A Dhaka court on Tuesday relieved former Superintendent of Police Babul Akhter and his father Abdul Wadud Mia of the charges in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for spreading false information over the murder of Babul’s wife Mahmuda Khanam Mitu. Dhaka Metropolitan Cyber Tribunal Judge AM Zulficker Hayat exempted them from the case filed by Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Chief Banaj Kumar Majumdar. The court also accepted the chargesheet against journalist Elias Hossain and Habibur Rahman, brother of Babul, in the case. It also issued an arrest warrant against Elias as he remained absconding for long. The court fixed August 31 about the two accused. On April 9, Rabiul Islam, inspector of Dhanmondi Police Station and also the investigating officer of the case submitted chargesheet against four people including former SP Babul in the case. On May 11, the case was transferred to the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal. On June 5, 2016, Mitu was stabbed and shot dead when she was walking her son to his school bus stop at the port city's GEC intersection. Mitu Murder: HC dismisses writ challenging charge framing against ex-SP Babul According to the case statement, Elias in association with Babul Aktar leaked an audio on his Facebook page and Youtube channel from the US about Babul’s wife Mitu murder. In the video, he alleged that Police Bureau of Investigation Chief (PBI) chief had intentionally implicated Babul in the case and the latter was tortured in custody. Chargesheets submitted against ex-SP Babul, Youtuber Elias in DSA case On September 27 in 2022, Banaj Kumar Majumdar filed the case bringing the allegations under the DSA and the Special Power Act at Dhanmondi police station. Mitu murder case: Trial begins against Babul Akter, 6 others Later, Babul was shown arrested in the case on November 10 in the same year.  

A Dhaka court on Sunday granted bail to Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) with Tejgaon Police Station. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Sheikh Sadi passed the order when Shamsuzzaman surrendered before the court and sought a bail in the case. Advocates Ehsanul Haque Samaji and Prashanto Karmakar stood for the petitioner. On March 29, members of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in plainclothes picked up Shams from his residence in Ambagan area, adjacent to Jahangirnagar University, around 4:30 am. The same day, a Jubo League leader filed a case under the Digital Security Act against Shams, accusing him of publishing a "false and fabricated report" on the Prothom Alo website. Also read: Prothom Alo reporter Shams granted bail in DSA case On March 29, layer Abdul Malek (Mashiur Malek), filed another case with Ramna police station accusing Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams, an unnamed “assistant cameraman”, and unnamed others of “using print, online, and electronic media to tarnish the image and reputation of the state.” In the FIR, the lawyer also mentioned that the accused were “purposefully spreading misinformation to deteriorate the law and order situation of the country.” The High Court on April 02 granted six weeks anticipatory bail to Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman in a case filed under the Digital Security Act. On April 3, a Dhaka court granted bail to Shams in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) with Ramna police station. He was later freed on bail.  

A Dhaka court on Monday (April 03, 2023) granted bail to Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA). Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur granted the bail on a bond of Tk 20,000. A Dhaka court on Thursday sent him to jail rejecting his bail petition. Another petition was filed on Monday seeking bail. Later, the journalist was shifted to Kashimpur Central Jail from Keraniganj on March 31. Meanwhile, he was taken back to Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj from Kashimpur Central Jail on April 1. Also read: Journalist Shamsuzzaman taken back to Dhaka Central Jail On March 29, members of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in plainclothes picked up Shams from his residence in Ambagan area, adjacent to Jahangirnagar University, around 4:30 am. The same day, a Jubo League leader filed a case under the Digital Security Act against Shams, accusing him of publishing a "false and fabricated report" on the Prothom Alo website. On March 29, an FIR was filed by a lawyer named Abdul Malek (Mashiur Malek), accusing Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams, an unnamed “assistant cameraman”, and unnamed others of “using print, online, and electronic media to tarnish the image and reputation of the state.” In the FIR, the lawyer also mentioned that the accused were “purposefully spreading misinformation to deteriorate the law and order situation of the country.” Read More: Prothom Alo Editor seeks anticipatory bail in DSA case, hearing yet to begin The High Court on Sunday (April 02, 2023) granted six weeks anticipatory bail to Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.

