The High Court today (August 28, 2023) directed Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to remove all speeches and video content of BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman from social media platforms.
Justice Md. Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order.
However, the courtroom witnessed a chaotic scene as pro-BNP lawyers were loudly protesting the order.
At one point, Justice Md. Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Khairul Alam left the courtroom amid the cacophony. Pro-BNP lawyers were shouting “shame, shame” while the justices were leaving the courtroom.
As of 2 pm, the justices did not return to the courtroom.
Barrister Kaiser Kamal, Law Affairs Secretary of BNP, said that a no confidence appeal against the bench had been submitted to the Chief Justice.
The origin of this case traces back to 2015 when Nasreen Siddiqui Lina, a lawyer of the Supreme Court, filed a petition seeking a ban on Tarique Rahman’s videos on social media.
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On January 7, 2015, during the hearing of the writ petition, a bench headed by Justice Qazi Reza-ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Saifur Rahman issued an interim order alongside a ruling. The order inquired why instruction will not be given for prohibiting the publishing of Tariq Rahman's speeches.
Multiple government officials and media figures, including the Information Secretary, Home Secretary, Law Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Director General of BTV, Chairman of BTRC, Chief News Editor of Ekushey TV, Editor of Kaler Kontho, and Tarique Rahman himself were made respondents.
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After an interval of eight and a half years, Kamrul Islam, a lawyer representing the writ petition, sought a hearing on August 2.
On August 8, as the case was being heard, a confrontation erupted between pro-AL and pro-BNP lawyers.