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The case was presented in the Barisal Metropolitan Magistrates Court on Wednesday by a man named Kazi Nasir Uddin Babul, who identified himself as Dr. Presented as a ‘friend’ of Iqbal.
Judge Polly Afroz heard the plaintiff’s statement and put the matter in order on Thursday, said Rajiv Hasan, a bank clerk at the court.
Bdnews24.com editor-in-chief Tawfiq Imroz Khalidi, English-language news director Arun Debnath, news editor Zahidul Kabir and news editor Munirul Islam have been named as defendants in the petition.
Chairman of the Premier Group of Companies, former MP Bir Muktijoddha. Bdnews24.com, like all other media outlets, has reported on the activities of HBM Iqbal and his family members on several occasions over the last decade and a half, and their court orders. They have also been exempted from those cases.
In his guilty plea, Kazi Nasir Uddin Babul claimed that the 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015 and 2016 reports were “motivated”. Dr. Although Iqbal and his relatives were acquitted in those cases, the old reports from bdnews24.com on the proceedings of the case are still online. And in the country and abroad. Iqbal and his family are being “disgraced”.
Court bench clerk Rajib Hasan said: “The plaintiff said in his guilty plea that notices were sent to the defendants to two lawyers to remove the story. But they did not give a satisfactory answer. In this context, Dr. Nasir Uddin Babul, a friend and supporter of Iqbal, has filed a defamation lawsuit worth Tk 200 million. “
First notification
The first notification sent by Kazi Nasir Uddin Babul on behalf of defense attorney Atiqur Rahman Jewel from Barisal was received by bdnews24.com in late January.
There it says: “Last English 07 February 2010 on the online news portal bdnews24.com run by you. There have been multiple reports about HBM Iqbal, which is completely fake, fictitious, and fabricated.
“You, the recipients of the notifications, use electronic devices to share the fake news on different Facebook pages and in different newspapers. As a result, my client’s character has been degraded by seeing millions of people at home and abroad. What cannot be measured by hundreds of millions of rupees. “
For the news. Claiming that Iqbal had been “mentally and socially degraded,” the notice read: “This is a violation of our country’s Digital Security Law.
“I believe that he has been illegally influenced by my client’s opponents in the news coverage. For your kind information, I would like to inform you that my client can swear that there is no proper accusation of corruption against him.”
Dr. The report also stated that various reports published on bdnews24.com in 2008, 2008, 2015 and 2016 based on the court proceedings of an ACC case against Iqbal’s two sons, Moin Iqbal and Imran Iqbal and their daughter Nawreen Iqbal and his wife, Mamtaz Begum, were also ‘fake’.
It is mentioned in the ad that the news has been published in ‘various newspapers’, but the ad has complained again, to tarnish the image of HBM Iqbal and his family. “
The last part of the notice read: “Therefore, why should no legal action be taken against you. Within 15 days of receiving this notice, you will show me the reasons and unconditionally apologize to my client via bdnews24.com for being false and without foundation. “
“Otherwise, my client will be forced to take action against you under the Digital Security Act 2018.”
After receiving the notice, bdnews24.com published a report on February 2. According to the rules of journalism, the lawyer and the Dr. notice. HBM Iqbal was also spoken to at the time.
Attorney Jewel said at the time that the notifier, Kazi Nasir Uddin Babul, was an “established Barisal businessman, owner and publisher of Aajker Barta Patrika.”
When asked if all the major media outlets in the country had reported on the cases, Jewel said: “Maybe not.” Other places will do the same. I can’t tell if the others have happened now or not. “
In response to a question from bdnews24.com, former MP Iqbal said: “Our One-Eleven case turns 12 today. These have been overturned by the High Court, the Supreme Court, you are making it known to the Lower Court around the world. “
HBM Iqbal: lawyer issues notice to bdnews24.com
Dozens of notices
After the report was released, new notices from attorneys from different districts began to arrive. So far, more than three dozen notices from two dozen districts have reached bdnews24.com.
Although they are shipped under different names, the language, statement, and statement of all notices are the same. Added to the above statement is his objection to the report published on February 2.
The new notices say the report is “unfounded”; However, the report has been published on the basis of the notification sent by them and their statements.
An advisory sent from Faridpur also contains a threatening tone. It said: “The legal notice also warns that my client will be obliged to take the necessary legal action against you and your organization if any false and unsubstantiated news is reported.” You will notify us of any misrepresentation of your published news. Otherwise, you will be responsible for the adverse consequences. ”
After the attorney received the notification, bdnews24.com initiated the response process. First, the notification sent by Kazi Nasir Uddin Babul’s lawyer, Jewel de Barisal, was answered through the lawyer.
