Staff Reporter:
Rajbari Sadar’s Magistrate Court is set to potentially issue arrest warrants in a high-profile case involving allegations of offensive and criminal remarks against Islam, as the investigation into the accused has reportedly not progressed as expected.
The case, filed on 18 March 2025, targets a group of writers, bloggers, and social activists accused of disseminating comments deemed derogatory towards Islam causing criminal injury to the Muslims. According to the complaint, an online media report published by “The Daily Nobojug” included statements that the complainant considered offensive and criminally injurious and destructive to the Islamic faith. The complainant, Md. Fazlul Haq, lodged the case under Sections 295/295(A) of the Penal Code (Bangladesh), 1860, citing deliberate acts intended to outrage religious sentiments. The case was taken up by the Judicial Magistrate’s Court, Cognizance Section, under the supervision of Senior Judicial Magistrate Tamjid Ahmed, who directed the Rajbari Sadar Police’s intelligence division to conduct a thorough investigation.
Previous hearings were conducted on 25 June and 10 September this year, during which the Rajbari Police requested time extensions to submit their investigation report—requests the court approved. On 01 December, the court again granted an extension for the submission of the report and simultaneously approved a petition to issue arrest warrants for the accused. The next hearing has been scheduled for 23 February 2026.
A total of 28 individuals have been named in the case. Key accused include Esrat Rasid, Mohiuddin Miah, Munayem Ahmed, Mohammad Abdul Kader Sumel, Md. Jakir Hossain, Md. Sabbir Hossain, Abu Bakar Siddiq, Jubaer Ahmed, Shahriar Md. Nafis Khan, Md. Mazharul Islam, Gazi Mohammad Saiful Islam, Md. Masum Sajjad, Md. Mijanur Rahaman, and Fateha Tasbi, among others.
Efforts to obtain a comment from accused media platform have so far been unsuccessful.
Legal experts note that cases under Sections 295/295(A) of the Penal Code are particularly sensitive in Bangladesh, as they involve public sentiments related to religion. Such cases often draw significant media attention and public discourse, highlighting the delicate balance between freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs. Observers suggest that the court’s decision to potentially issue arrest warrants underscores the seriousness with which such allegations are treated in the country.
This case is expected to continue generating public and media scrutiny, with implications for both online content regulation and the broader debate over the limits of expression in Bangladesh.
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