BSRF concerned over DSA case against its member Lavlu

The Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) on Thursday expressed deep concern over the case under the Digital Security Act against its member Mahbubul Alam Lavlu at a Chattogram court on Wednesday.

According to a media release signed by the forum’s President Tapan Biswas and General Secretary Masudl Hoque, it strongly condemned the move.

Demanding immediate withdrawal of the case, the forum said the way former leader of Chattogram Metropolitan Jubo League Helal Akbar Chowdhury Babar filed the case against Lavlu, a special correspondent of vernacular daily ‘Dainik Jugantor’, goes against journalism.

On Wednesday the case was filed at the court of Chattogram Divisional Cyber Tribunal Judge Mohammad Zahirul Kabir.

Taking the case into cognisance, the court ordered the Counter Terrorism Unit to investigate.

According to the case statement, Babar is the former deputy finance secretary of the central Jubo League.

Journalist Lavlu recently published a report in Jugantor titled, “Dubai-returnee and top criminal of Chattogram…rail held hostage by Shah Alam Syndicate ''.

He (Lavlu) shared the report from his personal Facebook ID. In the report, Helal Akbar was referred to as an extortionist, occupier and godfather of terrorist, reports UNB.

The Jubo League leader alleged in the case that he was defamed by the report with false information.

When asked about this, Helal told UNB that, "I have no dispute with any journalist. I have good relations with everyone. This journalist of Jugantor has ruined my reputation by publishing false news about me. He wrote that I am a criminal.”

“I sent him a legal notice before filing the case. If necessary, I will file another defamation suit,” he said.