DU journalism professor charges colleague over Facebook post under ICT Act’s Section 57

A teacher of Dhaka University's mass communication and journalism department has charged one of his colleagues under Section 57 of the ICT Act over a Facebook post.

Professor Abul Mansur Ahmed started the case at Shahbagh Police Station against Associate Professor Fahmidul Haq on Wednesday, OC Abul Hasan told bdnews24.com on Thursday.

Ahmed alleged that Haq had tarnished his and the university's image by 'spreading lies and baseless information', according to the case dossier.

The plaintiff alleged Haq, through a post in a closed group on Facebook, blamed Mansur for the delay in publishing the result of sixth batch masters course of 2016 of the mass communication and journalism department.

Prof Ahmed further alleged that Haq's post also divulged some confidential official information which is illegal.

Reacting to the case against him, Haq told bdnews24.com, "It is sad that a mass communication and journalism department teacher has sued another teacher of the department, at a time when there is a demand for repeal of this law."

"I don't want to say anything else about this."

Offences under Section 57 include electronic posts containing information that defame an individual or the state, and cause deterioration of law or hurt religious belief.

They are punishable with jail term from seven to 14 years and maximum Tk 10 million in fines.

Human rights activists have been campaigning for its repeal, saying it offered a scope of misuse by law-enforcing agencies.

Journalists, too, have been demanding that the law be revoked after several newsmen were sued and some others arrested under this provision in recent times over news reports and Facebook posts.