The High Court on Sunday granted six weeks anticipatory bail to Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman in a case filed under the Digital Security Act. The HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Aminul Islam passed the order. Senior Advocate Fida M Kamal stood for Matiur Rahman while additional attorney general Mehedi Hasan and deputy attorney general Sujit Chatarjee Bappi represented the state. Earlier in the day, a petition was submitted before the court seeking anticipatory bail for Matiur Rahman. The case was filed with Dhaka’s Ramna Police Station on March 29. On March 29, an FIR was filed by a lawyer named Abdul Malek (Mashiur Malek), accusing Matiur Rahman, Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams, an unnamed “assistant cameraman”, and unnamed others of “using print, online, and electronic media to tarnish the image and reputation of the state.” Also read: Prothom Alo Editor seeks anticipatory bail in DSA case, hearing yet to begin In the FIR, the lawyer also mentioned that the accused were “purposefully spreading misinformation to deteriorate the law and order situation of the country.” The case was filed under sections 25, 31 and 35 of the DSA. The plaintiff said the news reported by Shamsuzzaman Shams went viral on social media which “tarnished the image of the country and triggered criticism at home and abroad.” Moreover, there was a possibility of deterioration in the law and order situation in the country over the matter, the case statement said. Later, Shamsuzzaman Shams, the paper’s Savar correspondent, who wrote the report was sued in a separate case under the DSA on March 29, around 10 hours after being picked up from his house near Jahangirnagar University by members of the Criminal Investigation Department of police.

A Gazipur court on Saturday sent actress Mahiya Mahi to jail, hours after she was arrested from Dhaka airport in connection with a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA). Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Iqbal Hossain passed the order when police produced her before the court seeking a seven-day remand prayer in the case. The court also rejected the remand petition. Mahi was arrested from the airport after her arrival from Saudi Arabia but husband Rakib Sarker, also an accused in the case, did not return home with her. Briefing reporters, Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam said, “A case was filed against Mahi and her husband under the DSA Act on Friday night for ‘tarnishing the image of Police Commissioner and Police Department’. Police arrested her from Dhaka airport soon after she arrived at the airport from Saudi Arabia this noon.” Also read: Actress Mahiya Mahi arrested from Dhaka Airport after landing from Saudi Arabia Mohammad Ibrahim, deputy commissioner of DB of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said a team of Gazipur police arrested Mahi and took her to Bason Police Station. Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, filed a case under Digital Security Act against Mahi and her husband Rakib on Friday night on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook. Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, a businessman, filed another case with Bason Police Station against 28 people including the couple on charges of assault, vandalism and land grabbing. Abu Torab Mohammad Shamsuddin, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said police filed the case against the couple for “tarnishing the image of police, including Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam,” after going live on Facebook. According to the case statement, Mahi, from her Facebook page, went live early Friday — making allegations against police. During the live session, she said Ismail Hossain and Mamun Sarkar, through their people, carried out an attack on a car showroom, Sony Raj Car Palace, owned by Mahi, on Dhaka-Tangail highway near Bhawal Badre Alam Government College. The actress and her husband also alleged that the Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner “supported the attackers” after taking bribe. She also said she feared getting arrested after returning to the country from Mecca. During the Facebook live, Mahiya’s husband Rakib alleged that police arrested security guards of the car showroom. Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, owner of Rod Binding Factory in Itahata area of Gazipur city and plaintiff of a case, in his complaint said, he has been running a factory in the area for the past 10 years after purchasing land there. On Friday, some people on behalf of Rakib and Mahiya attacked and vandalized the factory, he said. They also beat up 5 people at the factory, leaving them injured, while trying to occupy the land, according to the complaint. Contacted, Molla Nazrul, Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said, “Actress Mahiya brought allegations against police on Facebook and tried to draw sympathy through lies.” So far, police arrested nine people in connection with the case filed by businessperson Ismail. Mahi and her husband were the principal accused (hukumer ashami) in the case, said commissioner Nazrul.  

