Awami League affiliate files defamation cases against two BNP leaders

A pro-Awami League organization - the Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad (BJP) - filed defamation cases on Monday against BNP leaders Tarique Rahman and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for making derogatory comments about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and distorting history.

The cases were filed by A B Siddique, the president of the BJP, with the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Dhaka, reports the Daily Star.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Erfan Ullah asked the officer-in-charge of Paltan Police Station to investigate the matter and submit a report to the court by October 20.

In the case, the complainant claimed that BNP senior vice chairman Tarique, at a seminar at Queen Mary University in London on August 24, said "the prime minister was the leader of black sheep".

The comment has tarnished the image of the PM, he said.

He said that BNP acting Secretary General Fakhrul had on September 2 said late president Ziaur Rahman was the first president of Bangladesh during a programme at the party's headquarters in Nayapaltan of Dhaka marking the death anniversary of former finance minister M Saifur Rahman.