The High Court (HC) today (Oct 31) scraped the sedition case filed against BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Ekushey Television (ETV) Chairman Abdus Salam. 

The order was delivered by the bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayetur Rahman, who granted the rule issued earlier to dismiss the case.

Two other accused in the case, ETV’s Chief Reporter Mahathir Faruqui Khan and Senior Reporter Kanak Sarwar, were also acquitted.

Advocate Dr. Shahdeen Malik represented Abdus Salam in court, while Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon and other prominent lawyers were also present. 

Following the ruling, Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon told reporters, “Today, Dr. Shahdeen Malik argued on behalf of Mr. Abdus Salam. We were also present in court. The initiation of this case was fundamentally illegal, leading the High Court to dismiss it for all accused, including Mr. Abdus Salam and Mr. Tarique Rahman.”

The case stemmed from a January 5, 2015 speech by Tarique Rahman, broadcast live by ETV from London. The following day, police at Tejgaon Police Station sought permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs to file a sedition case against Tarique Rahman and Abdus Salam.

Upon obtaining ministry approval, Sub-Inspector Borhan Uddin of Tejgaon Police Station lodged the case on January 8, 2015. 

Following an investigation, Detective Branch (DB) Inspector Emdadul Haque submitted a charge sheet to the court on September 6, 2017, which included Mahathir Faruqui Khan and Kanak Sarwar along with the original two accused.

The court then proceeded with framing charges and initiating the trial. 

However, Abdus Salam challenged the legality of the case in the High Court, leading the court to issue a rule and stay proceedings in 2017.

The rule was resolved in Thursday’s ruling, which closed the long-standing case.

BDST: 1408 HRS, OCT 31, 2024
MSK/SMS