Arrest warrant against Imran H Sarker

A Dhaka court has issued an arrest warrant against activist Imran H Sarker in a defamation case filed for derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Dhaka Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sheikh Shamidul Islam issued the warrant on Wednesday morning. The warrant was issued due to the non-appearance of Imran or his lawyers in court. The court was scheduled to hold charge hearing on Wednesday, which was deferred. Imran, the spokesperson for the war crimes trial movement Gonojagoron Moncho, and another member were accused of chanting defamatory slogans against the prime minister during a protest. According to the plaintiff, Chhatra League Education Secretary Golam Rabbani, a torch procession led by the two was brought out at Shahbagh on May 28 protesting the removal of the statue of Lady Justice from the Supreme Court premises and the slogans were chanted in this procession. A Dhaka court summoned Imran H Sarkar and Sanatan Ullash in the case filed on May 31 under section 500 of penal code on charges of defaming the prime minister. Later, on July 16, a Dhaka court granted permanent bail to Imran H Sarkar and Sanatan Ullash in the case.