A Dhaka court on Wednesday framed charges against human rights activists, Odhikar Director ASM Nasiruddin Elan and its Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan in a case filed under Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act.
The two functionaries of the right’s group were charged with distorting information about the police drive against Hifazat-e Islam on May 5, last year.
Dhaka’s Cyber Crime Tribunal Judge AKM Shamsul Islam also decided to record the depositions of the witnesses from January 22. The court rejected the plea of prosecution for more time before framing of charges.Elan and Adilur Rahman, who are on bail, were present in the court Wednesday. Both of them pleaded not guilty. The court rejected their plea for more time before the framing of charges.
Detective Branch Inspector Ashraful Alam submitted the charge sheet against the duo to Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court on Sep 4. The case was later transferred to Dhaka’s Cyber Crimes Tribunal.
On September 11, Tribunal’s judge took cognizance of the charges against Elan and Adilur Rahman Khan.Adil obtained bail from the High Court Division and the tribunal issued warrant of arrest for Elan’s arrest. Later, Elan surrendered before the tribunal on Nov 6. On Dec 2, he too was released on bail.
Both of them are accused of distorting information, presentation of false information, manipulating photographs with the help of photoshop, and adding them in Odhikar’s report about the law enforcers drive to remove Hifazat supporters from Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar May 5..
“Through these acts they have plotted against the state and hurt the religious sentiments of its god-fearing people,” the charge sheet says.
Adilur Rahman and Elan are also accused of attempting to create instability and incite religious sentiments under several sections of the Information and Communication Technology Act.
Odhikar in its report Said that 61 supporters of Hifazat were killed in the drive conducted by RAB, Police and BGB on May 5 night.
The government in a letter to Odhikar asked for a list of those allegedly killed by the combined forces. However , the rights group refused to provide the list. Adilur Rahman, was a Deputy Attorney General during the tenure of BNP-Jamaat government, was arrested on Aug 10.
BNP and Jamaat protested his arrest along with various international human rights group. – Court Correspondent
