'Defaming Khaleda': Ctg Court summons Purbokone editors

A Chittagong court yesterday summoned the editor and managing editor of the Dainik Purbokone, a local newspaper, in connection with a defamation case filed over publishing alleged fake news about BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's family.

Belayet Hossen, former joint secretary of Chittagong (north) BNP filed the case.

In the defamation case, Belayet said BNP's image was tarnished by the newspaper and sought Tk 100 crore in damages.

A front page report on Wednesday appeared to call Khaleda's family the third most corrupt in the world.

The Purbokone apologised to its readers the next day saying that the sources cited in the report did not mention Khaleda. It added that the mistake was inadvertent.

Belayet's lawyer Abdus Sattar said the court took the case into cognisance and summoned the Editor Taslim Uddin Chowdhury and Managing Editor Jasim Uddin Chowdhury.

Belayet said, “I am aggrieved. The image of BNP was tarnished across the country due to the fake news. That's why I have filed a 100-crore defamation suit against the duo.”

Former vice-president of Chittagong (south) BNP Iftekhar Mohsin Chowdhury also attempted to file a case under section 57 of the ICT act against the duo with a court.

The court said the case under ICT act should be filed with a police station or Cyber Tribunal, Iftekhar's lawyer Md Enamul informed.