Derogatory remarks about Tarique Rahman: Defamation case against content creator dismissed
Dhaka Cyber Tribunal has dismissed a case filed under the Cyber Security Act against content creator Shahin Mahmud (MH) for allegedly making derogatory remarks about BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Facebook.
The Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Judge Mohammad Saidur Rahman Gazi issued the order today (20 November), confirmed state prosecutor Md Rafiqul Islam.
He said the judge dismissed the case application because the allegations in the case do not fall under the provisions of the Cyber Security Act.
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Earlier, on 19 November, Nationalist Lawyers' Forum Deputy Secretary General Iltutmish Sawdagar filed the case application in the court. The court then recorded the plaintiff's statement and kept the order pending.
According to the complaint, Tarique Rahman stated during a virtual address to a party rally on 12 November that "in the current situation, getting a fair price for potatoes is much more important than a referendum."
Three days later, on 15 November, the accused allegedly posted a response from his verified Facebook account, writing: "If he had given the Tk88 crore to the farmers instead of buying a bulletproof car, they would have gotten a fair price for onions and potatoes."
The complaint alleges that the post was a deliberate attempt to undermine the honour, patriotism, and political credibility of Tarique Rahman by circulating false and baseless information. It further states that no such bulletproof car was purchased for Tk88 crore.
The plaintiff claims the accused intentionally defamed the political and social standing of Tarique Rahman, an act which, if proven, constitutes offences under Sections 23(2), 25(1), 27(1), and 27(2) of the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025.
