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Download PDF Despite a court order, Tejgaon police yesterday refused to register a sedition case against two top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and a former Islami Bank chairman for their anti-liberation activities, saying they did not have necessary government sanction.
“Sanction of the government is required prior to register a sedition case. But it [Tejgaon Police Station] did not get the sanction yet,” the officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station told a metropolitan magistrate’s court.
The OC sent back the case to the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate seeking directives about the next course of action in such a situation.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate AKM Enamul Haque forwarded the case file to the conducting magistrate — who on Wednesday directed the OC to register the case — for taking next steps.
Lawyers expect the magistrate on the next working day, Sunday, will decide about the matter whether to send it to the home ministry for the required sanction.
Law Adviser Mainul Hosein yesterday said an individual citizen cannot file a sedition case against another. “The filing of the sedition case against Jamaat leaders has belittled Bangladesh. Leave the matter to us,” he told reporters.
Eminent jurist Shahdeen Malik however contradicted the law adviser, saying an individual can file a sedition case and, if filed, it is the government’s responsibility to take the next steps.
“It’s unfortunate if the government makes any excuse on the issue,” Malik said referring to the sedition case.
On receiving the sedition case against Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Mollah and ex-chairman of Islami Bank Shah Md Abdul Hannan for their anti-liberation activities, the court ordered the Tejgaon OC to register it as a regular case.
Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Emran Hossain Chowdhury also directed the OC to submit a report after proper investigation into the matter.
The police received the case file around 11:30pm on Wednesday, sources in the station said. The police officer immediately consulted his higher authorities and sent a report to the court citing their limitations.
Senior police officials said it was not clear to them how the magistrate passed the order to register the sedition case as a regular one without prior government sanction.
Contacted by The Daily Star, OC Lutfar Rahman said he had sent a report to the court citing their limitations on registering the sedition case.
“Without prior sanction of the government, the case can’t be registered,” he said.
Law Adviser Mainul yesterday talked to reporters about the issue at his ministry and cited the limitations that an individual cannot file a sedition case.
“Police will investigate the case since it has been filed. Bangladesh has been belittled through this case. Leave the matter to us. These are complicated matters,” he said.
In response to a query over the long due trial of the war criminals, he posed a counter question: “Why this matter had not been settled in the last 36 years? Ask those who were in power.”
Mainul said the caretaker government did not come to do politics, but to accomplish a designated task. “Our target has been set and we’ll do our job. We’ll do whatever necessary for democracy.”
Amidst growing demand for punishing the war criminals, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed has already said his government will welcome if any case is filed to that end.
December 7th, 2007 at 5:02 am
What a nonsense?
Who will bring those freedom fighters to JUSTICE? After the Liberation they have looted, abused the innocent civilians, and many have been killed by those so-called freedom fighters. At a time people were disgusted by the governments handling those Dacoits, every villages round the country were in fear, when they will be attacked.
Of-course the criminals must bought to “JUSTICE” at any cost but why now? What happen to those were in government at a time? Why the people of Bangladesh kept silents after the Liberation?
What was the main cause of being silents for 36 years?
December 7th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
TO Those who Have Faith in ALLAH the ALMIGHTY!
All sane men will stay away from those anti Islamic satans who instead of helping the country in this moment trying to find lame causes to create more chaos.
There are many Vegabonds have no work, always try to claim what they are not.
War was fought between India & Pakistan.
It was not a war of liberation but a war of separation. Many Devoted Muslims wanted to stay united with Pakistan Even Sk Mujib wanted a self rule in East Pakistan but it was stupidity of Bhutto who ruined Pakistan.
War of liberation was fought in 1947 & before when million of Muslims met Shahadat & lost their home in India. Whom these so called Mukthi Bahini are kidding.
Did they really fight or served tea & coffe for Indian soldiers. I myself was staying with a
draftmen who used to pin point the location for Bombing passed to Indian Army.
ALMIGHTY ALLAH has given free will. People can have their say,Should we kill voters who donot vote for one’s own party?
Be aware! donot create injustice to those who follow the path of Islam unless they are a type of unjust half learned terrorist !
Investigate minutely against these so called Mukthi Bahinies, what they used to do,what they are doing, have they plundered the wealth of non Muslims, have they robbed the unfortunate non Bengalies by gun.Many of these were, even my own servent had pretended to be member of Mukti Bahini
after the creation of Bangladesh.
Because these criminals had Guns they ruined the country.
The real Mukti Bahinies were Bangladesh Armies.
Go & talk to Brigadier Rabbani Who can tell you the truth.
Throw the Bunch out of police stations & court even their shadows are evils.They are the real
detroyers of Bangladesh as they are Goons running to survive by robbing others.
Thank you.