A tribunal on Monday formally charged Baul Rita Dewan and two others with blasphemy for denouncing Allah in folk songs.
Bangladesh Cyber Tribunal Judge Mohammad Ash Sams Joglul Hossain passed the order and set November 27 to record testimonies of the witnesses in the case.
Two other accused are Shajahan and Iqbal.
On February 2 in 2020, Md Imrul Hasan, a member of Dhaka Lawyers’ Association, filed a case under Digital Security Act with the tribunal against Rita Dewan for hurting religious sentiments through folk songs by making derogatory comments on Allah.
On October 29 that year, an inspector of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), also the investigating officer in the case, submitted a charge sheet finding Rita and two others guilty.
According to the case statement, Rita made derogatory comments on Allah while attacking her opponent at a music programme at Dholartengor village in Kalihati upazila of Tangail that went viral on social media.
The plaintiff stated the singer has intentionally, consciously and loudly made those comments to hurt religious sentiments and destroy religious beliefs which had hurt the sentiments of the plaintiff and others.
