A case was filed against Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams under the Digital Security Act (DSA) on Wednesday afternoon, around 10 hours after he was picked up by CID members from his Savar residence.
Auporbo Hasan, officer-in-charge of Tejgaon police station, said Golam Kibria, a resident of the capital’s Mirpur area, filed the case accusing the journalist of publishing a fake and fabricated news on the country’s Independence Day.
Besides, some unnamed individuals were made accused in the case, the OC said.
According to the case statement, the plaintiff read a news on the website of the Prothom Alo while he was browsing internet in front of Al Raji Hospital in Framgate area around 1:32am on Wednesday. The news was also shared on its Facebook page.
The report was published with a photo of a child holding flowers in hands in front of the National Mausoleum at Savar, said the case statement.
This report read that the boy’s name is Jakir Hossain, and that he said, “What will I do with the independence if I don’t have rice to eat? I sweat when I go to market, we need freedom of fish, meat and rice.”
The news reported by Shamsuzzaman went viral on social media which tarnished the image of the country and triggered criticism at home and abroad, said the case statement.
Though the boy was named as Jakir Hossain in the Prothom Alo report, private television channel Ekattor.tv in an investigation found that the boy’s actual name is Sabju Ahmed and he is a class three student, it said.
This Ekattor.tv report said that the boy did not say anything like “What will I do with the independence if I don’t have rice to eat?” and the reporter took his photo after giving him Tk 10.
The plaintiff said the Prothom Alo report was motivated which used fake name and quotes.
He said, like him, many others at home and abroad were aggrieved by report the it tarnished the image of the country.
Moreover, there was a possibility of deterioration in law-and-order situation in the country over the matter, the case statement said.
Earlier Shamsuzzaman Shams was picked up by CID members from his Savar residence around 4am on Wednesday.
CID arrested journo Shamsuzzan in a case: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday has said that members of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested vernacular daily Prothom Alo's reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams in a case.
The minister made the disclosure while responding to questions from journalists after an event at the ministry.
He added, “Police can take measures if anyone being aggrieved seeks justice and lodges case at police station. However, I am not fully clear about the matter but something happened centering the case.”
Terming the Prothom Alo's report as baseless, he said, "You journalists through Ekattor TV reported that the baseless news was prepared with ill motive. I will inform you of the details after knowing all.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Shamsuzzaman was picked up by CID members from his Savar residence.
Witnesses and family members said 16 Criminal Investigation Department (CID) members in plainclothes picked him up from his residence in Ambagan area adjacent to Jahangirnagar University around 4:30am.
