Arrest warrant issued against Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam
17 more cases filed; total number of cases now 55
A court in Narayanganj today issued warrant of arrest against The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam after a lawyer brought libel charge for reports published during the 2007-2008 caretaker government regime based on information given by Taskforce Interrogation Cell (TFIC).
The order was issued although the Jatiya Sangsad had passed a bill on February 2, 2011 scrapping the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for directly issuing arrest warrant against journalists, writers and others for writing or saying anything defamatory.
Also the same day, 18 other cases, including four seeking to bring sedition charges, were filed against Anam as the galore of lawsuits against him continued. The rest others are defamation cases.
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With the cases filed today, 56 lawsuits have so far been filed, beginning on February 9, in 39 districts. Twelve of them are complaints seeking to sue the editor for sedition while the rest are defamation suits.
The galore of lawsuits came days after the Star editor at a talk show on February 3 made an introspective comment about a lapse in his editorial judgement in publishing a few reports based on information given by the TFIC during the 2007-08 caretaker government without being able to verify them independently.
In Narayanganj, advocate Muhammad Mohsin Mia, joint secretary of district lawyers’ association and an activist of city unit of ruling Awami League, filed the defamation case with Senior Judicial Magistrate Saiduzzaman Sharif seeking Tk 10 crore in compensation.
According to the complainant’s advocate Mahmuda Mala, Mohsin pointed out that the Daily Star editor had himself talked about publishing the reports.
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Identifying himself as a worker of Sheikh Hasina, the complainant said the AL chief had to undergo a lot of harassment due to the reports.
After hearing, the court issued an arrest warrant for Anam. Public Prosecutor advocate Wazed Ali Khokon confirmed it.
In Lalmonirhat, advocate Sariful Islam Raju, general secretary of district unit Swechchhasebak League, filed a complaint with the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court seeking to sue Anam for sedition.
He also claimed Tk 100 crore in compensation.
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Mehedy Hasan Mandal ordered the OC of Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station to investigate the matter after taking permission from the government.
In Satkhira, advocate Sahiduzzaman Shahed, district unit general secretary of Torun League, filed a plea with Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohibul Hassan to bring a sedition charge against Anam.
He also brought defamation allegations against Anam.
In Sherpur, Anwarul Hasan Utpal former president of the district unit of BCL filed a plea before Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Saifur Rahman to bring sedition charge against the Star editor.
The court asked the OC of the Sadar Police Station to take necessary legal steps in this regard.
In Bandarban, Touhidur Rahman Chowdhury Russel, district unit president of BCL, filed complaint with Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate seeking to sue Anam for sedition.
The complainant also demanded Tk 100 crore as compensation.
The court asked OC of the Sadar Police Station to take necessary legal steps in this regards.
In Barisal, Rafiqul Islam Khokon alias Mama Khokon, a former local leader of Jubo League, filed a defamation case with the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), where he claimed Tk 100 crore in compensation.
After hearing, the court asked Anam to appear before it on March 20.
In a second case filed with the court of Judicial Magistrate Rafiqul Islam, advocate Mamun Khan Kaiser, a member of the city unit of Jubo League, claimed Tk 100 crore in compensation.
The court summoned the Star editor to appear before it on March 29.
In Meherpur, Ariful Enam Bokul, Meherpur district unit president of Awami Swechchhasebak League, filed a Tk 10-crore defamation case.
After hearing, Chief Judicial Magistrate Seikh Nazmul Alam ordered to officer-in-charge (OC) of Meherpur Sadar Police Station to take steps as per the law.
In Narsingdi, Alamin Mia, joint convener of Narsingdi district unit Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), filed a Tk 50-crore defamation case with the court of Senior Chief Judicial Magistrate.
After hearing, the court asked the Star editor to appear before it on March 27.
In Jessore, Sahjahan Kabir former president of Chougacha upazila unite of Awami League filed a defamation case with the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Abu Ebrahim. The complaint also demanded Tk 10 crore as compensation.
The court issued a summons asking Anam to appear before it on March 6.
Anower Hossain Bipul, general Secretary of BCL’s Jessore district unit, filed another defamation case with the same court on the similar charge.
The court summoned The Daily Star editor to appear before it on March 6.
In Manikganj, Badrul Islam Khan Babul, former joint secretary of the district unit AL, filed a Tk 5-crore defamation case against Anam with the Senior Magistrate Court-1.
After hearing, Judge Mohammad Abdul Hye ordered the OC of Manikganj Police Station to submit a report by March 20 after investigation into the allegation.
In Bagerhat, Monir Hossain, acting president of BCL’s district unit, filed a defamation case with the Court of Senior Judicial Magistrate.
After hearing, the senior judicial magistrate Jahidul Azad order the officer-in-charge of the Sadar Police Station to submit report after investigation into the allegation.
In Jhalakathi, Boni Amin Bakly, AL’s law affairs secretary of the Sadar upazila unit, filed a defamation case with Senior Judicial Magistrate Court demanding Tk 5 crore as compensation.
The court fixed February 23 for hearing on the case and ordered the district information officer to investigate the matter and submit report before it.
In Comilla, Tariqul Islam Nayan, BCL president of Dawadkandi upazila unit, filed a libel case against star editor with Chief Judicial Magistrate Court.
Abu Taiyab Opi, BCL president of Comilla South District unit, filed similar case with Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court.
Taking the case into cognizance, both the courts asked the district information officer to submit report after investigation by March 27.
In Habiganj, Muktar Hossain Benu filed a defamation case against the Star editor with the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court in Habiganj demanding Tk 150 crore as compensation.
After hearing, the court ordered OC of the Habiganj Police Station to probe the matter and submit report by April 18.
In Sunamganj, Faruque Ahmed Sujon, BCL organising secretary of the district unit, filed a defamation case with the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court against Anam demanding Tk 100 crore as compensation.
In Cox’s Bazar, Ujjal Kar, Awami League general secretary of Cox’s Bazar municipality unit, filed a defamation case against Anam with the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court demanding Tk 60 crore in compensation.
In the case, the complainant said Anam published fake and motivated news in his daily during the 1/11 regime against Awami League President Sheikh Hasina that tarnished her dignity worth around Tk 60 crore.
After taking the case into cognisance, the court ordered the Cox’s Bazar Police Bureau of Investigation to investigate the allegation.