A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against Naem Nizam, former editor of the daily Bangladesh Pratidin, and two others in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA). The order was issued by Judge Noor-e-Alam of the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal on Sunday (July 27, 2025).The other accused are Moynal Hossain Chowdhury, publisher of Bangladesh Pratidin, and Syed Borhan Kabir, editor-in-chief of Bangla Insider. According to Jewel Mia, the court’s bench assistant, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted an investigation report against the accused, which was accepted by the court on June 2, 2025. The accused were summoned to appear in court on Sunday but failed to do so. Following a plea from the plaintiff, the court issued arrest warrants, setting August 28, 2025, as the date for submitting a report on their arrest.
The case was filed on February 15, 2022, by Barrister M Sarwar Hossain against seven individuals, including Naem Nizam. The court directed the CID to investigate the allegations and submit a report. The other accused include the admin, narrator, video editor, and technician of the website Viral Protidin. On November 20, 2024, CID Sub-Inspector Tarikul Islam submitted a report charging three of the accused.
The 27-page complaint alleges that on September 7, 2021, Bangladesh Pratidin published an article titled “Nusrat Ke Diye Bishchhu Samshu Syndicate er Fer Shorojontromulok Mamla” (Conspiracy Case by Bishchhu Samshu Syndicate Using Nusrat), which was also shared online. The article claimed that Barrister M Sarwar Hossain, identified as Nusrat’s lawyer, was allegedly involved in the August 21 grenade attack, accused of being a key figure in spreading anti-state rumors and conspiracies, and having multiple cases against him for anti-state activities and sabotage. It further alleged his involvement in prior anti-state conspiracies related to the Munia issue.
Sarwar, in the case, clarified that he was not Nusrat’s lawyer but had only participated in the hearing of a naraji (objection) petition in her case. The complaint also references an article published by Bangla Insider on September 8, 2021, titled “Ke Ei Sarwar” (Who is this Sarwar?), and claims that the Facebook page Viral Protidin published content targeting Sarwar with malicious intent.
The case has drawn attention due to its implications for press freedom, given the controversial use of the DSA, which was repealed in 2023 and replaced by the Cyber Security Act. The ongoing legal proceedings continue to spark discussions about media accountability and the application of digital security laws in Bangladesh.
