Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, in a legal notice, has demanded Tk 100 crore from the Daily Star editor and publisher Mahfuz Anam, the daily’s executive editor Ashfaqul Haque, and columnist Naziba Basher within seven days for publishing a satirical article titled ‘Cutting trees to make way for air.’
The article was in the newspaper's print and online versions on May 13.
‘As the article was still visible online and being read and commented on by thousands of people, we, therefore, on behalf of our client direct you to remove the online publication having URL https://www.thedailystar.net/satireday/news/cutting-tree-make-way-air-3318351 and to publish a report with unconditional apology within 24 hours from recipients of this legal notice,’ said the notice served on June 5 by Supreme Court lawyer Mejbahur Rahman, on behalf of Taposh.
Referring to a press conference held on Wednesday, the Daily Star, in a statement signed by Mahfuz Anam, said, ‘We want to state that we have indeed received the said legal notice dated June 5, 2023, from the Lex Counsel on June 6, and it allows us only two days to respond. ‘We, however, want to point out that our piece was termed as a "report" or a "column" at the press conference.’
‘This is factually incorrect,’ the daily says, adding, ‘It was a satirical piece, which is a globally accepted and common practice in journalism, on an issue of urgent public concern, and that too was published in our designed weekly satirical titled Satireday.’
The notice said that the three showed ‘utmost disrespect’ to Taposh, stating in the article, ‘The northern mayor probably likes ugly things. His side of the city will not be as beautiful as my side. They can rot in hell with their trees and lack of air and wind. The south shall rise again!’
The article was published in the daily, in online publication and social media network with criminal intention to insult, humiliate and persecute Taposh, said the notice.
‘Your such actions thus fall within the ambit of section 29(1) of the Digital Security Act and Sections 499, 500 and 501, 109 of the Penal Code and also actionable under the other appropriate laws of the land,’ the notice said.
Taposh recently came under severe criticism from green activists for felling 600 trees on Saat Masjid Road in the capital for development.
Terming the tree felling on Saat Masjid Road unfortunate, Taposh May 10 apologised.
He said that the city corporation only cuts trees when there are no alternatives. More trees will be planted in places where trees were felled.
