Court rejects sedition complaint over Al Jazeera report

A Dhaka court on Tuesday did not accept a sedition complaint filed against four people on charges of conspiring against Bangladesh through an Al Jazeera report, “All the Prime Minister's Men”, on the ground that approval for it from the appropriate authorities as per law had not been taken.

Dhaka metropolitan Magistrate Shahidul Islam asked the complainant to withdraw the sedition complaint as it was filed without taking approval from the authorities concerned under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).   

Earlier, on February 17, Moshiur Malek, founder and president of Bangabandhu Foundation, filed the complaint with the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ashek Imam accusing four people.

The accused are Swedish-Bangladeshi journalist Tasneem Khalil, Hungary-based entrepreneur Zulkarnain Saer Khan, British journalist David Bergman and Director General (editing council) of Al Jazeera Television Dr Mostefa Souag.

Moshiur Malek, a lawyer by profession, in the complaint stated that the Al Jazeera report was fictitious and flawed and had tarnished the image of the Bangladesh government and the state at home and abroad, which was tantamount to sedition.

The complainant pleaded with the court to issue arrest warrants against the accused through Interpol.

‘Smear campaign’

The Al Jazeera report, which aired on February 1, levelled various allegations against Bangladesh Army chief General Aziz Ahmed and his brothers, which went viral on social media.

On Tuesday, General Aziz told reporters that the allegations were false, concocted and part of a conspiracy hatched by vested groups.

Earlier, the Bangladesh government rejected the desperate “smear campaign” instigated by extremists and their allies, working from London and elsewhere through the report.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen also hinted at taking legal steps against Al Jazeera for spreading misinformation through broadcasting its “false and fabricated” report against Bangladesh.