Bangladesh News

The government yesterday sent into forced retirement, Information Secretary ATM Fazlul Karim whose pen name is Abu Karim.

The move came a day after he had been sued for writing a book of poetry where he allegedly cast metaphorical aspersions on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members.

The establishment ministry issued an order to Abu Karim in the afternoon directing him to go into retirement.

“The government has sent the information secretary on compulsory retirement in public interest, as per section 9 (2) of the Public Servants (Retirement) Act 1974, on completion of his 25 years in service,” read the government order.

Karim, who was made the information secretary on Jan 19 this year, is the first high level civil bureaucrat to lose his job under the newly elected Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance government.

Moulana Mohammad Elias Hossain Bin Helali, president of Bangladesh Awami Olama League, on Sunday filed a defamation suit against Abu Karim with Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka in connection with the book.

In his complaint, Helali mentioned that the accused had written a book of poetry titled ‘Baganey Phutey Achhey Oshonkho Golap’ or ‘Innumerable Roses Have Blossomed in the Garden’, in February 2006, which was published by Suchipatra Prokashona for the Ekushey Book Fair 2008.

A vernacular daily, the Amader Samoy, published an excerpt from the book on February 20 this year and the complainant learnt about the alleged defamatory verse from the news report.

The daily quoted from a poem in the book that allegedly defamed, undermined and criticised Bangabandhu and his family members.

In the book, the writer allegedly called Bangabandhu — Latifur Rahman and also Alubokhara, called his slain sons Sheikh Kamal — Komolakoli, Sheikh Jamal — Jamtoli, and Sheikh Russel — Roshkoli, according to the complaint.

Such defamatory writings damaged and undermined the image of Bangabandhu’s living family members, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, and also of his party AL and its front organisations, the law suit alleged. It also damaged the images of all leaders and activists of Bangladesh Awami Olama League, claimed the complainant.

Moulana Helali went on to allege that Abu Karim’s literary work also defamed the country’s independence, achieved through painful sacrifices of two lakh mothers and sisters who had been raped during the liberation war, and also the sacrifices of 30 lakh martyrs.

‘Such heinous offences and activities are subversive to the state as well as to the discipline’, the complainant added.

The issue caused a huge uproar among ruling party leaders, activists and supporters across the country. Leaders of Jubo League, the youth front of AL, from a rally in the capital on Sunday gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the government to take action against Karim.

The publisher of the book already closed its outlet at the ongoing Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Bangla Academy premises on Dhaka University Campus.

Hearing of the defamation suit will be held on March 2.

Meanwhile, Abu Karim issued a statement as the information secretary yesterday, where he denied writing anything defamatory in his book.

“The poem in the book is a metaphorical verse. I haven’t written anything defamatory about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family. Nonetheless, I beg unconditional pardon and apologies, if my poem hurt anybody,” he said in the statement.

He also said he was directly involved in the country’s liberation war and many of his poetry actually extol the country’s independence, democracy, and Bangabandhu.