Mahmudur sues Hasina, 66 others over 2018 attack on him in Kushtia

Mahmudur Rahman, acting editor of Bangla daily Amar Desh, has sued 67 people, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other top Awami League leaders, over an attack on him in 2018 on a Kushutia court premise.

In the case filed with the Kushtia Model Police Station, Mahmudur named 47 accused and left 20 others unnamed. 

Kushtia Police Superintendent Md Mizanur Rahman said the matter will be investigated and legal action will be taken.

Apart from Hasina, the named accused include former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu, former IGP Javed Patwari, former superintendent of Kushtia Police Mehedi Hasan, former in-charge of Kushtia Model Police Station Nasir Uddin, and others.

'Not for revenge'

Speaking to reporters at Kushtia Press Club after the case filing, Mahmudur said, "My case will be successful only on the day Hasina is brought back to the country through Interpol and tried [for her crimes]."

"This case is not for any outrage or revenge. It has a larger purpose. That is, to prevent the return of another fascist regime like Sheikh Hasina's, and to protect the rights of the people, freedom of speech and the dignity of the courts in Bangladesh."

He also said even though Hasina has fled, her supporters are still trying to destabilise the country. "Everyone should keep an eye out so that the student-mass revolution does not fail."

Mahmudur was attacked in Kushtia in 2018 when he was coming out of a court after securing bail in a case filed over 'derogatory remarks' regarding Hasina and her niece Tulip Siddiq.  

Mahmudur was injured in the attack and was later taken to hospital.