RANGPUR, Oct 7, 2024 (BSS) - A court here today acquitted three journalists as the charges brought against them in a case filed against them under the Digital Security Act (DSA) were not proved in the court.
 
The acquitted journalists are: Nilphamari correspondent of the Dhaka Post Shariful Islam, Rangpur correspondent of the Dainik Manobkantha and the Daily Juger Alo Mohiuddin Makhdumi and former Rangpur correspondent of the Daily Desh Rupantor Mamun Rashid.
 
Shariful Islam previously worked in the online portal Rangpur Kantha.
 
Defense lawyer Advocate Polash Kanti Nag has confirmed the verdict to local reporters.
 
Advocate Nag said the journalists published the news against Sohel Rana, chairman of Saddyapuskorini union parishad of Rangpur Sadar upazila, alleging irregularities in rice distribution under the vulnerable group feeding (VGD) program on May 24, 2021.
 
On June 14, 2021, Mostafizar Rahman, father-in-law of Sohel Rana, filed a case in the Rangpur Cyber Tribunal under the Digital Security Act, 2018 as the plaintiff for defamation of his son-in-law due to the publication of the news.
 
On November 5, 2021, Investigating Officer of the case Sub-inspector (SI) Shah Alam of Kotwali police station filed the charge sheet in the court.
 
After examining five of the eight witnesses during the hearing of the case, the judge acquitted the three journalists in their presence in the courtroom today.