Awami League Leaders in Chattogram Sued for Alleged Threats to Kill US Ambassador
According to the plaintiff the threats were made in a speech on Monday, 6 November
Dhaka: In a startling turn of events, eight leaders associated with the Awami League are facing legal action in Chattogram for allegedly threatening to kill US Ambassador Peter Haas. The lawsuit was filed by MA Hashem Raju, a former vice-president of Central Chhatra Dal and a prominent leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The complaint, submitted on Wednesday in the court of Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Md Salauddin, accuses the Awami League leaders of making threats against Ambassador Peter Haas. The accused individuals include Chambal Union Parishad Chairman and Union Awami League convener Mujibul Haque Chowdhury, Maheshkhali Upazila Awami League Vice President Faridul Alam, and Chambal Union Parishad members Iftekhar Uddin Babu, Sajjad, Ehchan, Farhad, Nashir, and Saiful.
Advocate M Irfan Uddin, the lawyer representing MA Hashem Raju, confirmed the filing of the case to The Business Standard. The court has kept the complaint pending, awaiting further orders.
According to the plaintiff, who is identified as a human rights activist in the case, the alleged threats occurred during a speech delivered by Mujibul Haque Chowdhury and Faridul Alam on Monday, November 6. The video footage of the speech went viral on social media, prompting Raju to take legal action against the accused Awami League leaders.
Notably, MA Hashem Raju had initially applied to file the case on November 15. However, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka dismissed the application on the same day. Undeterred, the case was subsequently refiled in the court of Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Md Salauddin, who recorded Raju’s statement.
The case has raised concerns about the safety of diplomatic personnel and the potential diplomatic fallout between Bangladesh and the United States. The accused Awami League leaders are yet to respond to the allegations, and the court proceedings are awaited to shed light on the details of the case.
