Four including Saudi expatriate face sedition charges in Barguna

Four people, including a Saudi expatriate, are facing sedition charges in Barguna for making derogatory comments against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ministers in social media and distributing leaflets.

Rafikul Islam Kakan, a resident of Pathargahata upazila, on Tuesday filed a written complaint with the court of Patharghata Senior Judicial Magistrate in Barguna, accusing the four of maligning Bangladesh's image before the world.

The court, after taking the plaintiff's statement into account, on Wednesday ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to look into the allegations.

Sedition cases require the approval of the home ministry. The PBI will submit a report if they find any substance in the claims after investigating the allegations.

The alleged persons are Saudi expatriate Faisal Ahmed Sharif, his siblings Md Zia Sharif and Masum Sharif – sons of Syed Ahmed Sharif, and Md Imran Hossain – son of Noya Mia Howlader. All of them hail from Patharghata upazila.

According to the case statement, Faisal Sharif has been living in Saudi Arabia for a long time. From there, he makes derogatory comments against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ministers, MPs and political leaders in social media. With this, there is a defamation of Tk500 crore.

The plaintiff also alleged that the prime accused Faisal has also been providing funds to terrorist organisations. He has also provoked the other accused to publicise the derogatory remarks against the government.

Plaintiff's lawyer Md Jabir Hossain, additional public prosecutor (APP) at the court, said what the accused have done has tarnished the image of the country.

Demanding exemplary punishment of the accused, he also called for bringing the accused Saudi expatriate back to the country to make him face justice.