Suspended judge files defamation case against 7, including Channel 24 MD AK Azad

A suspended judge has filed a defamation case against seven individuals, including Channel 24 Managing Director AK Azad, alleging that the television channel broadcast false and defamatory reports about him.  

Md Ariful Islam, a former joint district and sessions judge of Lalmonirhat who is currently under temporary suspension, filed the complaint today (9 November) with the court of Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sefatullah.

After recording the complainant’s statement, the court directed the Detective Branch of police to investigate the allegations and submit a report.  

Azizur Rahman Dulu, counsel for the complainant, confirmed the development.

The other accused are Faisal Alam, editor of Channel 24’s investigative programme Searchlight, Executive Director Zahirul Alam, Head of Multimedia Rajib Khan, Assignment Editor Maksud-un-Nabi, Senior News Editor Tuhin Kaiyum, and News Reporter Zahid Hossain.

According to the complaint, Channel 24 aired a report titled ‘Cases Exist, but No Sign of Plaintiffs or Witnesses: Revelations Surrounding a Judge’ on 9 October. The report was broadcast both during the channel’s regular news bulletin and in its 9pm investigative programme, Searchlight.

The complainant alleged that his statements had been distorted and selectively edited in the report with malicious intent.

He further alleged that, following his temporary suspension by the Law and Justice Division on 15 October, the channel aired another report claiming that the suspension had resulted directly from its earlier coverage.

Ariful Islam, however, claimed that the suspension was unrelated to the television report.

According to the complaint, a departmental proceeding was initiated against him following a complaint lodged by Md Solaiman, former district and sessions judge of Shariatpur, who is currently serving at the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Magura.

The departmental case was initiated under the Judicial Service (Discipline) Rules, 2017, over allegations of incompetence and misconduct. Ariful Islam was subsequently placed under temporary suspension pending investigation, the complaint said.

He alleged that Channel 24’s claim linking his suspension to its earlier report was false, fabricated and defamatory.

The complainant also submitted a pen drive to the court as evidence, claiming that it contained material demonstrating how his statements had been distorted in the broadcast.

He requested the court to take cognisance of the alleged offences and issue summonses against the accused.