Bangladesh court orders removal of online video, photos showing suicide of actor Riaz’s father-in-law

The High Court has ordered that a video and all photos showing the suicide of actor Riaz’s father-in-law, businessman Abu Mohsin Khan, be taken down from Facebook Live, social media and all other online platforms.

The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, or BTRC, has been given six hours to remove the video. A ban has also been imposed on sharing the video through electronic means.

The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Maniruzzaman gave the self-motivated orders on Thursday.

The court asked authorities - the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the BTRC -  to consider the directive as “most urgent”.

The BTRC has been instructed to submit a report on the matter by next Wednesday, Feb 9.

The court also issued a rule asking why a directive to take immediate steps to remove the photos and videos of the unfortunate incident will not be given.

The rule also asks why an instruction will not be issued ordering immediate steps to halt the broadcast and supply of all contents related to the incident on all electronic and social media.

The information ministry and secretary, telecommunications ministry and secretary, home ministry and secretary, BTRC and its chairman, BTCL and its chairman and Association of Television Channel Owners have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.

Mohsin committed suicide at his Dhanmondi residence around 9:45 pm Wednesday streaming it live on Facebook. Upon receiving calls from his horrified followers on 999, police later recovered his body from the fifth floor of House 25 in Road 7.

Senior Supreme Court Lawyer AKM Foyez brought the matter to the court’s attention on Thursday after it was picked up by the media.

Barrister Reza-e-Rakib argued for BTRC while Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas represented the state at the hearing.

After recovering the body, Dhanmondi Police OC Ikram Ali said a licensed pistol was found beside the body. Mohsin planned out the suicide and left a note before carrying out the act.

“He was afflicted by cancer and a businessman struggling with losses. Everything’s on the note,” the police officer said.

In the clip, Mohsin said, “It’s so tough living alone, only those who do can understand. I now have no emotion for the people of the world. I was cheated.”

He also mentioned that people owed him Tk 55 million and spoke about his grievances towards family members, asking his children to live together in harmony.

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