, started its activities in Bangladesh in 2000. The Awami League-led government banned the Islamist outfit on October 22, 2009.
The complainant brought charge under sections 505 and 34 of the Penal Code against the newspaper’s Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, Chief News Editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque and Chief Photographer Sheikh Enamul Haque for “statements conducing to public mischief.”
Section 505 carries highest seven years’ imprisonment with nominal fine.
The magistrate asked the officer-in-charge of Kotwali police to launch the inquiry after taking the case into cognisance.
The English daily published the photograph on page 3 with the caption stating: “Taking advantage of the current political crisis in the country accompanied by wanton violence, banned extremist Islamist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir published and pasted posters in the capital in an attempt to foment unrest within the armed forces. This poster was found pasted on a wall in an alleyway near Bangla Motor intersection yesterday.”
Kazi Najib Ullah Hiru, who took part in the hearing on behalf of the plaintiff, said this type of news carried anti-government sentiment and could deteriorate law and order.
Section 505 states: “Whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report, (a) with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, any officer, soldier, sailor or airman in the Army, Navy or Air Force of Bangladesh to mutiny or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty as such; or (b) with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against the public tranquility; or (c) with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community; or (d) with intent to create or promote, or which is likely to create or promote, feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different communities, classes or sections of people shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.”
