More defamation, sedition cases filed against Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam

At least 13 more defamation and sedition cases have been filed against Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam for publishing DGFI-fed unverified corruption stories against Sheikh Hasina during the 2007-8 caretaker regime.

The new lawsuits were filed in Sylhet, Lakshmipur, Sunamganj, Pabna, Nilphamari, Kurhigram, Chapainawabganj, Cox’s Bazar, Rajshahi, Panchagarh, Rangpur, Khagrhachharhi and Natore on Monday.
 
In a case filed on Sunday, a Dinajpur court has also summoned Anam to appear before it by Jun 14.
 
Anam is accused of trying to topple the democratic government system by helping the unconstitutional government in its attempt to banish Hasina, her arch-rival Khaleda Zia and other political leaders from politics.
 
The cases are being filed against him after he admitted in a TV talk-show on Feb 6 that he had run the reports with unsubstantiated input from the military’s spy agency, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence.
 
Following his statement, 18 sedition and libel cases had been filed against him until Sunday  in several districts.
 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy has demanded that Anam be tried for treason, a demand that has been echoed by several MPs in Parliament.
 
Sylhet
 
Three separate defamation cases started in Sylhet have sought Tk 3.5 billion in damages from the Daily Star editor.
 
District court’s Public Prosecutor Shamsul Islam said the court has ordered an additional executive magistrate to submit an investigation report within 15 days following a Tk 1.5 billion libel suit filed by Swecchasebak League leader Afsar Aziz.
 
Two district leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League, Abdul Basit Rumman and Rahat Tarafder, filed two more cases of Tk 1 billion each on Sunday.
 
Lakshmipur
 
Two separate defamation lawsuits in Lakshmipur have sought Tk 1.5 billion in damages.
 
Local Awami League leader Nurul Amin Raju filed a Tk 1 billion libel suit against Mahfuz Anam with the Senior Judicial Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
 
Last Tuesday, district BCL leader Chowdhury Mahmudunnabi Sohel lodged the other case seeking Tk 500 million in damages for defaming Hasina.
 
Sunamganj
 
Awami League leader Syed Abul Kashem on Monday filed a Tk 1 billion defamation suit against Anam with the local magistrate’s court.
 
The plaintiff’s lawyer Shafiqul Alam said, “The court has accepted the case, but has not given any orders yet.”
 
Pabna
 
The district’s Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court-1 accepted a libel suit filed by Awami League leader Rezaul Karim Laal on Monday.
 
The plaintiff said he has filed the case for publication of unsubstantiated news against “my leader” (Hasina).
 
Nilphamari
 
Awami League leader Abdul Hamid has filed a Tk 20 million defamation case with the district’s Senior Judicial Court.
 
Judge Samiul Islam has ordered local police to investigate and submit a report by Apr 4.
 
Kurhigram
 
District Awami Juba League leader Ruhul Amin Dulal has launched a case against the journalist for treason and defamation.
 
The court has accepted it and ordered police to take legal steps within 15 days.
 
Chapainawabganj
 
Judicial Magistrate Nur Nabi has taken into cognisance AL leader Ezabul Haque Buli’s defamation case and summoned Mahfuz Anam to appear in court on Apr 28.
 
Cox’s Bazar
 
Former Mayor of Maheshkhali and AL leader Sarwar Azam filed a Tk 1 billion defamation case against Anam on Monday.
 
The court has ordered police to take legal steps after investigation.
 
Rajshahi
 
Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court’s Public Prosecutor Abdus Salam filed a case over different charges including sedition on Monday.
 
The Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court took cognisance of the case but did not give any order.
 
Panchagarh
 
Local AL leader Nazrul Islam has sued Mahfuz Anam in Additional Senior Judicial Magistrate Tariqul Islam’s court.
 
Islam said the court ordered police to take legal steps after investigation.
 
Rangpur
 
Local AL leader Motahar Hossain Mandal Mawla filed a Tk 1 billion defamation case with the Senior Judicial Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
 
According to the state counsel, the court has summoned the accused for appearance on Mar 1.
 
Khagrhachharhi
 
District BCL leader Tiko Chakma has filed a defamation suit seeking Tk 100 million in damages with the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court.
 
The court has asked Anam to appear before it on Mar 16.
 
Natore
 
AL leader Advocate Alek Sheikh has filed a Tk 500 million defamation case with a district court which has ordered Anam to appear before it by Mar 30.