Case filed against Hasina, Palak in Ctg Cyber Tribunal

A case was filed yesterday with the Chittagong Cyber Tribunal against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her ICT state minister Junaid Ahmed Palak, information state minister Md Ali Arafat and 15 others.

The other accused are former bridges minister Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, former intelligence chief Haroon Or Rashid, former DMP joint commissioner Biplab Kumar, former prime minister's adviser Salman F Rahman, former social welfare minister Dipu Moni, and former army major Ziaul Haque Ahsan, as well as former port chairman Rear Admiral Md Sohail, Ctg Port Employees Council finance secretary Rezaul Karim Raju, its former general secretary Nayebul Islam Fatik and former social welfare secretary Firoz Ahmed Jabed.

Another 100 unidentified people have also been accused in the case. 

The case was filed by Nur Mohammad, an entrepreneur from Feni district, who claims that disruptions to internet and broadband services caused his business to suffer significant financial losses.

Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, the tribunal's public prosecutor, confirmed the filing of the case.

Plaintiff Nur Mohammad, a resident of Bhuna village in Feni's Safiabad, identifies himself in the case statement as the owner of two software-based businesses – Durant Supplier and Durant Bazar.  

In the statement, he says the recent internet disruptions have severely impacted his business operations, including product deliveries, financial transactions, employee salaries, and other expenses like car and showroom rentals. Noor claims his loss amounts to Tk10 crore.

Advocate Naushed Ali, lawyer representing Nur Mohammad, said, "The former prime minister, along with ministers and officials, has been accused of damaging public property and causing harm to the state's people."

He added that the court has accepted the case and ordered the Cyber Crime Unit of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) to investigate the matter.