Patuakhali MP sues 4 editors, 7 journalists

Awami League (AL) lawmaker from Patuakhali-3 Golam Moula Rony yesterday sued editors of four national dailies and their seven journalists for defamation, and claming Tk 100 crore in damages.

His counsel Mizan Sayeed lodged the case with the Third Joint District Judge's Court, Dhaka.

The defendants in the case are Manabjamin Chief Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, its Editor and Publisher Mahbuba Chowdhury, two reporters Abu Zafar and Zia Shaheen, Jugantor Editor and Publisher Salma Islam, its Executive Editor Saiful Islam and Barisal Bureau Chief Akhter Faruque Shaheen, Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar, its Publisher AK Azad and Patuakhali district correspondent Mufti Salahuddin, and Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman.

The plaintiff said he was hurt and defamed by a series of defamatory news and editorials published in the four dailies on different dates.

On a petition filed by the lawmaker the same day, the court asked the defendants to explain within three weeks why they should not be restrained from publishing all kinds of defamatory news and editorials against the plaintiff and his family members in future.

In response to the defamation suit, Judge SM Saiful Islam ordered the defendants to appear before the court, and submit written statements on January 6 next.

During the hearing, Rony was present in the court.

In his plaint, Rony said defendants had run false, fabricated, concocted, derogatory and frivolous news items and editorials in their dailies on different dates this year. And these were published to harass and humiliate him in the eyes of right thinking people of the society.

The plaintiff also said he had earlier sent legal notices on October 27 asking the defendants to apologise unconditionally within 48 hours from the day of receipt of those. But they did not respond to the notices.