High Court acquits DSE Director Minhaz Mannan Emon in DSA case

The High Court has granted the appeal of Minhaz Mannan Emon, director of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), acquitting him of charges filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).

A High Court bench comprising Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice Md Jabid Hossain delivered the verdict yesterday (30 October), overturning the earlier order to frame charges against Emon.

Emon's counsel, Advocate Moyeen Ferozee, confirmed the development, saying that the verdict clears his client of all allegations stemming from the case filed in 2020.

According to court documents, the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal had on 27 February 2022, framed charges against seven individuals, including cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, Rashtrachinta member Didarul Islam Bhuiyan, and Minhaz Mannan Emon. The remaining accused were Sweden-based journalist Tasnim Khalil, Hungary-based Samiul Islam Khan (alias Sam or Zulkar Nine), Ashiq Imran, and Wahidun Nabi.

Following the tribunal's order, both Didarul Islam and Emon appealed against the decision. Their appeals were initially rejected, prompting Emon to move the High Court later that year.

3On 24 August 2022, the court accepted his appeal for hearing and temporarily stayed the proceedings against him.

After extensive hearings, the High Court today ruled in favor of Emon, thereby granting the appeal and acquitting him from the charges.

Deputy Attorney General Sultana Akhter Ruby represented the state in the proceedings.

The case was filed at Ramna Police Station on 5 May 2020, accusing several individuals of spreading "conspiratorial talks and rumours" against the state through social media during the regime of the then-government led by Sheikh Hasina. The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) submitted the charge sheet on 4 February 2021.