A petition for anticipatory bail for Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman has been submitted to the High Court in a case filed under Digital Security Act. The case was filed with Dhaka’s Ramna Police Station on March 29. Defendant’s Counsel Prashanta Kumar Karmakar told UNB that they submitted the petition for anticipatory bail earlier this morning. At the time of filing this report around 11am, hearing regarding the petition is yet to start, he said. Read More: Prothom Alo journo offered a child Tk 10 and expressed his views in the minor’s name: Foreign Ministry On March 29, an FIR was filed by a lawyer named Abdul Malek (Mashiur Malek), accusing Matiur Rahman, Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams, an unnamed “assistant cameraman”, and unnamed others of “using print, online, and electronic media to tarnish the image and reputation of the state.” In the FIR, the lawyer also mentioned that the accused were “purposefully spreading misinformation to deteriorate the law and order situation of the country.” The case was filed under sections 25, 31 and 35 of the DSA. Read More: Prothom Alo journalist Shams denied bail, sent to jail The plaintiff said the news reported by Shamsuzzaman Shams went viral on social media which “tarnished the image of the country and triggered criticism at home and abroad.” Moreover, there was a possibility of deterioration in the law and order situation in the country over the matter, the case statement said. Later, Shamsuzzaman Shams, the paper’s Savar correspondent who wrote the report was sued in a separate case under the DSA on March 29, around 10 hours after being picked up from his house near Jahangirnagar University by members of the Criminal Investigation Department of police. Read More: Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman sued under DSA Multiple national and international bodies including Editors’ Council, Editors’ Guild of Bangladesh, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) and the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC) have published separate statements condemning the arrest of Shams.

Voicing deep concern over suing one after another against journalists, including Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, under the Digital Security Act (DSA), BNP on Thursday alleged that the government has been carrying out extreme repression by using the ‘black’ law to gag the media.   In a statement, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam demanded the immediate repeal of the Digital Security Act and the withdrawal of all cases filed against journalists. After picking up Prothom Alo reporter Samsuzzaman Shams by law enforcers early Wednesday, Fakhrul said a case was filed against the editor of the newspaper, Matiur Rahman, on Wednesday late night under the DSA. Besides, he said a Jubo League leader filed another case under the DSA against Daily Jugantor's Special Correspondent and ex-general secretary of Crime Reporters’ Association Mahbub Alam Lavllu in Chattogram. The BNP leader strongly protested and denounced the filing of the cases against the journalists under the DSA on ‘false’ charges. “Filing of cases one after the other against journalists, including Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, under the DSA a severe blow to the freedom of expression,” he observed. Read more: Prothom Alo journalist Shams denied bail, sent to jail Fakhrul alleged that the government has demonstrated that it wants to bury democracy forever by filing a case under the Digital Security Act against Matiur Rahman, one of the country's leading newspaper editors. By suing journalists under the DSA, he said the government wants to send out a message to the country’s people that the government's activities cannot be criticised and opinions cannot be expressed freely. “The Awami League government is continuing its terrible misrule in the country by indiscriminately repressing and suppressing the media, the fourth pillar of the state,” the BNP leader said.  He also said the case against Matiur Rahman was undoubtedly filed at the behest of the government. Fakhrul said the country’s people and the media have got panicked due to the killing and repression of journalists across the country.

A Dhaka court on Thursday (March 30, 2023) sent Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams to jail in a case filed under the Digital Security Act after rejecting his bail petition. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka Md Tofazzal Hossain turned down the bail petition. Earlier, Ramna Model Police Station Inspector Abu Ansar, also investigating officer of the case, requested the court for sending him to jail when Shams was produced before the court. Read More: CID arrested Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuzzan in a case: Home Minister Proshanto Kumar Karmakar, lawyer of Shamsuzzaman, appeared for the bail plea. On March 29, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) men in plainclothes picked up Shams from his residence in Ambagan area, adjacent to Jahangirnagar University, around 4:30 am. The same day, a Jubo League leader filed a case under the Digital Security Act against Shams, accusing him of publishing a "false and fabricated report" in the daily Prothom Alo. Read More: Prothom Alo journalist Shams taken to court

Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams was taken to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court today, in connection with a case filed against him under Digital Security Act. A team of police took him to the court today (March 30, 2023) around 10:10 am. Criminal Investigation Department (CID) men in plainclothes picked up Shams from his residence in Ambagan area, adjacent to Jahangirnagar University, around 4:30 am on Wednesday (March 29, 2023). The same day, a Jubo League leader filed a case under the Digital Security Act against Shams, accusing him of publishing a "false and fabricated report" in the daily Prothom Alo. Also read; Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman sued under DSA Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday said that members of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the Prothom Alo reporter in a case. Meanwhile, opposition party BNP has denounced Shams' arrest, saying it is a "dreadful incident". Rights body Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation also condemned the arrest of the Prothom Alo journalist. Besides, editor of the leading daily Prothom Alo, Matiur Rahman, has been sued alongside other staff members under the Digital Security Act. Prothom Alo reported the development at 3:19 am today on its website. Read More: Prothom Alo editor sued under DSA

A case was filed against Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams under the Digital Security Act (DSA) on Wednesday afternoon, around 10 hours after he was picked up by CID members from his Savar residence. Auporbo Hasan, officer-in-charge of Tejgaon police station, said Golam Kibria, a resident of the capital’s Mirpur area, filed the case accusing the journalist of publishing a fake and fabricated news on the country’s Independence Day. Besides, some unnamed individuals were made accused in the case, the OC said. According to the case statement, the plaintiff read a news on the website of the Prothom Alo while he was browsing internet in front of Al Raji Hospital in Framgate area around 1:32am on Wednesday. The news was also shared on its Facebook page. The report was published with a photo of a child holding flowers in hands in front of the National Mausoleum at Savar, said the case statement . The report said that the boy’s name is Jakir Hossain and he said, “What will I do with the independence if I don’t have rice to eat? I sweat when I go to market, we need freedom of fish, meat and rice.”   The news reported by Shamsuzzaman went viral on social media which tarnished the image of the country and triggered criticism at home and abroad, said the case statement.   Though the boy was named as Jakir Hossain in the Prothom Alo report, private television channel Ekattor.tv in an investigation found that the boy’s actual name is Sabju Ahmed and he is a class three student, it said. The Ekattor.tv report said that the boy did not say anything like “What will I do with the independence if I don’t have rice to eat? And the reporter took his photo after giving him Tk 10 The plaintiff said the Prothom Alo  report was motivated which used fake name and quotes.  Read more: Prothom Alo journalist ‘picked up by law enforcement agency’ He said like him many others at home and abroad were aggrieved by report the  it tarnished the image of the country. Moreover, there was a possibility of deterioration in law and order situation in the country over the matter, the case statement said. Earlier Shamsuzzaman Shams was picked up by CID members from his Savar residence around  4am on Wednesday. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at an event in the capital on Wednesday noon said the CID arrested him in a case but he could not mention in which case he was arrested.

Dhallywood actor Shakib Khan has filed another case against film producer Rahmat Ullah under the Digital Security Act. Judge AM Zulfiqar Hayat of the Cyber Tribunal in Dhaka on Monday, ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to submit a report on June 6 after taking Shakib’s statement. Shakib’s lawyer Khairul Hasan said Shakib Khan came to the court around 1:45 pm to file a case. Then he went to court to give a statement. On March 23, Shakib filed a case with the CMM court against Rahmat Ullah on charges of murder attempt and extortion. The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arfatul Rakib recorded his statement and summoned Rahmat Ullah to appear before the court on April 26. Read: I was blamed even though I did nothing wrong: Shakib Khan Later Shakib Khan then went to the Cyber Tribunal in Dhaka to file a case under the Digital Security Act. However, he could not file the case on that day as the time to file the case had passed. The judge asked him to come to court today. Earlier on March 19, Shakib went to the Detective Branch (DB) office of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and filed a written complaint against Rahmat Ullah who brought a rape allegation against him. On March 15, Rahmat Ullah filed a written complaint against the actor in the Bangladesh Film Artists Association, accusing him of sexual misconduct and raping an Australian woman, a co-producer of the film "Operation Agneepath".    

