Court moved to lodge cyber security case against digital creator over 'defamation' of Tarique Rahman
State counsel Md Rafiqul Islam said the Tribunal is expected to announce a date regarding the order later in the day.
A case application has been filed under the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025, against digital creator Shaheen Mahmud (MH) for allegedly making derogatory remarks about BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman on Facebook.
The application was submitted by Iltutmish Sawdagar, assistant general secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Lawyers Forum, in the court of Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Judge Mohammad Saidur Rahman Gazi today (19 November).
Another individual has been named as an anonymous accused. The court recorded the plaintiff's testimony and kept its order pending.
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State counsel Md Rafiqul Islam said the Tribunal is expected to announce a date regarding the order later in the day.
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.
