A businessman has filed a case against BNP’s Dhaka-14 constituency candidate Sanjida Islam Tuli, accusing her of insulting Islam and hurting religious sentiments.
Old Dhaka businessman and social worker Hossain Mohammad Anwar filed the case before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman on Wednesday.
The court recorded the complainant’s statement and directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate and submit a report. The complainant’s lawyer, Md Mahmudul Hasan, confirmed the development.
He said a petition had been filed under Section 295(A) of the Penal Code against Sanjida Islam Tuli for insulting Islam. “The court, being satisfied with our submission and the complainant’s statement, has ordered PBI to investigate,” he said.
He added that Article 41 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and that “marriage” is an important religious rite in Islam. According to him, the accused made derogatory remarks about Muslim marriage practices and thereby insulted Islam.
While a citizen may choose not to practise religion, no one has the right to insult a religion or hurt religious beliefs, it states.
The complaint further alleges that Sanjida Islam Tuli made insulting remarks about marriage in Islam, thereby demeaning the religion and hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims. This, the petitioner claims, constitutes a punishable offence under Section 295(A) of the Penal Code.