A Gazipur court on Monday granted bail to Rakib Sarkar, husband of actress Mahiya Mahi, in a case filed under Digital Security Act. Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Niaz Makhdum passed the order when his lawyer filed a petition seeking Rakib’s bail in the two cases. Actress Mahi was present at the court with her husband. Rakib Sarkar returned home from Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning. Later, he appeared before the Gazipur court on Monday and filed a petition seeking bail in the two cases. The bail will remain in force until the police submit a report in this regard before the court. Also Read: Actress Mahiya Mahi has been arrested on specific allegations: Home Minister The court also fixed April 24 for next hearing in the case filed under DSA. Earlier, on Saturday, a Gazipur court granted bail to actress Mahiya Mahi, hours after she was arrested from Dhaka airport in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA). Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, filed the case under the Digital Security Act against Mahi and her husband Rakib on Friday night on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook. Mahi was arrested from the airport after her arrival from Saudi Arabia but husband Rakib Sarker, also an accused in the case, did not return home with her. Later, a Gazipur court sent her to jail. Also Read: DSA case: Actress Mahiya Mahi gets bail Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, a businessman, filed another case with Bason Police Station against 28 people including the couple on charges of assault, vandalism and land grabbing. According to the case statement, Mahi, from her Facebook page, went live early Friday — making allegations against police. During the live session, she said Ismail Hossain and Mamun Sarkar, through their people, carried out an attack on a car showroom, Sony Raj Car Palace, owned by Mahi, on Dhaka-Tangail highway near Bhawal Badre Alam Government College. The actress and her husband also alleged that the Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner “supported the attackers” after taking bribes. She also said she feared getting arrested after returning to the country from Mecca. During the Facebook live, Mahiya’s husband Rakib alleged that police arrested security guards of the car showroom. Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, owner of Rod Binding Factory in Itahata area of Gazipur city and plaintiff of a case, in his complaint said he has been running a factory in the area for the past 10 years after purchasing land there. On Friday, some people on behalf of Rakib and Mahiya attacked and vandalized the factory, he said. They also beat up 5 people at the factory, leaving them injured, while trying to occupy the land, according to the complaint.    

Police today (March 18, 2023) arrested popular film actress Mahiya Mahi, from Dhaka Airport, in connection with a case filed under Digital Security Act. Mohammad Ibrahim, deputy commissioner of DB of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said a team of Gazipur police arrested Mahi from Dhaka Airport. Mohammad Ziaul Haque, additional superintendent (media) of Airport Armed Police, said Mahi arrived at the airport from Jeddah. “A team of Gazipur police arrested her around 12 pm.” Earlier, Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, filed a case under Digital Security Act against Mahiya Mahi and her husband Rakib Sarkar on Friday (March 17, 2023) night on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook. Also read: 2 cases filed against actress Mahiya Mahi, husband in Gazipur Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, a businessman, filed the other case with Bason Police Station against 28 people including the couple on charges of assaulting, vandalism and forcibly occupying land. Abu Torab Mohammad Shamsuddin, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said police filed the case against the couple for “tarnishing the image of police, including Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam”, after going live on Facebook. According to the case statement, Mahiya Mahi, from her Facebook page, went live early Friday — making allegations against police. During the live session, she said Ismail Hossain and Mamun Sarkar, through their people, carried out an attack on a showroom, Sony Raj Car Palace, on Dhaka-Tangail highway near Bhawal Badre Alam Government College. Read More: Actress Mahiya Mahi collects AL nomination form for Chapainawabganj-2 by-election The actress and her husband also alleged that the Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner “supported the attackers” after taking bribe. She also said she feared getting arrested after returning to the country from Makkah. During the Facebook live, Mahiya’s husband Rakib alleged that police arrested security guards of the car showroom. Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, owner of Rod Binding Factory in Itahata area of Gazipur city, in his complaint said, he has been running a factory in the area for the past ten years after purchasing land there. On Friday, some people on behalf of Rakib and Mahiya attacked and vandalized the factory, he said. They also beat up five people at the factory, leaving them injured, while trying to occupy the land, according to the complaint. Read More: Mahiya Mahi set for motherhood Contacted, Molla Nazrul, Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said, “Actress Mahiya brought allegations against police on Facebook and tried to draw sympathy through lies.”

