HC questions acceptability of petition seeking order to ban airing of Al Jazeera in Bangladesh

The High Court today questioned the acceptability of the writ petition that sought its directive on the government to ban the broadcast of Al Jazeera, a Qatar based news channel, in Bangladesh and to remove the contents of its report titled “All the Prime Minister’s Men” from digital platforms.

The court requested six legal experts as amicus curiae (friend of court) to place their opinions before it on this issue on February 15.

The amicus curiae are: AJ Mohammad Ali, Fida M Kamal, Abdul Matin Khasru, Kamal Ul Alam, Prabir Neogi and Shahdeen Malik.

The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order during hearing of the writ petition.

During hearing today, the bench questioned whether the writ petition is acceptable as the petitioner did not issue any notice to the authorities concerned of the government.

The court asked the writ petitioner Md Anamul Kabir Emon why he has been personally aggrieved by the report titled “Al the Prime Minister’s Men” aired by Al Jazeera and whether this court can direct the government to stop broadcasting of an international TV channel.

The HC bench observed that crores of viewers have already watched the documentary.

Now, removing or not removing the contents of the documentary from digital platforms is the same, Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah said.

The judge, however, said it is true that the sentiment of the nation has been hurt as the images of the president, prime minister and army chief have been tarnished due to the Al Jazeera report.

He said there are specific provisions in the Digital Security Act for arresting the persons involved in making derogatory comments about the president and prime minister.

But, what have the respondents (officials concerned of the government), particularly the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), done to this effect so far, the HC bench questioned.

Writ petitioner Md Anamul Kabir Emon could not make any satisfactory reply to the HC’s questions.

He told the court that as a citizen of the country he became aggrieved at the Al Jazeera’s documentary as it has hurt the integrity, solidarity and sovereignty of the country.

BTRC’s lawyer Khandker Reza-E Raquib told the HC bench that BTRC cannot stop broadcasting Al Jazeera in Bangladesh even if the HC orders so.

The BTRC can issue notice to the authorities concerned to delete the contents of the Al Jazeera report from the social media, he added.

Deputy Attorney General Nawroz MR Chowdhury told the HC that BTRC should have removed the contents of the Al Jazeera report from online platforms.

Al Jazeera may broadcast more such derogatory reports in future, he added.

Md Anamul Kabir Emon, a Supreme Court lawyer, on February 8 filed the writ petition with the HC seeking its directive on the government to ban the broadcast of Al Jazeera in Bangladesh.

Daily Star