Strongly denouncing the arrest of a Mohila Dal leader in Rajbari for a Facebook post against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BNP on Thursday said the Awami League government has turned into a “terrible autocrat”. “A woman who has two minor kids was arrested in Rajbari. Her crime was that she gave a status on the social media against Sheikh Hasina. Are you (PM) a God that nothing can be said against you?” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Addressing a rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he said everyone has the right to criticise anybody in a democratic country and Mohila Dal leader Sonia Aktar Smriti just exercised her democratic rights.   The BNP leader said the level of repression of the government has reached such a level that Smriti was arrested at night under the Digital Security Act. "This government has become such a horrible dictator that the police are collecting our names by going to our houses. It has also turned the country into an authoritarian and fascist state.  So, this regime can’t be given any more time as it has become a burden on the nation,” he observed. Read: BNP’ to present caretaker govt formula in line with 13th amendment: Fakhrul Rajbari Police arrested Smriti in the early hours of Wednesday in a case filed under Digital Security Act (DSA) for allegedly making insulting comments about the prime minister on Facebook recently.  As part of the party’s countrywide programmes, BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally in protest against the killings of Noor-e-Alam and Abdur Rahim in Bhola, Shaon Prodhan in Narayanganj, Shahidul Islam Shaon in Munshiganj and Abdul Alim in Jashore in the current movement against the price hike of fuel and daily essentials. Hundreds of leaders and activists joined the rally that was brought out from Nayapaltan before ending  in the same area after parading Kakrail and Arambagh crossing. Commuters in the surrounding areas faced gridlocks for several hours due to the rally. Fakhrul said the people of the country, including the youth, are waking up every day with a vow to oust the ‘despotic’ regime.  “People’s participation in our processions and rallies is gradually increasing. We’ve given a lot of blood, we will give more blood, if necessary, to ensure the fall of this regime.” Read: BNP determined to build non-communal Bangladesh: Fakhrul He alleged that the government has been making various efforts so that the people of Bangladesh cannot know the correct information about its corruption and irregularities. He said the government has issued a circular asking 29 organisations not to give any information to the media or anybody else only to prevent news on corruption, theft and plundering. "They want to deprive the nation of the right news."  Earlier on Monday, the ICT Division declared 29 organisations as ‘critical information infrastructure’ under the Digital Security Act for the safety of sensitive data under which any illegal access to computers, digital devices or networks is a punishable offence.

A student of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) was sued in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for his alleged anti-state posts through Telegram App. The varsity’s Security Officer Md Sadek Hossain Promanik filed the case accusing two people including the student at Khanjahan Ali Police Station on Monday.  Earlier, fellows of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student body of the ruling Awami League, of the university beat the student up over the issue. The accused in the case are identified as Jahidul Rahman, a second year student of Computer Science Engineering (CSE) department of the university and Rezwan Shyam, 21, a resident of Munishirhat village under Borhanuddin upazila in Bhola district. Jahidul also hails from Tazumuddin upazila of the same district. The accused Jahidul has been shown arrested while undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH). Jahidul’s family members claimed that the BCL men beat him up mercilessly tagging him an activist of a student organization for three hours from 11pm to 2am on Sunday night after calling him up to the guest room of MA Rashid Hall. Later, critically injured Jahidul was rushed to the KMCH by an ambulance, they said. The victim’s elder brother Nayeem said his younger brother has no involvement with any student body and has been deliberately sued in a false case. KUET unit BCL General Secretary Sadman Nahiyan Sejan could not be reached over the mobile phone despite repeated attempts. Hall Provost Md Hamidul Islam told UNB that some students have noticed his anti-state activities for the past a few days. Read: Police again arrest Jumon Das in DSA case “The student made some objectionable remarks about the recent wrapped up visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India and he has no faith in democracy, rather a fellow of Khelafat,” he said. Asked whether the student was beaten up by the BCL men, the provost said it would be tough for him to make a comment in this regard. Khanjahan Ali Police Station’s Officer-in-charge Md Kamal Hossain Khan said allegations of creating instability or hampering law and order situation on the campus by making controversial remarks using digital means was brought against him in the DSA case. KUET Security Officer Sadek didn’t pick up his mobile phone despite several phone calls.

