After suing BNP's Rizvi for defamation, Hero Alom 'unwilling' to continue case

Social media personality Ashraful Hossen Alom, popularly known as Hero Alom, on Monday filed a Tk50 crore defamation case with the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court against BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi for making "defamatory" remarks about him.

Alom, however, later told the court that he has forgiven the BNP leader and does not want to continue with the case.

He did not file an application to the court to withdraw the case till this report was filed.

Alom told journalists, "I have informed the court that I am not willing to continue the case. I have asked the court to pardon the BNP leader. Rizvi is a senior person who is my father's age. To err is human. Therefore, I have forgiven him."

His lawyer Mansur Ali Ripon told media after the court appearance that the case was filed with the court of metropolitan magistrate Syful Islam, who asked the Detective Branch of police to investigate the allegation and submit its report to the court.

Alom alleged that both the Awami League and the BNP leaders have been making derogatory remarks against him in rallies, and public spaces.

"The main goal of my legal move was to ensure that no politicians will make defamatory remarks against me, and show respect to me," Alom told journalists.

Asked about the court's instruction to the Detective Branch for investigating the case, Alom said "I have made it clear that I would not continue with the case."

Alom on Sunday said he visited the Detective Branch office to lodge a complaint against the BNP leader but the Detective Branch chief advised him to file a case with the court.

He alleged that Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made defamatory remarks branding him "half-mental" and "uneducated" while addressing a BNP rally.

"A political leader like him cannot say that I am 'half-mental' and 'uneducated'. I have participated in elections thrice in Dhaka and Bogura. If I am mental, as he stated, the Election Commission would not allow me to contest the polls after scrutinising,' he added.

Reiterating that he does not work for any party, Alom said no person has the right to abuse any person and brand anyone as half-mental and illiterate.