Journalist Probir acquitted in ICT Act case

A Dhaka special tribunal on Thursday acquitted journalist Probir Sikder in a case lodged under the Information and Communication Technology act.

Judge Ash Sams Joglul Hossain of the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal passed the judgement, saying the prosecution failed to prove the case against Probir.

The tribunal on March 22, 2021, had set April 1 to pronounce the judgement in the case as both the prosecution and defence concluded their closing arguments on that day.

The tribunal deferred the date of judgement twice for the nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus and finally set today for the verdict.

According to the case documents, Probir was accused of posting a derogatory status on Facebook on August 10, 2015, regarding then LGRD Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.

Faridpur district puja udjapan committee adviser Swalan Paul filed the case with district’s Kotwali Police Station the next day and police arrested Probir on that same night.

He however, was released on bail on August 19. Investigation officer and sub-inspector of Faridpur Kotwwali Police Station Md Monir Hossain on March 15, 2016, filed the charge-sheet and the tribunal on August 4, 2016, framed charges in the case.

The tribunal on different hearing dates, examined a total of 10 prosecution witnesses including the complainant of the case.