A fresh controversy has emerged in the Kushtia-3 (Sadar) constituency ahead of the upcoming 13th general elections. Mufti Amir Hamza, a religious preacher and candidate supported by Jamaat-e-Islami, is facing a defamation lawsuit filed by Solaiman Chowdhury Shihab, joint convener of the Islamic University branch of the Bangladesh Chhatra Dal.
The legal complaint was submitted on Friday, 16 January, and was formally accepted by the Kushtia Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Sunday, 18 January. The first hearing of the case has been scheduled for 1 February. Both the plaintiff and his legal representative stated that the court will determine the next steps following the initial proceedings.
According to the lawsuit, Mufti Amir Hamza allegedly used social media platforms, including Facebook, to make derogatory remarks during a recent waz mahfil (religious gathering). In his speeches, he reportedly misrepresented the names of the Father of the Nation, the late President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the late Arafat Rahman Coco, youngest son of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and a prominent sports organiser, referring to the latter as a “dog.”
The complaint further alleges that in another video, Mufti Hamza mocked Begum Khaleda Zia in relation to her imprisonment, making disrespectful and obscene comments. The lawsuit claims that such statements have tarnished the reputations of the late Arafat Rahman Coco and Begum Khaleda Zia, while socially humiliating BNP supporters.
Solaiman Chowdhury Shihab emphasised his motivation for filing the case, stating, “As a conscientious citizen, I have sought the court’s intervention to uphold social decency and mutual respect. This is neither a matter of personal grievance nor political retaliation.”
Efforts to reach Mufti Amir Hamza for comment were unsuccessful. However, following the circulation of a video of his waz, he expressed regret for his remarks on 17 January.
Under Sections 500, 501, and 506 of the Bangladesh Penal Code (1860), such defamatory statements are considered punishable offences.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Plaintiff | Solaiman Chowdhury Shihab |
| Defendant | Mufti Amir Hamza |
| Filing Date | 16 January 2026 |
| Court Acceptance Date | 18 January 2026 |
| Hearing Date | 1 February 2026 |
| Alleged Offences | Defamation, Obscene Remarks |
| Relevant Law | Bangladesh Penal Code 1860, Sections 500, 501, 506 |
| Context | Statements during waz mahfil and on social media |
The case has added a new dimension to the electoral discourse in Kushtia-3, highlighting the delicate balance between free speech and respect for public figures in Bangladesh’s political landscape.