Four Journos sued for defamation of state minister by Journalist leader

A journalist leader had filed a petition against four journalists, including the editor of a daily newspaper, alleging defamation of a state minister of the Bangladesh government, named Mir Shah Alam, On Sunday (15 June).

Tanvir Alam, the treasurer of Bogura Press Club, filed the case as the plaintiff in the Senior Judicial Magistrate`s Court in Bogura.

After the hearing, Judge Mehedi Hasan accepted the petition as a complaint and directed to local police station to be  registered as an FIR with taking necessary legal steps.

Plaintiff`s lawyer Abdul Wahab confirmed this information to the media.

During the hearing, Not only Advocate Abdul Wahab and Advocate Shahadat Hossain Shahal had participated on the court, but also 14 to 15 other lawyers were also present. The case accuses the defendants of offences under sections 500, 501, 504 and 109 of the Bangladesh Penal Code. 

Those accused under the four sections are: Mehedi Hasan-publisher and editor of Daily Agraggjatra Protidin, Ashraf Ali Faruki- News Editor, correspondent Saleh Kaiser and Bogura representative Shams. 

The petition stated that the defendants were deliberately spreading misleading information, the complainant against State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, Mir Shah Alam, tried to tarnish his personal, social and political reputation.

The complaint stated that the minister made a statement  at a press conference held at Bogura Press Club on 12 June 2026. Later, That statement was misrepresented and circulated on social media with the headline ‘ Journos given advice by road controversal state minister Mir Shah Alam`

According to the complaint, additionally, Defendants were involving to spread provocative, misleading and defamatory comments on social media about the state minister during the Prime Minister’s national tour on 13 June.

Plaintiff Tanvir Alam mentioned in his petition that the defendants deliberately spread this information without any reliable evidence. As a result, not only the reputation of the concerned individuals damaged but  it also created confusion and negative reactions among the public.

Lawyer Abdul Ohab briefed the media that the court ordered the case to be accepted as a formal complaint after the petition and preliminary hearing and  the case will be sent to the relevant police station and recorded as a charge sheet for further legal investigation and action as directed by the court.

Abdul Bashed, the public prosecutor (PP) of Bogura District and Sessions Judge Court, said, `I am aware of the matter of the case. The court will take the necessary legal measures to ensure justice.`

HV/KM