A court in Sirajganj has issued an arrest warrant against Mufti Amir Hamza, Member of Parliament for the Kushtia-3 constituency, for allegedly labeling Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, the Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, an “atheist.”
The order was passed by the Sirajganj judicial court on Tuesday (April 21) around 11:30 AM following a hearing in a defamation case filed against the lawmaker.
Background of the Case
The case was filed on March 30 by Advocate S. M. Nazmul Islam. According to the case statement, Mufti Amir Hamza made derogatory remarks during a religious sermon, referring to the Minister as a “thoroughbred atheist” (আপাদমস্তক নাস্তিক). The plaintiff argued that such comments were not only defamatory but also deeply hurt the social and political reputation of Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku.
Advocate Nazmul Islam stated that the Minister comes from a respected Muslim family and has significantly contributed to the development of numerous mosques, madrasas, and graveyards in his locality. The offensive remarks reportedly stemmed from a speech the Minister gave on March 26 honoring heroic freedom fighters.
Legal Proceedings
The plaintiff’s counsel, Advocate Indrajit Saha, noted that the remarks had sparked widespread indignation across Sirajganj and the rest of the country. He highlighted that the Minister’s father also served as a minister during the Pakistan era, emphasizing the family’s long-standing public service.
The court took the charges under Section 500 of the Penal Code into account. After reviewing the evidence and information presented by the prosecution, the judge issued the warrant for the MP’s arrest.
The controversial video containing the remarks had previously gone viral on social media, leading to intense criticism from various quarters before the legal action was initiated.
