Mahfuz Anam sued in Khulna, Lakshmipur for graft stories against Hasina

Two defamation suits have been filed against Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam over graft stories carried by his newspaper against Sheikh Hasina on the basis of unsubstantiated DGFI information during the period of the 2007-8 caretaker regime.

The cases were lodged in Khulna and Lakshmipur on Tuesday.

Mushfiqur Rahman, General Secretary of Khulna district unit of pro-Awami League Bangladesh Chhatra League, lodged one of the cases with Khulna Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.

Magistrate Hakim Faruque took cognizance of the case and asked the Khulna Sadar police officer-in-charge to investigate the allegation and submit a report before it in a week, Rahman's lawyer said.

The complainant has sought Tk 10 million in compensation for defamation of Sheikh Hasina, now prime minister and symbolic head of the Chhatra League.

The court fixed Mar 3 for hearing in the case.

Chowdhury Mahmudunnabi Sohel, President of Lakshmipur district unit of Chhatra League, filed the other case with the district's Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate.

On hearing the complaint, Magistrate Farzana Akter kept it pending for an order, Sohel's lawyer said.

The complainant has sought Tk 500 million in damages for defaming Sheikh Hasina.

Anam admitted in a TV talk show on Feb 3 his ‘big mistake’ in running stories fed by DGFI, the intelligence wing of the armed forces. The stories accused Hasina of taking bribes.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son and ICT Advisor Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy sought the Daily Star editor's arrest and trial on grounds of ‘treason’. Several MPs too have demanded that he be tried and the Daily Star shut down for running such stories.