BNP leader Dudu sued for ‘threatening’ to kill prime minister

A case has been filed against Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu for issuing a death threat to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a live TV talk show. 

Jubo League Joint General Secretary Mohiuddin Ahmed filed the case on Thursday with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Baki Billah.

The petitioner alleged that Dudu had issued the threat to the prime minister during a recent talk-show held on DBC Television, where the accused had said Sheikh Hasina has to go away like her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. 

The plaintiff claimed that Dudu's statement has created panic among mass people, and it is tantamount to an attempt on the prime minister's life. Plaintiff Mohiuddin also plead to issue an arrest warrant against the BNP leader.

Speaking to The Business Standard, senior joint secretary general of BNP, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, said this is a move by the government to muzzle free speech and prevent politicians from speaking out against the government.

"He [Dudu] made no death threats against the prime minister," he said, adding: "His words have been taken out of context." 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the president of ruling Bangladesh Awami League, has survived at least 19 attempts on her life so far.