Court orders arrest of Star editor

A Narayanganj court ordered the arrest of Mahfuz Anam on a defamation charge in one of 18 more cases filed against The Daily Star editor and publisher in 15 districts yesterday.

The arrest warrant was issued after the joint secretary of Narayanganj district lawyers' association, who introduced himself as an Awami League activist, brought a libel charge for “reports against Sheikh Hasina” published during the 2007-2008 tenure of the last caretaker government.

Talking to The Daily Star last night about yesterday's arrest warrant, Law Minister Anisul Huq said, “I have talked to the law officers in Narayanganj. I am saying this with responsibility that it won't be an arrest warrant, it would be a summons.”

In its order, the court stated that the charge primarily appeared evident while examining statement, petition and documents submitted to it.

The allegation was taken into cognisance under 500/501/502 provision of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).  

READ MORE: It would be summons, not arrest warrant: Law minister

The Jatiya Sangsad, however, scrapped five years back the provision for directly issuing arrest warrants against journalists, writers and others for writing or saying anything defamatory. The amendment to the CrPC, passed on February 2, 2011, introduced a provision for issuing summons on them.

During the passage of the bill, Barrister Shafique Ahmed, the then law, justice and parliamentary affairs minister, told the JS that the previous provision had curtailed freedom of the press. The provision should have been amended much earlier since it was a repressive one, he said.

Talking to The Daily Star last night about yesterday's arrest warrant, Law Minister Anisul Huq said, “I have talked to the law officers in Narayanganj. I am saying this with responsibility that it won't be an arrest warrant, it would be a summons.”

With 18 fresh cases, Editor Mahfuz Anam now faces a staggering 55 lawsuits filed by leaders of the AL and pro-AL student body Bangladesh Chhatra League.

The gazette notification issued on a bill passed by Jatiya Sangsad scrapping the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure

Of the cases, 12 involve complaints seeking to sue the editor for sedition while the rest are defamation suits.  

The lawsuit spree began 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 Task Force Interrogation Cell during the 2007-08 tenure of the last caretaker government, without being able to verify those independently.

NARAYANGANJ

Advocate Muhammad Mohsin Mia, joint secretary of the district lawyers' association and an activist of city AL unit, filed the defamation case with Senior Judicial Magistrate Saiduzzaman Sharif, seeking Tk 10 crore in compensation.

According to the complainant's counsel Mahmuda Mala, Mohsin pointed out that The Daily Star editor himself talked about publishing the reports.

The AL chief had to suffer harassment because of the reports, alleged the complainant identifying himself as a worker of Hasina.

After the hearing, the court issued a warrant for Mahfuz Anam's arrest. It was confirmed by Public Prosecutor advocate Wazed Ali Khokon.

LALMONIRHAT

Advocate Sariful Islam Raju, general secretary of the district unit Swechchhasebak League, filed a complaint with the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court, seeking to sue Mahfuz Anam for sedition.

He also claimed Tk 100 crore in compensation.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Mehedi Hasan Mandal ordered the OC of Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station to investigate the matter upon taking permission from the government.

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 the Star editor.

He also brought defamation allegations against Mahfuz Anam.

SHERPUR

Anwarul Hasan Utpal, former president of the district BCL unit, made a plea to Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Saifur Rahman for bringing a sedition charge against the Star editor.

The court asked the OC of Sadar Police Station to take necessary steps in this regard.

BANDARBAN

Touhidur Rahman Chowdhury Russel, district BCL unit president, filed a complaint with the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court, seeking to sue Mahfuz Anam for sedition.

The complainant also demanded Tk 100 crore in compensation.

The court asked the OC of Sadar Police Station to take steps on this matter.

BARISAL

Rafiqul Islam Khokon, former Jubo League leader, filed a defamation case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, claiming compensation of Tk 100 crore.

The court asked Mahfuz Anam to appear before it on March 20.

Another defamation case against the Star editor was lodged with the court of Judicial Magistrate Rafiqul Islam.

The complainant, advocate Mamun Khan Kaiser, a member of the city Jubo League unit, claimed Tk 100 crore in compensation.

The court summoned the Star editor to appear before it on March 29.

MEHERPUR

Ariful Enam Bokul, Meherpur district unit president of Awami Swechchhasebak League, filed a defamation suit against Mahfuz Anam, demanding Tk 10 crore in compensation.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Sheikh Nazmul Alam ordered the OC of Meherpur Sadar Police Station to take necessary steps in this regard.

NARSINGDI

Alamin Mia, joint convener of Narsingdi district BCL unit, filed a libel case with the Senior Chief Judicial Magistrate's court, claiming a compensation of Tk 50 crore.

The court asked the Star editor to appear before it on March 27.

JESSORE

Shahjahan Kabir, former president of Chougacha upazila AL unit, filed a defamation suit with the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Abu Ebrahim.

The complainant also demanded a compensation of Tk 10 crore.

The court issued a summons, asking Mahfuz Anam to appear before it on March 6.

Besides, Anwar Hossain Bipul, general Secretary of Jessore district BCL unit, lodged a defamation case with the same court on the same charge.

The court summoned the Star editor to appear before it on March 6.

MANIKGANJ

Badrul Islam Khan Babul, former joint secretary of the district AL unit, filed a defamation suit with the Senior Magistrate's Court-1 against Mahfuz Anam. He also sought Tk 5-crore in compensation.

Judge Mohammad Abdul Hye ordered the OC of Manikganj Police Station to investigate the allegation and submit a report by March 20.

BAGERHAT

Monir Hossain, acting president of the district BCL unit, filed a defamation case with the Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court against the Star editor.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Jahidul Azad ordered the OC of Sadar Police Station to probe the allegation and submit a report.

JHALAKATHI

Boni Amin Bakly, law affairs secretary of the sadar upazila AL unit, lodged a defamation suit with the Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court against Mahfuz Anam. He also demanded Tk 5 crore in compensation.

The court fixed February 23 for hearing, and ordered the district information officer to investigate the matter and submit a report.

COMILLA

Tariqul Islam Nayan, president of Daudkandi upazila BCL unit, filed a libel case with the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court against the Star editor.

Abu Taiyab Opi, president of Comilla district BCL unit (south), lodged another defamation suit with the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court.

Taking the cases into cognisance, the two courts asked the district information officer to carry out probes and submit reports by March 27.

HABIGANJ

Muktar Hossain Benu filed a libel case with the Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court against the Star editor and demanded a compensation of Tk 150 crore.

The court ordered the OC of Habiganj Police Station to probe the matter and submit a report by April 18.

SUNAMGANJ

Faruque Ahmed Sujon, organising secretary of the district BCL unit, lodged a defamation suit with the Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court against Mahfuz Anam, claiming Tk 100 crore in compensation. 

The gazette dated March 9, 2011, shows the amendment made to the CrPC by the Jatiya Sangsad scrapping the provision for issuing arrest warrants against journalists, writers and others for writing or saying anything defamatory and introducing the provision for summoning them instead. Image: scanned