A Dhaka court today asked the complainant to withdraw a sedition case filed against four people including Swedish-Bangladeshi journalist and Netra News Editor-in-Chief Tasneem Khalil and Hungary-based entrepreneur Zulkarnain Saer Khan alias Sami over Al Jazeera's report titled "All the Prime Minister's Men".
The two other accused are British journalist David Bergman and acting Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network Mostefa Souag.
Metropolitan Magistrate Md Shahidul Islam passed the order as Advocate Moshiur Malek, founder and president of Bangabandhu Foundation and the complainant of the case, was not authorised by the government to file it, Atiqur Rahman, bench assistant of the court, confirmed to The Daily Star.
Malek on February 17 filed the case against the four with Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ashek Imam. After a hearing, the magistrate fixed today (Tuesday) for passing order on the issue.
In the complaint, Malek said Al Jazeera broadcast a report on February 1 which was also published on YouTube and online newspapers.
The report was fictitious, false, fake and flawed and by broadcasting the report, Al Jazeera had tarnished the image of the government and the state at home and abroad, which is tantamount to sedition.
In his statement, Malek said the accused was conspiring to "topple" the country's elected government through this report.
