A case has been filed against eight people, including a local leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), for allegedly disseminating defamatory statements about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Facebook.
The accused, Anwar Hossain, an organiser of NCP’s Shramik Shakti central committee, was detained from his home in Raipur’s Sonapur village on Saturday night and later produced before a court, which ordered him sent to jail, said Assistant Public Prosecutor Abdul Ahad Shakil Patwari.
The case was filed on Sunday at Raipur Police Station under the Cyber Security Act and the Penal Code.
According to the case statement, Anwar made obscene and defamatory remarks against the prime minister, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, and Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee on his Facebook ID. He also allegedly shared a photo placing his foot on a paper bearing the name of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.
When Jubo Dal leader Ruhul Amin Mizi, the plaintiff, confronted him over the posts, Anwar and the other accused attacked him and attempted to strangle him, the case alleges.
Mizi, general secretary of Sonapur Union Jubo Dal, confirmed filing the case. “When I asked about the defamatory posts, he and his associates attacked us,” he said.
Alamgir Hossain, senior member-secretary of NCP’s district committee, alleged that around 2,000 people attacked and vandalised Anwar’s home before handing him over to police.
“Political differences can exist, but the attack on him is shameful,” he said.
Raipur Police Station OC Shahin Mia said Anwar has been produced before the court in connection with the case. Eight people, including Anwar’s brother Emon Hossain, Rubel Hossain, and Dipu, have been named as accused. Four others remain unidentified.
