A case on the ground of blasphemy has been filed in relation to the recent issue of a magazine called “Atheist Era”. The list of accused consists of 20 names including the Editor and other personnel of this magazine and the contributors/writers whose writing appeared on this issue.
Magistrate Ahmed Humayun Kabir, sitting at Court No. 06 of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrates’ Court, took cognizance of the case under Section 295 of the Bangladesh Penal Code 1860 on 20 November. The complainant in this case is a Md. Yasin Alam Bhuiyan. The case (CR-234/2022) has been sent to the Superintendent of Police of the Police Bureau of Investigation for investigation. The Investigation Report is due on 29 December this year.
Referring to the petiton of the case, the court sources said that the magazine did not only contain filthy articles insulting Islam but also criticized the elements of Islam existing in the legal system of Bangladesh. By doing so, in effect, it spread slanders against the government of Bangladesh, the judiciary and the lagal system. Extremely humiliating write-ups about the Holy Prophet Muhammad have also been published in the same magazine. Recognition of homosexuals/bisexuals, change or abolition of laws in this regard and Islamic fundamentalism were the subject matters of the write-ups in this magazine.
The accused of this case are, Md Arman Hossain (Editor), Tanvir Ahmed, Jishan Tanvir Mostofa, Zobayer Hossain, Md Jakir Hossain, Md Asaduzzaman Khan Rony, Johny Chandra Saha, Md Mohiuddin Masud, Imrul Kayes, Md Zahirul Islam, Johnny Joseph Costa, Asif Islam, Mohaiminul Biswas Parvez, Kamal Chandra Sarkar, K M Mahfuzur Rahman, Md Rasel Miah, Abu Bakar Siddik, Md Abdul Razzak, Mohammed Moin Uddin Chowdhury, and Md Al Amin Kaisar.
When contacted, the complainant Mr. Bhuiyan did not hold back his frustration and anger with the accused in the case. He said, “This magazine has been spreading conspiracies and slander against Islam for a long time, both online and offline, against the laws of Bangladesh, the laws that emphasize Islamic consciousness and values, and against the government of Bangladesh. We have filed this case lawfully. They are not only attacking the Islam but also the Government of Bangladesh and the law and constitution of our beloved Awami government. Especially, this atheists are plotting conspiracies against the existing law regarding atheists and homosexuals. As a supporter and activist of the Awami League I can tell that if these people are not brought under the law now our leader will be in great danger in future.”
