Khaleda, Hefajat Chief: Court dismisses defamation case

A Dhaka court yesterday dismissed a defamation case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh chief Junayed Babunagari and four others over speaking against Bangabandhu's sculpture.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Satyabrata Sikder dismissed the case as he did not find sufficient grounds for taking cognisance of it, court sources said.

In another development, a Dhaka tribunal refused to accept a case filed against Hefajat Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque under the Digital Security Act.

BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Hefajat leader Mamunul, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh Senior Nayeb-e-Amir Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim were also accused in the defamation case, filed by AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-Awami League platform, on Wednesday.

The metropolitan magistrate in his order yesterday said two more cases were earlier filed with the same court on the same charges.

According to the case statement, Mamunul, also the secretary general of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and Faizul made defamatory remarks on November 13, and Babunagari on November 27.

The complainant did not mention in the case statement any charges against Khaleda, Tarique and Fakhrul even though they were accused.

Khaleda has been staying at her Gulshan residence in the capital since March 25 when she was given conditional release from jail.

Speaking to The Daily Star on Wednesday, Fakhrul said filing of such a false and baseless case against the BNP leaders was proof that "Awami League had gone bankrupt".

"Our chairperson was in jail for two years. Our acting chief Tarique Rahman has been in London since 2008. How can they file such a case against them?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Judge Mohammad Ash Sams Joglul Hossain of Dhaka Cyber Tribunal yesterday refused to accept a case filed against Hefajat leader Mamunul under the Digital Security Act.

Bangabandhu Foundation founder Moshiur Malek had filed the case with the tribunal, Public Prosecutor Nazrul Islam Shamim told this newspaper.

While refusing to accept the case, the judge said police can file such cases over such offences under the DSA.

According to the complaint, Mamunul made "anti-state remarks" at a gathering at the BMA Auditorium in the capital's Topkhana Road area on November 13.

Speaking at a Facebook Live event on his verified page, Mamunul on Monday night termed Muktijuddho Moncho an "extremist organisation" and said he never made any disrespectful comment about Bangabandhu.

Earlier, Hefajat chief Babunagari, Mamunul and Faizul Karim were accused in two cases of sedition on December 7.

One of the cases was filed by Muktijuddho Moncho President Aminul Islam Bulbul with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Satyabrata Sikder.

Moshiur, founder of Bangabandhu Foundation, had filed the other case against Mamunul with the same court.

The court directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate the cases and submit two reports to it by January 7.