Bangladesh case alleges Facebook posts defamed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman

A case has been filed against Gazi Salahuddin Tanvir over Facebook posts that allegedly defamed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, police said.

Maftun Ahmed Khan Rubel, president of the Bogura Sadar unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, filed the complaint Aug. 2 at Bogura Sadar Police Station. The complaint said Tanvir posted derogatory and provocative remarks July 29 while discussing recent attacks in Sylhet.

Tanvir’s deleted post appeared to call Rahman a bastard. His post, translated, read, “After today’s attack in Sylhet, I will say only one thing: Who is the father of TR, who was born in Karachi?”

Police station officer-in-charge Ibrahim Ali said investigators found preliminary merit in the allegations.

“We have received the complaint, and our preliminary investigation found the allegations to have merit. Legal action will now be taken against Tanvir,” Ali said.

The complaint alleged the posts damaged the prime minister’s reputation, fueled public outrage and threatened national stability and sovereignty. Tanvir later deleted them following public backlash.

The National Citizen Party suspended Tanvir on July 31 and issued him a show-cause notice.