BNP serves legal notice to Jugantor editor over report linking party to Mitford murder

BNP Legal Affairs Secretary Barrister Kayser Kamal has issued a legal notice to Daily Jugantor Editor Abdul Hye Sikder for publishing a report that allegedly and falsely implicates the BNP in the murder of Lal Chand alias Sohag in front of Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital in Old Dhaka.

The notice demands a public apology within five days for publishing the report "deliberately."

Speaking to reporters on the Supreme Court premises today (13 July), Barrister Kayser Kamal said the brutal murder, which occurred last Wednesday (9 July), has been condemned by all, including BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who have called for swift justice.

"However, Jugantor published a report directly blaming BNP, despite initial police findings indicating the incident stemmed from a business dispute. The report's claim of extortion by BNP is entirely baseless," he said.

The BNP leader added that the party denounces such "politically motivated" and "irresponsible journalism."

"We have issued a legal notice to the editor. If he does not issue a public apology in the same section and format within five days, we will pursue legal action," he warned.

Kamal further claimed that certain political groups have been targeting the BNP since the July uprising. 

"Just as targeted killings occurred during Sheikh Hasina's rule, similar conspiracies are now being orchestrated against BNP," he alleged.

According to witnesses, at around 6pm on 9 July, a group of assailants attacked Sohag near Gate No-3 of the Mitford Hospital with stones and sharp weapons, killing him on the spot in front of bystanders.

CCTV camera footage of the attack, which has since gone viral, showed the assailants attacking the victim's dead body in a display of disturbing brutality.

Sohag's sister Manjuara Begum filed a case at Kotwali Police Station naming 19 individuals and many unidentified individuals.