Two cases have been filed against popular film actress Mahiya Mahi and her husband — on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook and alleged involvement in extortion and assaulting a businessman. Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, filed a case under Digital Security Act against Mahi and her husband Rakib Sarkar while Ismail Hossain, a businessman, filed the other case on Friday night with Bason Police Station against 28 people including the couple on charges of assaulting, vandalism and forcibly occupying land. Abu Torab Mohammad Shamsuddin, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said police filed the case against the couple for “tarnishing the image of police, including Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam”, after going live on Facebook. “Legal action will be taken against them after investigation,” he said. Also read: Actress Mahiya Mahi collects AL nomination form for Chapainawabganj-2 by-election According to the case statement, Mahiya Mahi, from her Facebook page, went live early Friday — making allegations against police. During the live session, she said Ismail Hossain and Mamun Sarkar, through their people, carried out an attack on a showroom, Sony Raj Car Palace, on Dhaka-Tangail highway near Bhawal Badre Alam Government College. The actress and her husband also alleged that the Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner “supported the attackers” after taking bribe. She also said she feared getting arrested after returning to the country from Makkah. During the Facebook live, Mahiya’s husband Rakib alleged that police arrested security guards of the car showroom. Read More: 6 by-elections: Mahi fails to get nod, as AL brings in alliance partners Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, owner of Rod Binding Factory in Itahata area of Gazipur city, in his complaint said, he has been running a factory in the area for the past ten years after purchasing land there. On Friday, some people on behalf of Rakib and Mahiya attacked and vandalized the factory, he said. They also beat up five people at the factory, leaving them injured, while trying to occupy the land, according to the complaint. Contacted, Molla Nazrul, Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said, “Actress Mahiya brought allegations against police on Facebook and tried to draw sympathy through lies.” Read More: Mahiya Mahi set for motherhood

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Advocate Anisul Huq on Monday reiterated that the Digital Security Act 2018 was not aimed at repressing freedom of speech or freedom of the press. The minister said those at an event styled ‘Shaping of third sector - Laws and Policies’ in the capital’s Hotel Sonargaon on Monday. United States Agency for International Development (USAID), International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and Counterpart International jointly organised the event on the occasion of the submission of some recommendations by civil society for the amendment of two acts in particular: The Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Ordinance-2016 and DSA-2018. The recommendations were put forward for discussion at today’s event. “There was the need for a law to recognise some crimes being committed through digitalisation and advanced computerisation,” the law minister said, adding that no one can say, and no one has ever said the DSA was unnecessary. He also noted that the Law Ministry is not the Line Ministry for the DSA, hence he wasn’t privy to how much stakeholder discussion or engagement took place during the drafting stage. “I don’t know what discussions were held with the stakeholders when the act was being drafted,” he said. Acknowledging the misuse of the DSA, the law minister said: “It is sad but true that I saw many misuses and abuses of the act after its enactment.” “Many file cases under the DSA from the tendency of implicating and landing someone in jail for a few days,” Huq said, touching on one of the ways of misuse. Going forward, the law minister said no case filed under the DSA would be accepted until a cell formed for verifying the allegations accepts its validity. He also said the process to introduce amendments to any act, to the law, must not rely on random demands, and must exhaust the options of delivering better results through changes in the rules. Only then should it proceed to an amendment. That process is now underway in the matter of DSA, he said.  “We will sit with you all to discuss the DSA, it will be better if we sit once before Ramadan,” Huq said. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam, Dhaka University’s Professor CR Abrar and lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua, among others, were present at the event.