The High Court (HC) has directed the authorities concerned to remove all video and audio clips of former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murad Hassan’s ugly and derogatory comments from online platforms and social media, including YouTube and Facebook.
The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman on Tuesday (December 7) issued the order on a suo muto move after Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman had brought the matter to the notice of the court and requested it for a decision on the matter.
In its order, the HC bench asked the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to remove the videos and audio clips in 24 hours.
The higher court also asked Deputy Attorney General Bipul Bagmar to convey the order to the BTRC and inform it after complying with the directive. According to the court’s order, the Deputy Attorney General would submit an action-taken report by Wednesday morning (December 8).
Barrister Sayedul Haque Suman told the High Court that the audio and video clips which went viral on social media and YouTube will have adverse impact on children and the youths if those are not removed immediately. “The responsible agencies of the government should have removed these contents but as they did not, I have sought the High Court’s direction in public interest,” he said in his plea.
During a recent social media interview, Murad made ugly and derogatory remarks on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and her granddaughter Zaima Rahman.
Apart from the BNP men, the country’s women rights groups, feminists, rights activists and academicians have also expressed disappointment over Murad’s comments.
Meanwhile, a two-year-old phone conversation of Murad with actor Mamnun Hasan Emon and actress Mahiya Mahi recently went viral on social media. In that audio clip, Murad made derogatory comments on the actress, threatened her and gave her an alleged indecent proposal.
On Monday night, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked Murad to resign from the cabinet by Tuesday over his recent derogatory remarks on social media.
Later on Tuesday morning, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murad Hasan submitted his resignation letter to the Information Ministry citing ‘personal reasons’.