Staff Correspondent

 The Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) has strongly condemned and expressed deep resentment over a defamation case filed against its senior member and Managing Editor of the daily Alokito  Bangladesh, Shamim Siddique.

In a joint statement, CRAB President Mirza Mehdi Tamal and Acting General Secretary Shahidul Islam Raji demanded the immediate withdrawal of the lawsuit. The CRAB leaders emphasized that filing such cases against journalists acts as an obstacle to independent journalism. They also urged the Dhaka Ahsania Mission authorities to immediately clear all outstanding dues owed to Siddique.

The defamation case was filed by Prof Dr. Golam Rahman, the current President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission. Dr. Rahman claimed in the lawsuit that he was aggrieved by allegedly defamatory news published against him in an online news portal named Daily Khobor.

Meanwhile, Shamim Siddique alleged  that he is a permanent employee of Dainik Alokit Bangladesh under the 8th Wage Board, clarifying that he has neither resigned nor been terminated from his post. He alleged that whenever he demands his long-pending back pay, he is subjected to threats of attacks and lawsuits.

According to Siddique, the newspaper's former editor and publisher was Kazi Rafiqul Alam, the former president of Dhaka Ahsania Mission. Although Alam reportedly resigned from his editorial post more than two years ago, Dr. Golam Rahman continues to print Alam's name in the newspaper's printer line without his knowledge. Taking advantage of Alam's critical illness, Dr. Rahman allegedly took control of the publication's responsibilities, opened a separate account with Prime Bank, and siphoned off crores of takas through checks signed by his accountant Azad.

Siddique further alleged that while large sums of money are being moved, his legitimate dues are being withheld. On Dr. Rahman's direct orders, his accountant Md. Abul Kalam Azad has stopped Siddique's salary and allowances for over two years without any valid reason.

Siddique added that the online portal Daily Khobor had been running a series of reports exposing Dr. Rahman's past and present criminal activities. Suspecting that Siddique was behind the publication of those reports, Dr. Rahman filed the defamation lawsuit out of vengeance.