Sangram editor put on three-day remand

A Dhaka court yesterday placed Abul Asad, editor of Bangla daily Sangram, on a three-day remand in a case.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mamunur Rashid passed the order after Inspector (operations) of Hatirjheel Police Station Mohammad Golam Azam, also investigation officer of the case, produced Asad before the court seeking a five-day remand in the case filed under Digital Security Act.

Afzal Hossain, a freedom fighter, filed the case.

Police took Abul Asad into safe custody on Friday, after a mob vandalised the office of Sangram in the capital’s Boro Moghbazar, over publishing of a report which termed executed war criminal Abdul Quader Molla a “martyr”.

Quader Molla, former assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, was hanged at the old Dhaka central jail in 2013, in a case over committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.

Sangram on Thursday ran a report “Today is the sixth martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Abdul Quader Molla”.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST SANGRAM: QUADER

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said legal action should be taken against daily Sangram for describing executed war criminal Abdul Quader Molla as a “martyr”.

“We’ll talk to the home ministry on this matter,” he said while responding to reporters after paying tribute to martyred intellectuals, reports UNB.

Quader, also general secretary of ruling Awami League, said the evil communal power which attacked freedom fighters and Bengalis in 1971 and killed intellectuals, is still “spreading poison”.

Responding to questions about war criminals living abroad, the minister said, “We are looking into the matter [and] action will be taken on time.”