7 Ctg journalists sued under Cyber Security Law

A former coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has filed a case under the Cyber Security Law against seven journalists in Chittagong.

The case was lodged on Thursday afternoon in the court of Judge Kazi Mizanur Rahman of the Chittagong Cyber Tribunal. The plaintiff, Md. Riduan, also known as Riduan Siddiqui, is the son of Abdur Rahim of Shah Siddiq Bari in the Nanupur area of Fatikchhari.

The accused include Daily Chattogram Pratidin editor Hossain Thoufique Ifthekher, Jugantor Chattogram bureau chief Shahidullah Shahriar, Samakal senior associate editor Nasir Uddin Haider, former senior vice-president of the Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ) Ratan Kanti Debashish, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) joint secretary general Mohsin Kazi, Ajker Patrika Chittagong bureau chief Sabur Shuvo, and Channel i Chittagong bureau chief Chowdhury Farid.

According to court sources, the case was filed over a journalist's Facebook post. Riduan Siddiqui has alleged religious or ethnic incitement in cyberspace under the amended sections 26(1) and 26(2) of the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025.

The court has directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to probe the complaint and submit a report by May 5.

Meanwhile, the Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ) has strongly condemned the filing of the case. CUJ President Riaz Haider Chowdhury described it as an intentional and harassing move against journalists performing their professional duties, calling it a blatant interference with press freedom and an attempt to curtail freedom of expression.

He demanded the immediate withdrawal of what he called "false and harassing cases" and warned that if such attempts against journalists continue, the journalist community would be compelled to take united and strict action.