A Rangpur court today (7 October) acquitted three journalists as the charges brought against them in a case filed against them under the Digital Security Act (DSA) were not proved in the court.
The acquitted journalists are: The Business Standard’s multimedia contributor and Dhaka Post’s Nilphamari correspondent Shariful Islam, Dainik Manobkantha’s Rangpur correspondent Mohiuddin Makhdumi, and Daily Desh Rupantor’s former Rangpur correspondent Mamun Rashid.
Cyber Tribunal Judge Abdul Majeed passed the order this noon, Defense lawyer Advocate Polash Kanti Nag told the media.
Polash said the journalists published news against Sohel Rana, chairman of Saddyapuskorini union parishad of Rangpur Sadar upazila, alleging irregularities in rice distribution under the vulnerable group feeding (VGD) programme on 24 May 2021.
On 14 June 2021, Mostafizar Rahman, father-in-law of Sohel Rana, filed a case in the Rangpur Cyber Tribunal under the Digital Security Act, 2018 as the plaintiff for defamation of his son-in-law due to the publication of the news.
On 5 November 2021, Kotwali Police Station Sub-inspector Shah Alam, the investigating officer of the case, filed the charge sheet in the court.
After examining five of the eight witnesses during the hearing of the case, the judge acquitted the three journalists in their presence in the courtroom today.