Police have arrested a youth on allegations of hurting religious sentiments under the Digital Security Act (DSA) in Moulvibazar on Friday evening. The youth has been identified as Pritom Das, an activist of an organization called Rashtra Sanskar Andolon. According to police, Pritom shared a quote of Pakistani writer Sadat Hasan Manto on Facebook on July 7. His post created unrest as screenshots of the post became widespread.   Read: Police again arrest Jumon Das in DSA case On August 29, a local Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader shared the screenshot of Pritom’s post and asked the authorities to take action against him. On August 31, locals brought out a procession demanding the arrest of Pritom, after which he went into hiding. Last week, Mahbub Alam Bhuiyan, a Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activist, filed a case against Pritom, based on which police made the arrest, said Humayun Kabir, Inspector (Investigation) of Srimangal Police Station.

Police have once again arrested Jhumon Das in a new case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for inciting violence through sharing a Facebook post. Officer In-charge (OC) of Sunamganj’s Shalla Police Station Aminul Islam confirmed the matter, saying that Jhumon was taken into custody on Tuesday morning. “After questioning for 12 hours, Jhumon was shown arrested in a case filed by Sub-Inspector (SI) Sumonur Rahman,” said the OC. According to the arrestee’s brother Nupur Das, Jhumon had shared a photo on Facebook showing a donation box of a local mosque inside a temple, which created unrest in the area. “Police detained my brother on Tuesday morning. Prior to the detention, police followed him for two days. Police have also seized Jhumon’s mobile phone and deleted some posts. When Jhumon’s wife went to the police station in the evening, she was told that Jhumon will be freed after questioning. Instead of doing that, police showed my brother arrested at midnight,” said Nupur. Read: Jhumon Das walks out of jail after six months Jhumon came to light on March 16, 2021, when he posted a status on Facebook accusing Mamunul Haque, joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam, of damaging communal harmony. Mamunul’s followers started to spread the post as an attack on Islam, which resulted into hundreds of people attacking Jhumon’s house in Noagaon village. To prevent the situation from getting worse, locals sent Jhumon to police custody.   Later, Jhumon was arrested in a case filed on March 22, 2021. After cancelling Jhumon’s bail plea five times, the High Court finally granted him bail on conditions after six months of his arrest.

A Rangamati court on Wednesday granted bail to journalist Fazle Elahi in a case filed under the  Digital Security Act. Rangamati Senior Judicial Magistrate Fatema Begum Mukta granted the bail and asked Elahi, editor of Dainik Parbatya Chattogram and Pahar 24.com, to appear before the Chattogram Cyber Tribunal within seven days. Also read:Comment on ‘nomination trade’: Janipop chairman, 2 others sued under DSA Earlier in the day, Elahi’s counsel Advocate Biplab Chakma filed a petition seeking bail for his client. Nazneen Anwar, daughter of former Rangamati MP (reserved seat) Firoza Begum Chinu lodged the complaint with police against Elahi under the Digital Security Act over publishing a report against her mother Chinu. Chattogram Cyber Tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Elahi following the case and police arrested him from his ADC Hill residence in Rangamati Tuesday evening. Also read:HC stays trial against journo Kajol in 3 cases under DSA A group of journalists held a human chain in front of Rangamati Deputy Commissioner’s Office Wednesday morning demanding release of Elahi. Later, social workers, political activists and students expressed solidarity with them. They also demanded cancellation of the DSA.