CU teacher Maidul sued under Section 57

Chittagong University's (CU) Assistant Professor Maidul Islam, who has left the campus due to threats issued by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men, has now been sued under ICT act yesterday for his alleged remarks defaming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Md Ifterkhar Uddin Ayaz, a former executive member of CU unit BCL, filed the case under section 57 of ICT Act on Monday night with Hathazari Police Station, said Belal Mohammad Jahangir, officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station.

In the case statement, the complainant said Maidul has defamed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a Facebook post, spelling her name as "Hashi Na" on July 13.

Maidul also defamed the PM by posting a superimposed picture where several students were seen sleeping in a small room, and a bowl of distasteful-looking lentil soup, the complainant said.

According to the case statement Maidul gave a caption of the photo which reads “So which of the favours of your mother would you deny?”

Meanwhile, a group of teachers and employees under the banner of Bangabandhu Parishad formed a human chain yesterday on the campus demanding punishment for the teacher, for his alleged defamatory remarks against the PM and distorting a verse of the Holy Quran.

However, Maidul maintains that he never wrote derogatory remarks against the premier.

Maidul, a teacher of sociology department, left the campus along with his family on July 15 after BCL men issued public threats to him and his family. He later notified the matter to university authorities and sought security from the university administration.

Earlier, BCL men lodged a complaint against Maidul to the department chairperson, and submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor against two teachers including him.

Later, the university formed a three member probe committee to investigate into these allegations, against Maidul and Khandakar Ali Ar Raji, an assistant professor of mass communication and journalism department.

The BCL men have also announced the teachers “unwelcome” on the campus.