Bangladeshi man to face sedition charge for Facebook comment

by Special Correspondent
January 9, 2012

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/2064/bangladeshi-man-to-face-sedition-charge-for

Teacher of Jahangirnagar Universiry in Bangladesh, who now is in Australia for higher studies, will now be charged with sedition for making a comment seeking death of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister on popular social networking site, Facebook. A joint-bench in the High Court division of Bangladesh Supreme Court, comprising Justice AHM Samsuddin Chowdhury and Jahangir Hossain have instructed the inspector general of police to bring sedition charges under Section 124 [A] of the Bangladesh Penal Code by January 15, 2012 and submit a report with the same court. Earlier the court convicted the same teacher with six months imprisonment for not appearing in the court to face a contempt charge.

It may be mentioned here that, Section 124 [A] of the Bangladesh Penal Court [Sedition] bears capital punishment.

Khandaker Ruhul Amin, part-time teacher of Jahangirnagar University's Institute of Information Technology, gave a status at Facebook on August 13, 2011, when celebrated Bangladeshi film director Tareq Masud and television personality Mishuk Munier died in tragic road accident. He wrote in the status: "Tareq and Mushuk died due to issuance of driving license without test: Everyone dies, why Hasina does not". It may be mentioned here that, name of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister is Sheikh Hasina.

Following the release of this status on Facebook, a local daily newspaper carried a report on August 18, 2011 titled "Audacity of Jagangirnagar University's pro-Jamaat teacher". When the news was brought into the attention of the judges of Bangladesh Supreme Court, and subsequently the court summoned the teacher to appear in person. As he did not appear in the court, on December 12, 2011 a contempt of court charge was brought against him. He also was instructed to appear before the court on January 2, 2012.

Deputy attorney general ABM Altaf Hossain told reporters that the teacher of the Jahangirnagar University published a status in the Facebook seeking death of the Prime Minister.

He said, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to bring the matter to the attention of the Australian government immediately and departmental actions are being also taken against Khandaker Ruhul Amin for his Facebook status. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh has also been instructed to bring back Khandaker Ruhul Amin from Australia at the earliest.

Related Story: Bangladesh government to collect info of social site users

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Source: http://www.weeklyblitz.net/2064/bangladeshi-man-to-face-sedition-charge-for

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