Court takes case against AL MP Latif for "altering Bangabandhu's photo"
A Chittagong court yesterday took cognisance of the case filed against Awami League lawmaker MA Latif over doctoring of the photo of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the festoons and banners, used for welcoming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Chittagong city last week, and asked the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate.
The court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Chittagong Nurul Alam Mohammad Nipu passed the order, said Chittagong Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Fakhruddin Chowdhury.
The court ordered PBI to probe into the matter by an officer of the rank of assistant superintendent of police (ASP) and to submit the report by February 22, the PP added.
Abdur Rahim Zillu, a former leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), filed the case on February 4 alleging that Latif belittled the whole nation through the photo manipulation, which sparked an outcry among local AL leaders and activists.
Meanwhile, Latif yesterday held a press conference at the World Trade Centre in the port city where the photo's designer, Kabir Hossain, said the fault was his, not the lawmaker's.
Kabir said, “The photo of Bangabandhu which I had in my archive could not be enlarged because it had a low resolution. So I asked Rajib Das, an employee of the Chittagong Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), to send me a picture of any person wearing a Mujib coat.”
“He sent me a picture of MP Latif clad in a Mujib coat,” he said. “MP Latif did not know anything about it.” Rajib admitted he had sent the photo. Latif is a former president of CCCI, and Rajib was dealing with the printing of the banners and festoons on his behalf.
Local AL leaders, however, rejected Latif's claim.“Criminals will say anything to hide their crimes. Such statements are not acceptable,” said Chittagong city AL President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
“After joining Awami League from Jamaat, Latif is trying to besmirch AL's image,” he added.
Latif denied being involved in Jamaat-e-Islam. Meanwhile, Awami Muktijoddha Projonma League and Sacheton Nagorik Samaj demanded punishment for Latif yesterday.
The prime minister visited Chittagong city on January 30.
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