Defamation Case

Arrest warrant against Amar Desh editor, two others

21 December 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Magura

The Chief Judicial Magistrate's court here yesterday issued warrant of arrest against the editor of the daily Amar Desh and two others following filing of a $10,000 crore defamation suit against them for publishing 'false report' about prime minister's energy adviser Towfiq Elahi and son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. The accused in the case are: Editor Mahmudur Rahman, publisher Hashmat Ali and reporter M Abdullah. General secretary of Magura district unit Awami Swechchhasebak League advocate Ashraf Hossain Liton filed the case with the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in the afternoon. In the case statement, the complainant said that the daily in its December 17 issue published a report titled 'allegation of taking $5 million bribe against energy adviser Towfiq Elahi and Joy'. Publication of the report has tarnished the image of the present government, the ruling party and Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the case statement said. Our Staff Correspondent in Chittagong reports: A case was filed with a court here yesterday against editor, publisher and concerned reporter of the Amar Desh for running a 'defamatory' story against Towfiq Elahi and Joy. The Court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Khan took the case into cognizance and issued summon against the accused. However, no compensation money was claimed in the case, said the sources concerned. Plaintiff Sheikh Shahid Hossain identified himself as a member of central committee of Jubo League and general secretary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Foundation. Shahid Hossain is a resident of Rahman Nagar of the city's Nasirabad area.