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A defamation lawsuit seeking BDT 100 crore in compensation has been filed against Matiur Rahman, editor of the daily Prothom Alo, and two other journalists in Habiganj.
Syed Humayun Kabir, Executive Director of the local NGO People’s Assistant for Social Advancement (PASA), filed the case on Wednesday (May 6) at the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court.
Court Judge Mosha. Tanjina Tanin accepted the case and instructed the DB unit of Habiganj District Police to investigate.
The other two defendants in the case are Prothom Alo’s Senior Reporter Riyadhul Karim and Habiganj Correspondent Hafizur Rahman Niyon.
According to the lawsuit, leading up to the 13th national parliamentary election, the Election Commission, following investigations by local administration and intelligence agencies, approved PASA NGO to recruit 10,559 election observers. However, the report published in Prothom Alo on February 5, titled ‘One-Person Dependent ‘PASA’ Providing Ten Thousand Election Observers,’ allegedly presented misleading and defamatory information against the organization.
The plaintiff claims that the report created confusion among domestic and foreign donor agencies and relevant circles, damaging the organization’s reputation. Simultaneously, it is alleged that the suspension of observer recruitment activities by the Election Commission also caused financial loss.
The lawsuit further states that the published news and editorial portrayed the organization as ‘nominal,’ ‘without its own projects,’ and alleged that ‘it sells observer cards for money,’ which are claimed to be completely false and malicious. Additionally, it is alleged that the photograph of the organization’s head office was edited before publication.
The plaintiff alleged that due to these reports, the organization suffered defamation amounting to approximately BDT 100 crore, for which a legal notice had been sent to the concerned parties.
Having not received a satisfactory response, the plaintiff sought recourse in court. Several local individuals and representatives of various NGOs have been named as witnesses in the case.
Advocate Shahidul Islam, the plaintiff’s lawyer, confirmed the filing of the case, stating that the court accepted the lawsuit and assigned the DB Police to conduct the investigation.