Arrest warrant issued against Ex-state minister Murad

A Jamalpur court has issued an arrest warrant against former minister of state for information and broadcasting Dr Murad Hasan in a Tk 10,000 crore defamation case.

The case was filed for his derogatory remarks against the Zia family, including former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his daughter Zaima Rahman.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Romana Akter of Sarishabari Amoli Court issued the warrant against Dr Murad Hasan and another accused on Monday afternoon.

According to the case, while serving as minister of state for information and broadcasting, Dr Murad Hasan made obscene and vulgar comments about Begum Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman and Zaima Rahman during a talk show on a YouTube channel and a Facebook page.

The plaintiff alleges that this malicious and vulgar falsehood caused damage exceeding Tk 10,000 crore to Tarique Rahman, Zaima Rahman and the entire Zia family and also tarnished the country's image.

The case was filed by Lion Md. Rumel Sarkar, a former student leader and current vice-president of the Jamalpur District Truck and Tank Lorry Owners Association.
Besides Dr Murad Hasan, the talk show's host, Mohiuddin Helal Nahid, son of A T M Abul Kashem from Patiya, Chattogram, has also been named as an accused. Arrest warrants have been issued against both individuals.

The plaintiff's lawyer, Advocate Md Moniruzzaman, said that on May 24, Senior Judicial Magistrate Ruksana Parvin of the Sarishabari Amoli Court took cognisance of the Tk 10,000 crore defamation case and issued a summons to Dr Murad Hasan and Mohiuddin Helal.

As they failed to appear in court, showing no respect for the law, the court issued the arrest warrants against both of them.

LHL/NSA