Report on DGFI: Ex-army man, Netra News sued under the DSA

A ruling Awami League leader yesterday filed a case under the Digital Security Act against former army officer Hasinur Rahman and Netra News -- a news portal -- for running a report on the DGFI and "tarnishing the country's image".

An interviewee in the report, Hasinur from Cumilla's Laksam upazila, was made the prime accused in the case. 

Ilias Ahmed, a freedom fighter, who is also a lawyer at Rangpur Judge's Court and vice-president of the district AL, filed the case with Rangpur Cyber Tribunal.

Judge Abdul Majid of the tribunal took the case into his cognisance, and three people were made witnesses.

A description of the video news, which was published in Netra News's Facebook page on August 13, was included in the case documents.

The case statement claimed the video, titled "Mirrorroom, the secret prison of DGFI" was false, defamatory and offensive.

It also went against the state, Ilias said in the case.

He further said the country's image was tarnished through the report, which was nothing but a  "propaganda against the armed forces and the government".

His statement also said this video story has "hurt the sentiments of the people in favour of the country's independence, sovereignty, the Liberation War and the ruling Awami League".

Ruhul Amin Talukdar, the public prosecutor of the tribunal, said the court fixed September 25 for the next hearing, adding that according to the petitioner's appeal, the case was handed over to the CID for investigation.