Gazipur City Corporation's suspended mayor Mohammad Zahangir Alam has been sued under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for making derogatory comments on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Liberation War martyrs.

Advocate Mohammad Omar Faruk Asif, also a member of the Awami League sub-committee on Information and Research, yesterday filed the case under section 21 of the DSA with the cyber tribunal of Dhaka, Public Prosecutor Nazrul Islam Shamim told The Daily Star.

With this, at least five cases were filed after AL on November 19 expelled him from the party for breaching the organisation's discipline.

The local government and rural development ministry also suspended him from the mayor post on November 25 following several allegations that include illegal land grabbing, not compensating people after taking over land for development and working against the public interest.

Yesterday, Judge Mohammad Ash Sams Joglul Hossain took cognisance of the DSA case and recorded the complainant's statements.

The judge also directed the Criminal Investigation Department to submit a report before the tribunal by January 6 next year after investigation.

An audio of the accused went viral on social media in September this year where he made derogatory, hateful and false comments on Bangabandhu and the Liberation War martyrs, which hurt the country's people, the case statement says.

Section 21 of the DSA deals with punishment for making any kind of propaganda or campaign against the Liberation War, cognition of the Liberation War, the father of the nation, national anthem or national flag.

"If any person, by means of digital medium, makes or instigates any propaganda or campaign against the Liberation War, cognition of the Liberation War, father of the nation, national anthem or national flag, the person's act shall be considered an offence," section 21 of the law reads.

If any person commits an offence under the sub-section, he/she shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or with a fine not exceeding Tk one crore or both.