At least three cases have been filed against acting editor of daily Amar Desh, Mahmudur Rahman, across the country over derogatory remarks about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Kurigram
Lutfor Rahman, legal affairs secretary of Razibpur upazila unit Awami League of the district, filed a case against Mahmudur with the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Enamul Haque Basunia Sunday on charges of defamation and sedition in connection with the “derogatory remarks” that he made at a program in Dhaka on December 1.
The complainant's lawyer Advocate Ahsan Habib Nilu told the Dhaka Tribune that the court had taken cognizance of the defamation charge of Tk 2,000crore as well as the sedition charge and asked the Kurigram Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) for filing a First Information Report (FIR) in that connection.
The complainant stated that while speaking at a program at Jatiya Press Club on December 1, Mahmudur Rahman had made false and defamatory remarks about the creation of Bangladesh as well as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and his granddaughter and UK MP Tulip Siddiq.
OC Abdus Sobhan said they would take the necessary steps after receiving the formal order of the court.
Kushtia
Kushtia district unit Chhatra League President Yasir Arafat Tusher filed a defamation case with the Amali Adalat of Additional Judicial Magistrate over the same remarks on the same day.
Taking the case into cognizance, the court summoned the defendant to appear in person at a hearing on the complaint on January 28, said Hasanul Askar Hasu, lawyer of the complainant.
Natore
Earlier on December 7, another defamation suit of Tk1,000 crore was field against the Amar Desh acting editor in this connection.
Natore district unit Awami League Organising Secretary Malek Sheikh filed the case with Sadar Amali Adalat. The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Habibur Rahman Siddique had taken the complaint into cognizance and ordered the Sadar police station OC to take necessary steps after investigation.
The complainant alleged that Mahmudur called Bangladesh a colony of India.
Video clipping of Mahmudur's alleged speech speech was available on Youtube, the complainant said.
GD filed in Gazipur
A general diary (GD) was filed with Kaliakoir police station in Gazipur over Mahmudur Rahman's derogatory remarks about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family.
Mainul Hossain, vice president of Kaliakoir upazila unit Jubo League, lodged the GD on Saturday night.
Kaliakoir police station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam said Mainul had complained that Mahmudur Rahman made derogatory comments about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family at a press conference in Dhaka on December 3.
The GD, quoting Mahmudur as saying, states that 90% of the media outlets in Bangladesh are owned by the beneficiaries and cliques loyal to the “fascist and illegal government.”
Mahmudur also questioned the security afforded to UK MP Tulip Siddiq by the Special Security Force in Bangladesh.
The government enacted the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Family Members' Security Act, but is that law applicable for Tulip, specially when Tulip herself had claimed she is not a Bangladeshi, Mahmudur was reported to have said at that program.
Mainul Hossain, vice president of Kaliakoir upazila unit Jubo League, lodged the GD on Saturday night.
Kaliakoir police station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam said Mainul had complained that Mahmudur Rahman made derogatory comments about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family at a press conference in Dhaka on December 3.
The GD, quoting Mahmudur as saying, states that 90% of the media outlets in Bangladesh are owned by the beneficiaries and cliques loyal to the “fascist and illegal government.”
Mahmudur also questioned the security afforded to UK MP Tulip Siddiq by the Special Security Force in Bangladesh.
The government enacted the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Family Members' Security Act, but is that law applicable for Tulip, specially when Tulip herself had claimed she is not a Bangladeshi, Mahmudur was reported to have said at that program.