Six local journalists in Cox’s Bazar have been sued under a defamation case filed by a person against whom they previously published reports containing allegations of illegal hill cutting.
The case was filed with the Cox’s Bazar court on Monday afternoon by one Jahangir Kashem, an activist of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party).
The accused are identified as The Territorial News (TTN) Chief Editor Jahed Sarwar Sohel, News Chief Taufiqul Islam Lipu, Chief Reporter Azim Nihad, and local correspondent Sanjidul Alam Sajib, and Daily Samudrakantha Editor Moinul Hasan Palash and News Editor Rashedul Islam.
In the case, the plaintiff did not ask for compensation but mentioned that the accused had published false news against him in an attempt to tarnish his image.
The court took cognizance of the case and directed police to investigate and submit a report, confirmed Bipul Chandra Dey, officer-in-charge of Cox's Bazar Sadar model police station.
Local sources say, a faction of malevolent businessmen is taking advantage of the local administration’s negligence to rampantly raze hills in Khurushkul as well as in other places throughout the district.
And that the plaintiff Jahangir Kashem himself had several cases against him for his alleged involvement in illegal hill cutting.
