Bashir Akon, editor of the local news portal Patharghata News from Patharghata upazila in Barguna district, has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment under the Digital Security Act.
The court sentenced him to three years of imprisonment along with a fine of Tk25,000. In default of payment, he will be sentenced to an additional six months of imprisonment.
Bashir Akon is the son of the late Abdul Jabbar Akon of Ward No. 8 of Patharghata Municipality.
Nazmul Hasan, bench assistant of the Barishal Cyber Tribunal, confirmed the report and said that another accused in the case, Abida Sultana, wife of Aminur Rahman and a resident of Ward No. 2 of Patharghata Municipality, was fined Tk25,000 or sentenced to six months of imprisonment in default.
Charges pressed against Pinaki Bhattacharya in DSA caseOn Thursday, May 30, Barishal Cyber Tribunal Judge Md. Ghulam Farooq announced the verdict.
Bench assistant Nazmul Hasan said Bashir Akon was absent from the court during the announcement of the verdict. An arrest warrant has been issued against him.
Abida Sultana was present in court and paid the fine.
Regarding the case, the court official said there was a dispute involving the two defendants regarding Shaheen Alam's land in Ward No. 2 of Hospital Road in Patharghata Municipality.
Due to this dispute, on July 19, 2021, the news portal Patharghata News published an article titled "Bad Proposal to Expatriate’s Wife."
Later, on July 27, another news article was published with an offensive headline, including an offensive video message from Abida Sultana.
Subsequently, allegations were made about the matter being spread on social media.
On October 20, 2021, the affected Shaheen Alam filed a case in the Cyber Tribunal alleging defamation through false news and posts.
The tribunal judge took cognizance of the complaint and ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate.
Barishal PBI Sub-Inspector (SI) Prafulla Kumar Singh filed the chargesheet against the two on February 16, 2022.
