Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the daily Amar Desh newspaper, appeared before the Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court in Dhaka today. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Jan 23, 2025 (BSS)- The editor of Bengali daily Amar Desh Mahmudur Rahman today said the people of Bangladesh should learn from the rise and fall of the Sheikh Hasina government and from now on, they should raise protest against any fascist government from the day one.

"If we could raise protest against the Sheikh Hasina government from the beginning, then we did not have to endure so much torture, oppression and become victims of murder, enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings in the hands of that fascist government in the last 15 years," he said.

Rahman said these while talking to newsmen after attending the hearing on his appeal against the conviction in the case lodged for attempting to abduct and murder ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy in the US in 2015.

The court of Dhaka 4th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Tarik Ezaz held hearing on the matter, where Mahmudur Rahman's counsel argued for discharging his client from the case.

The court after hearing the matter, set February 10 for pronouncing judgment.

"When this case was filed, I was in jail. I had no connection with this case. They accused me of hatching conspiracy in the US in 2012, whereas I did not go there after 2005. At that time, I was under almost detention at Amar Desh office as police and RAB members laid seize around the office," Mahmudur Rahman said.

The Amar Desh editor said his fight against fascism will go on, adding, more than hundred such cases are pending against him.

"There are 36 cases against me regarding Sheikh Hasina's niece Tulip. I was attacked in Kushtia while trying to attend hearing in court. By the grace of Almighty, I returned home alive," he added.

The court of Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur on August 17, 2023, convicted and sentenced five people, including veteran journalist Shafik Rehman and Mahmudur Rahman, to seven years imprisonment.

The other convicts in the case are Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) vice-president Mohammad Ullah Mamun, his son Rizvi Ahmed Caesar and Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, an expat businessman living in the US.
 
Mahmudur Rahman was tried in absentia.
 
Police on August 3, 2015, filed the case with Paltan Police Station and on February 19, 2018, filed a charge sheet against the five.
 
A total of 12 witnesses including Joy testified in the case on different hearing dates.