In a significant development, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of the capital witnessed the filing of a defamation case against the editor of “Atheist Era” magazine, Md. Arman Hossain, and 19 others. The plaintiff, Md. Yasin Alam Bhuiyan, alleges that the magazine has long been disseminating conspiracy and slander against Islam, the laws of Bangladesh, and the government.
The case, registered under Section 295 of the Criminal Code, was assigned to Judge Mr. Ahmed Humayun Kabir in Court No. 16. The judge has directed the Superintendent of Police of the Police Bureau of Investigation to conduct an inquiry into the matter. The deadline for the investigation report is set for December 29, 2022.
The accused include prominent names such as Editor Arman Hossain, Tanveer Ahmed, Komol Chandra Das, Zeeshan Tanveer Mostafa, Muhaiminul Biswas Parvez, Zobair Hossain, Asif Islam, Jani Chandra Saha, Jony Joseph Costa, among others. Tensions surrounding the case have been palpable, with suppressed anger observed in some areas.
In an interview, the plaintiff, Mr. Md. Yasin Alam Bhuiyan, expressed strong indignation, stating, “They have not only expressed their opposition to Islam but have also launched an assault on the laws and constitution of the government of Bangladesh. Strict legal measures must be taken unless the safety of our leader and nation is to be jeopardized in the future.”
The plaintiff hinted at possible repercussions if justice is not served through legal channels, leaving the nature of these repercussions unspecified. Meanwhile, court sources reported a tight security system in place with a sizable crowd supporting the plaintiff, resonating with chants of “Naraye Takbir Allah Hu Akbar.”
Police sources declined to comment on the matter, and attempts to contact the defendants, including the Atheist Era magazine, went unanswered. The case, registered as CR – 234/2022, marks a contentious intersection of freedom of expression, religious sentiments, and legal consequences.
