Dhaka, Oct 22 – A team of Detective Branch (DB) of police on Monday night arrested former caretaker government adviser Mainul Hosein in a defamation case filed in Rangpur district. Barrister Mainul Hosein was held in front of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) president ASM Abdur Rob’s Uttara residence around 10 pm Monday, DB Joint Commissioner Md Mahbub Alam told UNB. He was later taken to DB’s Mintoo Road office.
Earlier in the day, Judge Arifa Yasmin Mukta of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Ragpur issued a warrant for his arrest after a local human rights activist, Mili Maya, filed a defamation case with it.
Six cases have so far been filed against Mainul Hosein across the country. Of those, Masuda Bhatti herself filed a defamation suit in Dhaka on October 21. On the same day, three more defamation cases were filed in Jamalpur, Comilla and Kurigram districts. Besides, two more cases — one in Bhola and another in Rangpur — were filed on Monday.
The High Court on Sunday granted bail for five months to Barrister Mainul Hosein in two defamation cases after hearing separate petitions filed by him.
According to the case statement filed by Masuda Bhatti, Mainul who was connected to a talk show programme, ‘Ekattorer Journal’, through a videoconference aired on a private TV channel, Ekattor TV, hosted by Mithila Farzana, made an ‘offensive comments’ against her on October 16. He tarnished the image of Masuda Bhatti, the statement said.
In Cumilla, advocated Subir Nandi filed a case with Senior Judicial Magistrate Court on Monday afternoon and its Judge Md Sohel Rana set December 23 to hear the case.
In Bhola, Jubo Mohila League convener of the district unit Khadiza Akhtar Swapna lodged a Tk-50 crore defamation case with Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court of the court.
On Sunday, a Jamalpur Court came up with an arrest warrant against Mainul after Farzana Yasmin Lita, convener of Jamalpur district unit Jubo Mohila League, filed a Tk-20,000 crore defamation case against
him.
A Dhaka court also issued a warrant for the arrest of Barrister Mainul Hosein as Masuda Bhatti filed a defamation case against him.
Later, the High Court on Sunday granted bail for five months to Barrister Mainul Hosein in two defamation cases after hearing separate petitions filed by him.
According to the case statement, Mainul Hosein who was connected to a talk show programme, ‘Ekattorer Journal’, through a videoconference aired on a private TV channel, Ekattor TV, hosted by Mithila Farzana, made an ‘offensive comments’ against Masuda Bhatti on October 16. He tarnished the image of Masuda Bhatti, the statement said.
During the talk show, Masuda Bhatti told Mainul, “You say that you’re there in the Jatiya Oikyafront as a citizen of the country but in social networking sites, many people are saying you’re there as a representative of Jamaat.”
Angered by the comment, Mainul said, “I’m thanking you for your audacity and I want to believe you as ‘characterless’. There’s no question about Jamaat link’s with me and what question you have asked is embarrassing for me.”
Mainul Hosein was playing an active role in the newly formed Jatiya Oikyafront, led by Dr Kamal Hossain. He took part in various meetings of the Oikyafront leaders.
Mainul was an adviser to the army-backed caretaker government when Awami President Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda were arrested. AL won the election held under that government. – UNB
