The New Nation - Internet Edition

Court Correspondent

Officer-in-charge (OC) of Tejgaon Thana of the city yesterday returned the petition submitted Wednesday to CMM Court for filing sedition case against Jamaat-i-Islami Bangladesh Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Mollah and former Chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited Shah Md Abdul Hannan.

OC Lutfor Rahman has disclosed, after hearing Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Emran Hossain Chowdhury Wednesday directed him to register it as a regular case and submit a report after proper investigation, but prior permission of Home Ministry under Sections 121(A) and 123(A) of the Penal Code, to file the sedition case against the Jamaat leaders and former secretary Shah Abdul Hannan was not given with it and as such, the petition was returned. It may be noted both the sections of the Penal Code deal with sedition charges and punishment for committing such offences.

Section 121-A says whoever within or without Bangladesh conspires to commit any of the offences to deprive Bangladesh of the sovereignty of her territories or any part thereof, or conspires to overawe by means of criminal force or the show of criminal force, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or any shorter term.

However, the permission of the Home Ministry is a necessity for filing such sedition case against anybody. Mohammad Fazlur Rahman of Keraniganj Thana in Dhaka claiming himself a freedom fighter submitted the petition Wednesday to Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka.