A court in Bangladesh has rejected an attempt to bring charges of sedition against the director general of Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN) and three others who contributed to an investigation into high-level corruption in the country.
Advocate Moshiur Malek had filed the sedition charges on February 17 after Al Jazeera’s investigation – All The Prime Minister’s Men – revealed how the head of the Bangladesh Army, General Aziz Ahmed, helped his brother Haris Ahmed to escape a prison sentence for a 1996 murder.
Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit tracked Haris Ahmed down to Hungary where he was living under the false identity of Mohammed Hasan and buying properties and businesses in Europe. The investigation published a range of documents that showed how the army chief abused his power to help his brother flee arrest.
Al Jazeera report: Court asks complainant to withdraw sedition case Star Digital Report Star Digital Report
A Dhaka court today asked the complainant to withdraw a sedition case filed against four people including Swedish-Bangladeshi journalist and Netra News Editor-in-Chief Tasneem Khalil and Hungary-based entrepreneur Zulkarnain Saer Khan alias Sami over Al Jazeera s report titled All the Prime Minister s Men .
The two other accused are British journalist David Bergman and acting Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network Mostefa Souag.
Metropolitan Magistrate Md Shahidul Islam passed the order as Advocate Moshiur Malek, founder and president of Bangabandhu Foundation and the complainant of the case, was not authorised by the government to file it, Atiqur Rahman, bench assistant of the court, confirmed to The Daily Star.
Al Jazeera’s Report: Court bins sedition case against 4
Says plaintiff not authorised to file such case Court Correspondent Court Correspondent
A Dhaka court yesterday asked the plaintiff to take back the sedition case filed against four people, including Swedish-Bangladeshi journalist and Netra News Editor-in-Chief Tasneem Khalil and Hungary-based entrepreneur Zulkarnain Saer Khan alias Sami, over the recent Al Jazeera report titled All the Prime Minister s Men.
The two other accused are: British journalist David Bergman and Mostefa Souag, acting director general of Al Jazeera Media Network.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Shahidul Islam passed the order as Moshiur Malek, founder and president of Bangabandhu Foundation, also the complainant of the case, was not empowered by the government to file the lawsuit, Atiqur Rahman, bench assistant of the court, told The Daily Star.
Court Correspondent, bdnews24.com
Published: 23 Feb 2021 10:55 PM BdST
Updated: 23 Feb 2021 10:55 PM BdST
A court in Dhaka has refused to take cognisance of a case against Doha-based broadcaster Al Jazeera because the petitioner did not take permission from the proper authorities before filing the plea. );
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After hearing the petition, Metropolitan Magistrate Shahidul Islam in the order on Tuesday said the petitioner did not follow Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure or CrPC for the case.
According to the CrPC section, no court shall take cognisance of any offence punishable under certain chapters of the Bangladesh Penal Code, such as those against the state, unless upon complaint made by order of, or under authority from, the government, or some officer empowered in this behalf by the government.
Bangladesh HC Directs Regulator to Remove Al Jazeera Documentary From Digital Platforms
The documentary, titled All the Prime Minister s Men , claimed that the Bangladesh Army chief General Aziz Ahmed had been aiding his brothers, who had been convicted of murder.
The high court was moved on February 8 seeking a ban on the documentary and removal of copies from all social media platforms. Photo: F2416/Wikimedia Commons CC BY SA 4.0. Photo: F2416/Wikimedia Commons CC BY SA 4.0
New Delhi: The Bangladesh high court on Wednesday directed the national telecom regulator to remove all online uploads of an Al Jazeera investigation which claimed that the Bangladesh Army chief General Aziz Ahmed had been aiding his brothers, who had been convicted of murder.