Court finds elements of sedition

A Dhaka court in its order yesterday said it found elements of sedition in Dhaka City Corporation Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka's remarks that late president Ziaur Rahman is the proclaimer of independence and the first president of Bangladesh.
Metropolitan Magistrate AKM Emdadul Haque directed the officer-in-charge of Paltan Police Station to submit a report by June 6 stating if the sedition case filed against the mayor had sanction from the authorities concerned.
A freedom fighter from Madaripur upazila, Siddiqur Rahman, filed the case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka, on April 5.
In his order, the magistrate said the defendant had sought to create anarchy by making such comments against the state. But sanction from the authorities concerned is required for bringing a sedition charge against any person.
The OC was asked to seek such sanction, if not already taken, so that the court can take the sedition charge against Khoka into cognisance, the court said.
The complainant alleged that at a March 27 discussion in the capital, Khoka said Ziaur Rahman is the proclaimer of independence, and also first president of the country.
Zia not only declared independence but also took charge of the government after the Liberation War in 1971.
Such comments amount to violation of the higher court verdict that had declared Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the proclaimer of independence, and constitute sedition, Siddiqur said.