The Supreme Court has quashed all previous directions and orders relating to the ban on broadcasting and publication of statements of incumbent BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman in all media.
A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Md. Khasruzzaman and Md. Khairul Alam overturned the decision and issued the order on Thursday in response to the petitioner’s appeal.
On January 6, 2015, Supreme Court lawyer Nasrin Siddiqua Lina, who is part of the Awami League’s Legal Affairs Sub-Committee, filed a petition seeking to prevent the media from broadcasting or publishing statements made by Tarique Rahman. The petition argued that Tarique’s statements as a fugitive accused were illegal and unconstitutional and should not be broadcast.
Responding to the petition, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Kazi Reza-ul Haque and Justice Abu Taher Md. Saifur Rahman issued an order prohibiting the broadcast and publication of Tarique’s statements. The order was supported by several lawyers representing the petition, including the late advocate Sahara Khatun.
However, in a recent development, plaintiff Nasrin Siddiqua informed the court on Thursday that she did not wish to pursue the case any further and requested that it be removed from the list. The Supreme Court then quashed the ruling, thereby lifting the ban.
Tarique Rahman’s legal team, including advocates Kaiser Kamal, Badruddoza Badal, Ruhul Quddus Kajol and advocate Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, were present during the hearing.
Lawyer Kaiser Kamal stressed that the ban on broadcasting Tarique’s statements had been lifted, meaning there was no longer any legal restriction on broadcasting or publishing his statements. He also criticised the previous order as unconstitutional and issued under what he described as the fascist regime led by Sheikh Hasina.
The media is now free to broadcast and publish statements by Tarique Rahman without legal obstacles.
