17 more cases filed against Star editor

Seventeen more cases including six sedition pleas were filed against The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam today in 17 districts.
Acting on petitions seeking to bring sedition charges against Anam in Kurigram and Tangail, the court ordered local police to seek permission from the government and run inquiry into the allegations.
In the eleven defamation cases, courts in Natore, Khagrachhari, Chapainawabganj and Rangpur issued summons on Anam after taking the cases into cognisance.
With these cases, a total of 35 cases have been filed so far. Eight among these are complaints seeking to sue Anam for sedition.
The galore of lawsuits came days after the Star editor regretted at a television talk show on February 3 about a lapse in his editorial judgement in publishing a few reports based on information supplied by task force intelligence cell during caretaker government regime in 2007 without being able to verify independently.
In Kurigram, advocate Md Ruhul Amin Dulal, convener of district Jubo League unit, sought to sue Anam in a sedition case. Judge Maksudur Rahman of Additional Judicial Magistrate Court told officer-in-charge of Sadar police station to probe after taking permission from the home ministry.
In Rajshahi, Abdus Salam, a public prosecutor of Metropolitan Judge’s Court and president of Mohonpur Upazila AL, submitted a plea to bring sedition charges. Rajshahi Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court ordered OC of Boalia Police Station to investigate the allegation.
In Tangail, Advocate Joaherul Islam Islam, general secretary of district unit AL, brought sedition complaint and demanded Tk 100-crore in compensation from Anam.
Judge Md Aminul Islam of Senior Judicial Magistrate Court told OC of Tangail Model Police Station to investigate and report after taking permission from the government.
In Rangpur, organising secretary of Awami League’s district unit Motahar Hossain Moula filed a Tk 100-crore defamation case against Anam. Rangpur Senior Judicial Magistrate Shafiqul Alam summoned Mahfuz Anam to appear before it on March 1.
In Chapainawabganj, Ejabul Haque Buli, treasurer of Sadar unit Awami League, filed a libel suit against Anam. Senior Judicial Magistrate Nur Nabi issued a summon for Anam to appear before it on April 28.
In Khagrachhari, Teko Chakma, district unit president of Chhatra League, sued Anam in a Tk 10-crore libel suit. Chief Judicial Magistrate Abu Sufian Md Noman summoned Anam on March 16, said plaintiff’s lawyer Nazrul Islam.
In Sylhet, Swechchhasebak League president of district unit Afsar Aziz Khan filed a Tk 150-crore defamation case. Judge Kudrati Khuda of Sylhet Judicial Magistrate Court-4 ordered an executive magistrate to probe the allegation and submit report in 15 days.
In Sunamganj, Syed Abdul Kashem, organising secretary of Awami League’s United Kingdom unit, filed a defamation case seeking Tk 100-crore in compensation. Judge Shahidul Islam took the suit into cognisanse.
In Cox’s Bazar, ex-Moheshkhali municipality mayor Sarwar Azom filed a Tk 100-crore defamation suit. Senior Judicial Magistrate Arun Pal ordered the senior assistant superintendent of police to probe and report immediately.
In Natore, Alek Uddin Sheikh, joint secretary of ruling party’s Sadar upazila unit, filed a Tk 50-crore defamation suit. Acting Judicial Magistrate Shamsul Alamin ordered Anam to appear before it on March 30 after primary hearing.
In Thakurgaon,  Sadek Kuraishi, district unit general secretary of the ruling AL placed an application before Senior Judicial Magistrate Saiful Islam of Cognizance Court-Ka for filing a sedition case against The Daily Star editor.
The court later ordered officer-in-charge of Thakurgaon Police Station to take necessary steps after seeking government's permission for investigating the charge as per under section 196 of code of criminal procedure.   
The court scheduled March 2 for next hearing on the plea.   
In Panchagarh, Nazrul Islam general secretary of Panchagarh Lawyers’ Association also Law Affair Secretary of Debiganj Upazila unit AL filed a petition to sue Aman in sedition charge before an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate BM Tariqul Kabirof.
The court also ordered officer-in-charge of Panchagarh Police Station to take necessary steps in this connection.   
In Pabna, Rejaur Rahim Lal, district unit vice president of AL filed a defamation plea with a Pabna court against The Daily Star editor.
The court fixed Tuesday for hearing on the plea.
In Laxmipur, Nurul Amin Raju Kamalnagar upazila unit general secretary of AL brought a defamation petition of Tk 100-crore.
Judge Monir Hossain of Senior Judicial Magistrate court has asked the petitioner to submit necessary documents before it for next course of legal procedures.     
In Kushtia, Asadul Haq Soleman, district president of Amra Mujib Sena placed a plea before additional chief judicial magistrate court to bring sedition charge against The Daily Star editor.
In the plea, the complainer also brought of Tk 50,000 crore defamation charge against him.
Judge of the court, Mostafizur Rahman accepted the allegation and fixed tomorrow (Tuesday) for hearing on the plea.
In Rangamati, advocate Biplob Chakma on behalf of Kazi Mohammad Jalwar president of district unit Jatiya Sramik League filed defamation case of Tk 50-lakh with a Rangamati court against The Daily Star editor.
Without taking the case into cognisance, Judge of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate court Sabrina Ali asked the petitioner to submit names and identities of the witnesses of the case.
In Comilla, Jadab Chandra Roy, Bangladesh Chhatra League’s education affairs secretary of Comilla-north-district unit filed a defamation case demanding six-month imprisonment of Anam.
Taking the case into cognisance, Judge Tareque Aziz, of the chief magistrate court ordered the district information officer to submit a report before it by March 21.