Chittagong MP MA Latif slapped with Tk 10bn defamation suit for ‘distorting’ Bangabandhu’s photo

Two defamation suits, one seeking Tk 10 billion in damages, have been filed against Chittagong MP M A Latif for alleged distortion of Bangabandhu’s photo.

Former Juba League leader Saifuddin Rabi filed the first suit seeking Tk 10 billion in damages under sections 500 and 501 of the Penal Code on Thursday.

Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Farid Alam ordered an investigation into the matter after taking cognisance of the case.

Later in the afternoon the second case was filed in the court of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Noor Alam Mohammad Nipu by Abdur Rahim Jillu, a former deputy secretary of the Chattra Legue’s central committee.

The plaintiff’s lawyer Salauddin Mansur Rimu told bdnews24.com that though the hearing on the suit, filed under section 500 of the penal code, was completed, the judge did not pronounce any judgement until evening.

The lawyer said the suit was filed because the MP by distorting Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's photo on the billboards demeaned the father of the nation.

Saifuddin Rabi’s advocate Ibrahim Hussain Chowdhury said the court after accepting the case filed by his client ordered police to investigate the matter.

The court also specified that the investigation should be done by an officer of the rank of deputy commissioner of the detective police, Chowdhury said.

Saifuddin Rabi also accused Latif of being a Jamaat infiltrator into the Awami League and demanded that he be immediately expelled from the party after striping of his parliament membership.

The former Juba League leader further demanded that the Chittagong MP should be immediately arrested and a case of treason should be initiated against him.

Alleged distortion Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s image on billboards installed in Chittagong by Latif during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent visit to the port city, drew widespread criticisms, particularly on the social media.

The billboards displayed a photo of the nation’s founding father, but the posture, attire, and shoes do not match those which marked him out in his lifetime.

Refuting the charges levelled against him, Latif recently told bdnews24.com that he would take action against those assigned to install the billboards after checking the matter.