A former police constable has filed a defamation case against 18 people, including Tejgaon College teacher Dr Lata Samadder and her husband, Dhaka University’s Oriental Art Department Professor Dr Malay Bala, over the much-discussed Farmgate tip incident that took place three years ago.
Nazmul Tarek, the dismissed constable, filed the case with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque on Thursday.
After recording the plaintiff’s statement, the court instructed Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station to investigate the complaint and submit a report, court sources confirmed.
Apart from Dr Lata Samadder and Dr Malay Bala, the accused also include actor and former lawmaker Suborna Mustafa, stage and television actor Anisur Rahman Milon, Sazu Khadem, Pran Roy, Symon Sadiq, Manoj Pramanik, Shadhin Khoshru, Chayanika Chowdhury, Ashna Habib Bhabna, Jyotika Jyoti, Urmila Srabonti Kar, Shanarei Devi Shanu, Naznin Chumki, Sushama Sarker, and Kusum Sikder.
Several other unnamed individuals from the showbiz industry have also been listed as accused in the case.
According to the case statement, the stars in question allegedly defamed the former policeman by posting photos and statements on social media during protests in 2022 over the issue of wearing a teep.
The plaintiff claimed that their remarks and posts spread hatred against him, which severely harmed both his professional and social life.
The incident in question occurred on April 2, 2022, when Dr Lata Samadder accused a uniformed police officer of harassing her in the capital’s Farmgate area after his motorbike had reportedly struck her foot.
She claimed the officer asked: “Why are you wearing a teep?”
The allegation quickly went viral on social media, sparking a wave of protest, including posts by several celebrities who shared photos of themselves wearing teeps in solidarity.
Following the incident, Constable Nazmul Tarek lost his job.
He later took legal action seeking reinstatement, and the case is now pending at the administrative tribunal.
He has also submitted an appeal for reinstatement to the inspector general of police.