The second notice, sent by attorney Jewel, reached the bdnews24.com office on Wednesday, February 18.
Upon receiving a response from bdnews24.com, he said: “You have not intentionally deleted or deleted your published news. Which is very embarrassing and sad.
Therefore, within the next 03 (three) business days, Dr. will withdraw from the news portal. If you do not apologize to HBM Iqbal and his family, legal action will be taken against you. “
The notice warns about digital security laws and “disrespectful” measures if they don’t comply with your demands.
The second notice was received by bdnews24.com on the same day that Dr. presented a case in the Barisal court. Kazi Nasir Uddin Babul introduced himself as a friend of Iqbal.
‘Negotiate legally’
Editor-in-chief Tawfiq Imroz Khalidi attended a press conference on February 18 to inform influential people about the pressure to perform their professional roles.
There, he said, if there is an error in the report, bdnews24.com will admit it and if it is necessary to correct it, it will do so in accordance with the rules of journalism. But no news will be collected by giving in to pressure.
“The bdnews24.com does not have any of its own reports in these reports; The proceedings of the case and the court order have been objectively reflected there. So why would a news outlet remove these reports? “
“We have been told time and again that others have also deleted their reports on the matter. In various ways, pressure has been put on influential people, including people involved in the media. That being said, they have deleted, why Don’t we? After trying for a long time and not agreeing to withdraw the report, they have now resorted to a strange pressure tactic. “
Bdnews24.com also provided a list of news stories that were being pressured to be removed.
The point of notifications from lawyers sent to bdnews24.com is that since they have been acquitted by the court, the old report on those cases can no longer be kept.
Tawfiq Khalidi, who described his claim as ‘unreasonable’, said that “bdnews24.com is being accused of causing ‘intentional defamation’ by publishing the same news that all media outlets in Bangladesh have published about the case procedures and the order judicial”.
A written statement from bdnews24.com read: “Who is sending these notices? He is not the one to be offended, no one else. His purpose is to harass us; Intimidation, so we thought about removing the reports. And we should be afraid to post news about them in the future. “
Convinced not to give in to such pressure, the editor-in-chief of bdnews24.com said: “My question is, what argument should I make?” On the basis of what principle will I follow, what principle will I follow, what criteria will I follow, on what basis? Then we would all leave, there would be nothing.
“The file will have all this information. It will be for young colleagues, it will be for future research. When they report in the future, the background will be known. These things will remain. “
“If the bullies bring a case, bdnews24.com will fight legally,” he said. The judge knows it, the judge will see if it is an acceptable case or not ”.
Attempt to silence the media: statement by bdnews24.com
I won’t give in to pressure: bdnews24.com editor-in-chief
Condemns journalists’ organizations
Several journalists’ organizations across the country have already condemned and protested the pressure on bdnews24.com to remove the old report, calling it ‘immoral’.
The Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) has demanded “disciplinary measures” against the perpetrators.
The Dhaka Journalists Union-DUJ said: “Unethical pressure on the media, including bdnews24.com, is concerning.”
The Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ), the Bagerhat Press Club, the Chandpur Press Club, the Netrokona District Press Club, the Dinajpur Press Club, the Dinajpur Journalists Union, the Association of Rangpur photojournalists and the Sharsha Upazila Reporters Club said in a statement that such pressure interfered with media freedom.
Dhaka University Journalists Association (DUJA), Chittagong University Journalists Association (CUBASAS), Sylhet Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Press Club, Jahangirnagar University Press Club, Journalists Association of Jahangirnagar University (JABISAS), Stamcord University Journalists Forum, Begum Rokeya University Journalists Association (Berobisas). In a separate statement, the Noakhali University of Science and Technology Journalists Association (NOBIPRABISAS) and the Bangladesh Journalism Student Council (BJSC), an organization of university students studying journalism across the country, condemned the pressure. and they exhorted the government to take action against the influencers.
Read more
BFUJ demands punishment for those who press bdnews24.com
Dews concerned about ‘immoral’ pressure on bdnews24.com
Pressure to remove report interferes with media freedom: CUJ
BJSC protests ‘unethical’ pressure on bdnews24.com
Three university press clubs protest ‘unethical’ pressure on bdnews24.com
Pressure on bdnews24.com Threats to press freedom: Duja
‘Immoral’ pressure on bdnews24.com, journalists’ protest in Chandpur
Pressure to remove the Interference with Media Freedom report: Bagerhat Press Club
Pressure to remove reports Strategies to hinder independent journalism: CU Journalists Association
Rangpur condemns ‘immoral’ pressure on bdnews24.com
Pressure on bdnews24.com to remove report: Berobisas sentenced
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