A Dhaka court today rejected a defamation case against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on the allegations of helping anti-sculpture narrative.
Hefazat-e Islam’s Ameer Junaid Babunagari, Joint Secretary Mamunul Haque and Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Sayed Faizul Karim's names were also included in this case.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Satyabrata Sikder passed the order on Thursday.
Earlier on December 9, Bangladesh Jononetri Parishad President AB Siddique filed the case with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Satyabrata Sikder.
Meanwhile, a tribunal in Dhaka earlier today refused to accept an application of a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) against Hifazat-e Islam Joint Secretary Mamunul Haque for the allegation of speaking against the setting up of sculptures of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On November 13, Islami Andolan Bangladesh Nayeb-e-Ameer Faizul Karim and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque opposed the setting up of the sculpture.
Earlier on December 7, a Dhaka court asked Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to submit a probe report by January 7 in two sedition cases filed against Hefazat-e Islam’s Ameer Junaid Babunagari, Joint Secretary Mamunul Haque and Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Sayed Faizul Karim.
Earlier in that day, two separate cases were filed with the same Dhaka court alleging “sedition” by speaking against the setting up of sculptures of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
One of those cases was filed against Junaid Babunagari, Mamunul Haque and Sayed Faizul Karim. Mamunul Haque was made the lone accused in the other one.
President of Muktijuddho Mancha Aminul Islam Bulbul filed the first case against three Islamist leaders while the second case was filed by Advocate Mashiur Malek, executive president of Bangabandhu Foundation.
Earlier on December 8, the High Court directed authorities concerned to take action against those who were involved in smashing an under-construction sculpture of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The court also ordered the authorities concerned to take steps to increase public awareness about sculptures.
Earlier on December 7, another High Court bench ordered the authorities concerned to take proper measures to ensure the security of all sculptures of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman across the country.
On December 5, miscreants smashed an under-construction sculpture of Bangabandhu at five roads’ intersection in Kushtia city. The face and hands of the sculpture were vandalised too.
The incident took place in Kushtia amid protests by various Islamist organizations across the country over the construction of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu's sculpture.
nh/teb
