Court Correspondent :
Karnaphuli Ship Builders Limited’s owner Engineer MA Rashid lodged a Tk. 200 crore defamation case against the Editor, Publisher and two others of Bangla daily the Prothom Alo on Monday for printing four news items about the complainant’s commercials ventures since December 2012.
Judge Mohammad Abu Taher of Dhaka’s Fourth Joint District Judge Court passed order for cognizance hearing on March 10.
The other two journalists are Chief News Editor Lazzatul Enam Moshi and
the Comilla Correspondent Gaziul Haque Sohag. Two news items were published on December 21, 2012 and February 23, with the headlines, “Montrir Porichitoke Railwayer Jomi Boraddho Deyar Udyog-Initiative to allot railway’s land to the people known to the Minister” and “Thikadarer Biyete Tin Montri Hazir-Three ministers attend the contractor’s marriage ceremony.” While the other two news items were published on December 22 in 2012 and February 2 with the headlines “Montrir Porichitoke Railwayer Jomi Sampradan- Donation of land by Rail Minister and “Dawat, Sangbordhana Aar Koto-How many invitations and receptions “The news ” were published on December 22, 2012 and February 2, 2014.
The complainant sought Tk 15 billion as compensation for the loss of the reputation of his business and educational institute. He also sought a compensation of five billion, as the news items tarnished the image of his educational institute, South Point School and College.
On behalf of the complainant, Advocate Moniruzzaman Hawledar filed the case with the court on Monday.
