Digital Security Act (DSA)
Court accepts charges against cartoonist Kishore, 6 others
A tribunal on Sunday accepted the charges against seven people, including cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) Act on charges of spreading rumours and carrying out anti-government activities.
Judge of the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Ash-Shams Jaglul Hussein accepted the chargesheet in the case.
Writer Mushtaq Ahmed’s name was dropped from the charge sheet as he died on February 25.
Read: DSA case: Charges pressed against cartoonist Kishore, 6 others
The three others accused who were exonerated from the charges are-- US-based journalist Shahed Alam, Germany-based blogger Asif Mohiuddin, and Philip Schuhmacher.
The tribunal also fixed September 30 for framing charges against them.
Besides, the tribunal also issued arrest warrant against Shamiul Islam Khan alias Zulkarnain Saer Khan, Netra News Editor Tasneem Khalil, Ashik Imran and Swapan Wahid.
On June 13, police submitted a supplementary charge sheet against seven people, including cartoonist Kishore.
Afsar Ahmed, Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit (CTTC) sub-inspector and also the investigative officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court.
The chargesheeted accused are---Shamiul Islam Khan alias Zulkarnain Saer Khan, cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, Dildar Bhuiya, former managing director of BLE securities Minhaj Mannan Emon, Netra News Editor Tasneem Khalil, Ashik Imran and Swapan Wahid.
Read:Court asks PBI to investigate case over cartoonist Kishore’s torture in custody
In February, police submitted a charge sheet against three of the accused, dropping the names of eight others.
Later, a Dhaka court ordered the DMP CTTC unit to further investigate all the 11 accused in the case.
On May 6 last year, RAB filed the case against the 11 people with Ramna police station on charges of spreading rumours and carrying out anti-government activities, under the DSA.
Govt takes tough stance against corruption : Quader
The government will take tough action against all those including ministers, MPs, businessmen and bureaucrats who are involved in corruption, said Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday.
He said this during a regular briefing at his official residence in the morning.
Read: Quader warns tough action against errant party members
Claiming that the Anti-Corruption Comisison (ACC) is working as an independent investigation agency, the Awami League leader said that many ruling party MPs have also been convicted, no one is being freed and many of the AL men are in jail on corruption charges too.
Obaidul Quader made it clear that any candidate involved in corruption and misdeeds will not get nomination from the Awami League in the next elections.
He said according to ACC many cases are not seeing progress due to lack of evidences and so BNP should provide clear information without making false allegations and throwing stones in the dark, said Quader.
He also said that it is a matter of mockery when BNP which made the country five-time world champion in corruption and the founded ‘Hawa Bhaban’ talks against graft.
Read: Govt. is strengthening democratic institutions, says Quader
He said action would be taken through proper investigation against those who siphoned off money or amassed wealth through corruption.
Referring to Sheikh Hasina's government as a media-friendly one, the Awami League general secretary said she is involved in the joys and sorrows of the journalist community.
He said the massive expansion of the media in recent years demonstrates the government's liberal mindset.
The Awami League general secretary said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stood by media workers as a friend and relative during the Corona period and stressed on the importance of implementing the 9th Wage Board for protecting their professional dignity and financial security.
Read: Quader slams BNP for anti-people conspiracy
The Minister said that steps have been taken to provide legal assistance for the safety and security of media personnel.
Obaidul Quader also assured that the Digital Security Act will not be misused against journalists in any way.
DSA case: Charges pressed against cartoonist Kishore, 6 others
Police on Sunday submitted a supplementary charge sheet against seven people, including cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore and Rastrachinta activist Didarul Islam Bhuiyan in a Digital Security Act (DSA) case filed on charges of spreading rumours and carrying out anti-government activities.
Read: Court asks PBI to investigate case over cartoonist Kishore’s torture in custody
Five other accused are Shamiul Islam Khan alias Zulkarnain Saer Khan, former managing director of BLE securities Minhaj Mannan Emon, Netra News Editor Tasneem Khalil, Ashik Imran and Wahidun Nabi.
Afchhar Ahmed, Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit (CTTC) sub-inspector and also the investigative officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court.
Sub Inspector Md Nizam Uddin, general recording officer of the Dhaka court, confirmed the matter to UNB.
Read: Cartoonist Kishore files complaint “over torture in custody”
However, Afchhar dropped the names of four others including US-based journalist Shahed Alam, Germany-based blogger Asif Mohiuddin, and some Philip Schuhmacher due to lack of enough evidence against them in the case. The name of writer Mushtaq Ahmed, the main accused in the case, has been dropped following his demise.
In February, police submitted a charge sheet against three of the accused, dropping the names of eight others.
Later, a Dhaka court ordered the DMP CTTC unit to further investigate all the 11 accused in the case.
Read: Cartoonist Kishore released from Kashimpur
On May 6 last year, RAB filed the case against the 11 people with Ramna police station on charges of spreading rumours and carrying out anti-government activities, under the DSA.