Cyber Tribunal orders publishing newspaper notice summoning 2 including Bangladesh Pratidin ex-editor Naem Nizam

The Dhaka Cyber Tribunal has ordered that a notice be issued through newspapers directing former editor of Bangladesh Pratidin Naem Nizam and Editor-in-Chief of Bangla Insider Syed Borhan Kabir to appear before the court in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.

The order came today (28 August) following a hearing in the tribunal of Judge Nurul Alam. The court also fixed 21 October as the date for submission of a progress report on the newspaper notice.

Confirming the matter, court bench assistant Md Jewel Mia said of the three accused in the DSA case, Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Moynal Hossain Chowdhury appeared before the court today and secured bail. As the other two accused remain absconding, the court ordered newspaper notices to be published instructing them to appear.

Earlier on 27 June, the tribunal had issued arrest warrants against Nizam, Chowdhury, and Kabir.

On 15 February 2022, Barrister M Sarwar Hossain filed the case under DSA against seven people including Naem Nizam for "spreading falsehood intentionally".

According to the case details, on 7 September 2021, Bangladesh Pratidin published a news headlined "Nusrat's conspiracy case against the Bichchhu Shamshu Syndicate again," which also appeared on its online version.

The report claimed that Barrister M Sarwar was acting as Nusrat's lawyer and alleged that he was involved in the 21 August grenade attack. It further accused him of being a key figure in an anti-state propaganda network and allegations tied to Mosarat Jahan Munia murder case. 

However, in his complaint, Sarwar clarified that he is not Nusrat's lawyer and only participated in the hearing.

The case also cites another article titled "Who is Sarwar" published by Bangla Insider on 8 September that year, which he alleges was written with malicious intent.a