Freedom Fighter Al-Mamun Sarkar, the Awami League-backed candidate who was recently elected chairman of Brahmanbaria district council, has sought Tk100 crore in damages from his rival Shafiqul Alam, who contested the election as a so-called rebel candidate, for defamation.
A legal notice in this regard was sent to Shafiqul Alam on Wednesday.
The legal notice signed by Advocate Md Tariq Hossain Jewel said Shafiqul Alam held a press conference at Brahmanbaria Press Club on October 15 before the election. At the time he made slanderous remarks about the winning candidate, accusing him of doing “nomination business” in upazila and union parishad elections, illegal licensing of autorickshaws in Brahmanbaria municipality, and intimidating public leaders and voters to gain victory.
According to the legal notice, Shafiqul Alam broke the discipline by choosing to contest polls against the party-backed candidate several times.
Al-Mamun Sarkar has been the district Awami League general secretary for a long time. He has no involvement in party nominations since it is finalized with the signature of Sheikh Hasina, the head of the nomination board. The party nominations are only sent with the signature of the district president and general secretary. The notice stated that Al-Mamun Sarkar is neither the mayor nor the chief officer of the municipality.
The notice asked the plaintiff to pay Tk100 crore in damages within the next seven days. Otherwise, the notice states, necessary legal action will be taken.
Regarding the notice, Shafiqul Alam told reporters: “I have heard about the notice from journalists. I have not received the notice yet. If I get it, the matter will be dealt with legally.”
