Staff Reporter :The High Court on Monday stayed the proceedings of 72 cases filed in different parts of the country against The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam on defamation and sedition charges.An HC bench comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice AKM Shahidul Huq passed the order after hearing a petition. The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the cases against the editor would not be cancelled or declared illegal. The government and the plaintiffs of the cases were made respondents to the rule. Barrister Rafique-ul Haque stood for the Star Editor while deputy attorney general Maniruzzaman Kabir represented the state. On April 3, the High Court granted a four-week interim bail to Mahfuz Anam in 68 cases filed across the country on defamation and sedition charges.Of the 72 cases, according to the court, 17 were filed on sedition charge while the rest 55 on defamation charge. Besides, 10 more cases were filed against the Star editor.Over 80 cases were filed against Mahfuz Anam on defamation and sedition charges for publishing ‘confusing’ and ‘defamatory’ reports in his daily on Awami League President Sheikh Hasina during the military-backed caretaker tenure in 2007-2008.
