HC judge runs anti-Rajib campaign

A High Court judge on Monday distributed copies of a report among his colleagues that termed slain blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider ‘Murtad’ (apostate).

Suliman NiloySuliman Niloybdnews24.com
Published : 18 Feb 2013, 12:54 PM
Updated : 19 Feb 2013, 09:30 AM

Rajib, a leading activist of the Shahbagh movement, was killed by unidentified miscreants in the city's Pallabi last Friday.

A copy of the report is available with bdnews24.com.

On behalf of Justice Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, his assistant Siddiqur Rahman Hawlader distributed the report in the Supreme Court envelope in the offices of the judges.

In the report, the judge said: “His (Rajib) blog posts remind us of Murtad Salman Rushdie.”

Several sources confirmed bdnews24.com that the judges of the High Court held several meetings on the issue and also saw the Chief Justice in the afternoon.
The Chief Justice summoned the judge and warned him.
Hawlader told bdnews24.com: “My job is to obey orders. Sir asked me to send the letter to all the judges of the High Court. I went to the chambers of almost all judges and distributed the letter. I’m not aware of the content of the letter.”
Supreme Court Registrar AKM Shamsul Islam told bdnews24.com that he was also aware of the incident. He said that some newspapers spread propaganda against blogger Rajib Haider and some of the copies were distributed.”
“The news is genuine. The incident has sparked a lot of discussion.”
Judge Bhuiyan told bdnews24.com: “As a sitting Justice, I cannot talk to you. Since you’re a media person, you know it better what happens in the name of individuals in the country.
“So, instead of asking me, you should proceed getting the detail from the sources you got the information from.”
Bhuiyan took oath as an Additional Judge on July 29, 2002 during the last BNP-Jamaat alliance government. His job was regularised on July 29, 2004.
Born on Sep 7, 1950, Bhuiyan secured permission to practise law on July 7, 1984.