BANGLADESH: Law suit mulled to gag media

'Daily Star' and 'Prothom Alo' editors' latest defamation charge comes from Beximco's vice-chairman

The Daily Star
Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Vice-chairman of Beximco group of companies Salman F Rahman said yesterday he is going to file cases against The Daily Star and the Prothom Alo for running news reports against his companies.

Replying to questions at a press briefing in the city yesterday, Salman said he is in the process of suing the two newspapers. "Our lawyers are studying the issue. We will file cases not just to show-off. We will fight the case vigorously and win," he said.

In the past, both newspapers were repeatedly subjected to harassment in the name of litigation for carrying out journalistic responsibilities professionally and ethically.

Some of those who had earlier filed cases against The Daily Star and the Prothom Alo are BNP Secretary General Khondaker Delwar Hossain, Salauddin Qader Chowdhury, parliamentary affairs adviser to the then prime minister Khaleda Zia, former energy adviser Mahmudur Rahman, former housing and public works minister Mirza Abbas and former BNP lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu.

They had filed 16 defamation cases and civil cases against The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Motiur Rahman and several other senior journalists for news items concerning them on different dates.

On April 2 in 2006, Delwar filed a defamation case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka against Mahfuz Anam, Motiur Rahman and two others for news reports about him.

On February 6 in 2007, Mahmudur Rahman filed a defamation case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka against the editor and five senior journalists of The Daily Star for news items concerning him.

He also filed a damages suit on March 12 the same year against the same persons with the Fourth Joint District Judge's Court claiming Tk 25 crore as compensation for a report relating to him.

Moreover, former BNP lawmaker from Khagrachhari Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan filed 19 defamation cases in a day against the Prothom Alo editor and publisher, and its local correspondent.

On June 11 in 2003, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury filed a defamation case against Mahfuz Anam, Motiur Rahman and Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil for a report about him.

Mirza Abbas and Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu filed five defamation cases against Mahfuz Anam, Motiur Rahman and several other journalists for news items on different dates during the BNP-led alliance rule.

Besides, Khamba Ltd, a private firm, a Jamaat leader and a Jatiya Party leader filed separate defamation and civil suits for news reports on different dates.

Former additional attorney general Abdul Wadud Khondaker (late) filed a defamation case against Mahfuz Anam for a news item.

Date Posted: 7/21/2009