Nayeemul loses Amader Shomoy case

The High Court on Wednesday threw away a petition filed by Nayeemul Islam Khan regarding the publication of Bengali-language daily Amar Desh. Adds with Nayeemul's reaction

bdnews24.com
Published : 8 August 2012, 04:26 AM
Updated : 8 August 2012, 04:26 AM
Dhaka, Aug 8 (bdnews24.com)—The High Court on Wednesday threw away a petition filed by Nayeemul Islam Khan regarding the publication of Bengali-language daily Amader Shomoy.
It also lifted the bar on Syed Mohaimen Baksh Kallol from bringing out the daily as its publisher.
The three-strong bench of justices Mohammad Ashfaqul Islam, Naima Haider and Mustafa Zaman Islam in the verdict upheld a previous order by the district magistrate regarding the publication of the daily.
"There remains no more bar on publishing Amader Shomoy after this order. This verdict has taken effect with the order. So we can publish the daily tomorrow," Kallol told bdnews24.com.
Barristers Akhter Imam, Rashna Imam and Reshad Imam argued the case for Nayeemul at the hearing while Barrister Rafique-Ul Huq and Advocate Ahsanul Karim represented Kallol.
Additional Attorney General M K Rahman represented the district magistrate.
Following the verdict, Rahman told journalists, "The court has said that according to the Printing Presses and Publications (Declaration and Registration) Act 1973, S M Baksh Kallol publishing the paper is legal. Nayeemul Islam Khan's resignation has also been done properly."
"After today's order, Nayeemul Islam Khan is no longer involved with the publication, ownership, editing of Amader Shomoy," he added.
Kallol has been playing the role of the publisher in line with the Sep 28, 2011 order of Dhaka's District Magistrate (Deputy Commissioner).
The lower court's order was stayed by the High Court on Jan 16 after Nayeemul Islam Khan contested the decision It also asked why the order will not be declared a violation of the lower court's jurisdiction.
Following the order, the publication of the daily continued with Nayeemul as the publisher from Jan 17.
He also brought out two other dailies before the Amader Shomoy. After the transfer of ownership of the Amader Shomoy, Nayeemul continued as its editor. However, after the wrangles over the publication started, Mozammel Hossain has been acting as the editor.
Following the court order, Naimul's lawyer Barrister Akhter Iman told bdnews24.com that they would decide on appealing the High Court order after getting a copy of the verdict.
'Did not get justice'
Nayeemul told bdnews24.com that he was 'very disappointed' at the High Court verdict on the change of Amader Shomoy's publisher.
"I feel that we all have failed to present and understand the importance and depth of the problem. So I did not get justice."
He said the legal battle to 'establish rights' would continue. "I will soon make known to all my next move after consulting my lawyer."
He went on to point out that the bench of justices A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Jahangir Hossain had given a 'completely opposite verdict' a few days back on almost a similar matter.
"I am surprised at the nearly contradicting verdicts by the two High Court benches."
He continued that he was certain that he will be able to establish his rights through a long legal battle.
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