Defamation cases against Sayeed Khokon: One dismissed, the other withdrawn

One of the two cases filed against former mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sayeed Khokon for allegedly making derogatory comments against incumbent mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has been dismissed and the other was withdrawn.

Metropolitan magistrate Md Baki Billah passed the order after the plaintiffs submitted the petitions, seeking dismissal of a case and permission for withdrawal of another.

The court then dismissed the case filed by Md Kazi Anisur Rahman and granted Md Sarwar Alam's petition for withdrawal of the other case.

Earlier on 11 January, Kazi Anisur Rahman and Advocate Md Sarwar Alam filed the cases against the former mayor with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury.

The next day, a Dhaka court fixed 19 January to pass the order on two defamation cases against the former mayor.

On 13 January, Taposh asked his two 'well-wishers' to withdraw the cases against Sayeed Khokon.

According to the case statement, at a human chain held on 9 January in front of the High Court premises, the former mayor claimed that Taposh was no longer eligible to hold the post of mayor.

In a written statement, Sayeed Khokon further said that if Taposh wanted a corruption-free administration, he should, first and foremost, make himself free of corruption.

He alleged that Taposh had transferred hundreds of crores of taka to Madhumati Bank (owned by Taposh) from the DSCC.

"By investing the money, he is making profits to the tune of crores of taka," Khokon claimed.

Various development projects had been stopped due to a lack of funds, he added.

By engaging in such activities, the mayor had lost his eligibility for the post as per Article 9 (2) (Ja) of the second chapter of the City Corporation Act 2009, Khokon said.