The High Court has banned publishing, broadcasting or reproducing speeches and statements of BNP’s Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman in print, electronic and social media as long as he remains absconding.
The bench of Justice Kazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman passed the order yesterday upon a writ petition filed by a Supreme Court lawyer Nasrin Siddique Lina.
The court in its order said: “Let the information secretary and the home secretary being directed to prohibit all media [electronic, print, social] to publish any statement by Tarique Rahman until he remains a fugitive in the eyes of law.”
The order comes in the wake of controversies triggered following Tarique’s recent comments regarding Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation. He labelled Sheikh Mujib as a razakar and also friend of Pakistan.
More than a dozen cases were filed against him with different courts for the “derogatory” remarks whereas several courts issued arrest warrants against him.
Tarique, the elder son of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, has been staying in London since 2008. He was released on parole for treatment. Tarique is named in the August 21 grenade attack cases.
The High Court also issued a rule upon respondents asking why they should not be directed to take appropriate action prohibiting all sort of publication, reproduction, repetition, transmission of said or similar offensive utterance by all electronic, print and social media.
The respondents are information secretary, home secretary, law secretary, director general of BTV, BTRC chairman, chief news editor of Ekushey Television, editor of the daily Kaler Kantho and Tarique. They have to answer within four weeks.
Moreover, the court directed the foreign secretary to submit a compliance report with regard to Tarique’s present status while the inspector general of police was asked to inform it about Tarique’s passport within 30 days.
During the hearing, Yousuf Hossain Humayun, Sahara Khatun, SM Munir, SM Rezauil Karim and Sanjida Khanom moved for the petitioner side while Deputy Attorney General Biswajit Roy represented the state.
The petition filed on Tuesday says fugitive Tarique used various “offending words” against Bangabandhu violating the constitution – considered as crime according to the law.
Counsel Humayun said: “Tarique violated the declaration of independence. No one in the world disrespects the father of the nation. I visited Indonesia...India...No one in India comments against Mahatma Gandhi, even though the BJP government is in power.”
The court at this point observed that Tarique had tried to create anarchy in the country.
The petition also states that Tarique is destroying peace and deteriorating law and order. His acts are encouraged when media publishes such comments. “If the media does not publish Tarique’s statements, there will be no chance of repetition of his statement.”
Meanwhile, Khaleda’s Adviser Khandaker Mahbub Hossain termed the order “unprecedented.”
Also president of the Supreme Court BAR Association, Mahbub told reporters: “In the past, we saw many leaders from underground and fugitive are giving speeches. The governments and the courts did not impose any ban.”
