Brahmanbaria Correspondent

The winning Awami League candidate and newly-appointed Minister for Housing and Public Works RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury has filed a defamation case of Tk 100 crore against the defeated independent candidate of Brahmanbaria-3 (Sadar - Vijaynagar) Constituency Ferozur Rahman.

He himself filed this case in the court of Brahmanbaria Joint District and Sessions Judge (First Court) Nazrul Islam on Thursday afternoon.

It is learnt that during the campaign for the 12th National Assembly elections, Ferozur Rahman has made objectionable statements.

Ferozur Rahman Olio also resigned from the post of Chairman of the Upazila Parishad to be a candidate for the 12th National Assembly elections. He first sought the nomination of Awami League. However, he became an independent candidate without getting party nomination. In the election, Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury got 1 lakh 58 thousand 872 votes in the boat symbol and was elected as a member of Parliament for the fourth time.

On the other hand, Ferozur boycotted the election around 3:30 pm on the polling day, alleging rigging and fake voting and demanding re-polling. However, Olio congratulated Ubaidul Moktadi in Dhaka after receiving his ministerial duties.

According to the statement of the case, Ferozur Rahman misled the voters by making various false, fabricated and defamatory statements against the plaintiff (Obaidul Muktadir) after realizing that he had no chance of winning the election.

It is said that Ferozur Rahman attended the election public meeting at Suhilpur Bazar of Sadar Upazila at around eight o'clock on December 26. There he made false and baseless statements to denigrate the plaintiff socially, politically and personally to mislead the voters. In his speech, Ferozur said, "He (Moktadi) has my money in his own house. 30-35 years ago I am giving him 50 thousand taka. Financial assistance while doing University of Brahmanbaria (private university).”

RG also said that Ferozur's statement was broadcast from a Facebook ID named Tarekul Islam Anik. Besides, various people present in the public meeting recorded the video of the speech and posted it on social media.

It is said in RG that Moqtadir had no acquaintance with Ferozur 30-35 years ago. At that time, the plaintiff Moktadir Chowdhury was engaged in the duties of the assistant private secretary of the then opposition leader of the National Parliament, Sheikh Hasina. Ferozur's statement is completely false. When the video of the speech came to light, a legal notice was sent to Ferozur by post on December 28 to seek an apology from the plaintiff to avoid the defamatory speech. But Ferozur did not take any action despite receiving legal notice. Moktadir's personal, political and social life has been seriously damaged by this defamatory statement. This loss will be 100 crore rupees.

In this regard, Moktadir Chowdhury's lawyer, Abdul Jabbar Mamun, Law Secretary of Brahmanbaria Municipal Awami League, told this correspondent, "The court has taken the case into consideration. Now the court will issue summons to the defendant. If the defendant does not pay the compensation money within the stipulated time, then the plaintiff of the case has requested the court to order the collection of money by auctioning any immovable property of Ferozur to recover the compensation money. The court will hear the case next Sunday."

In this regard, Ferozur Rahman Olio told this correspondent , "I said in the election public meeting that I gave Tk 5 lakh to his (Moktadir Chowdhury) university through a cheque. Not long ago. And long ago I gave him 50 thousand rupees to start a school. It is true that I paid. I said what is true. When he sent the lawyer notice, I could not reply due to election engagement. Since I have filed a case, I will respond legally."