2 journos sued under DSA land in jail

Two journalists landed in jail  in Sunamganj and Cox's Bazar yesterday, hours after they were picked up from their homes in connection with two cases filed under the Digital Security Act.

The arrestees are Mohammad Mahtab Uddin Talukder, 40, Sunamganj correspondent of SATV and also the editor-publisher of Daily Haorancholer Katha; and Mohammad Shahidullah, 52, a special correspondent of national daily Bangla Patrika.

Police picked up Mahtab from his home in Balakapara area of Sunamganj around 2:00am, said Delowar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Dharmapasha Police Station.

He was sued over posting a Facebook status on lawmaker Mouazzam Hossain Ratan from Sunamganj-1.

The case was filed on Monday night with Dharmapasha Police Station by Benuar Hossain Khan Pathan of Uttarbir village in the district's Dharmapasha upazila. Benuar is the general secretary of Shelbarash union Awami League in the upazila.

Citing the case statement, the OC said the accused in a Facebook status at 9:45pm on Monday said the lawmaker was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission, but the information was false and defamatory.

Ashek Suja Mamun, inspector (prosecution) of Sunamganj police, said a local court sent the journalist to jail after he was produced before it yesterday afternoon.

In Cox's Bazar, police arrested Shahidullah over making "derogatory remarks" against another journalist.

Shahidullah was picked up from his home in South Rumaliarchara area of Cox's Bazar around 3:00pm yesterday, said Shajahan Kabir, OC of Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station.

The case was filed by Ahmed Sumon, Cox's Bazar correspondent of SATV, on Sunday night.

Quoting the case statement, the OC said the accused disseminated "objectionable and false information" regarding Sumon through Facebook on May 1. It damaged the plaintiff's reputation.

Later in the day, a local court sent Shahidullah to jail after he was produced before it, the OC added.

Our correspondents from Sylhet and Cox's Bazar contributed to this report.