The High Court today granted an appeal filed by Minhaz Mannan Emon, a current director of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), against the framing of charges in a case filed under the controversial Digital Security Act (DSA).
The verdict, delivered by a High Court bench comprising Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice Md. Zabid Hossain, means that Minhaz Mannan Emon has been acquitted of the charges in the case, according to his lawyer, Moin Firozee.The Background of the Case
The case was filed on May 5, 2020, under the Digital Security Act at Ramna Police Station in Dhaka against 11 individuals, alleging conspiracy and the spread of rumours against the state using social media.
According to the lawyer’s information, the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal had previously issued an order to frame charges against seven individuals in the case on February 27, 2022. The accused were: Cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, Rashtrachinta member Didarul Islam Bhuiyan, Minhaz Mannan Emon, Journalist Tasneem Khalil (residing in Sweden), Samiul Islam Khan alias Sam alias Zulkarnain (residing in Hungary), Ashik Imran, Wahidun Nabi
February 27, 2022: The Cyber Tribunal frames charges against the seven individuals. Minhaz Mannan and Didarul Islam submitted “naraji” (no-confidence) petitions against the order, which were rejected. Minhaz Mannan filed an appeal with the High Court against the charge framing order.
August 24, 2022: The High Court accepted the appeal for hearing and simultaneously stayed the proceedings of the case against Minhaz Mannan.
Today (October 30): The High Court granted the appeal after a final hearing, resulting in his acquittal.
Lawyer Moin Firozee argued on behalf of Minhaz Mannan, while Deputy Attorney General Sultana Akter Ruby represented the state.
The initial charge sheet, submitted to the court by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) on February 4, 2021, named Cartoonist Kishore, writer Mushtaq Ahmed, and Didarul Islam of Rashtrachinta as accused, recommending the discharge of eight others.
Writer Mushtaq Ahmed tragically died in prison on February 25, 2021, while incarcerated in connection with this case, leading to a recommendation for his exemption from the case. However, following an application by the state, the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal ordered a further investigation into the case.
During the charge framing on February 27, 2022, Didarul Islam and Minhaz Mannan were present in court and asserted their innocence. Cartoonist Kishore’s bail was cancelled that day as he failed to appear before the court.
