The High Court has ordered the removal of ‘All the Prime Minister’s Men’ from all online platforms, including YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, aired on the Al Jazeera television network.

Wednesday (February 18) afternoon, Justice. Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice. The High Court bench of Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order.

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin appeared for the state in the court. Barrister Reza-e Rakib was in favor of BTRC. Barrister Enamul Kabir Emon was in favor of the writ petition.

On February 15, five of the six Amicus Curiae in court voted against the closure of Al Jazeera. The five are senior lawyers AJ Mohammad Ali, Fida M Kamal, Kamal Ul Alam, Prabir Niyogi and Shahdin Malik. The five amicus curiae also opined that the writ was not admissible. An Amicus Curiae is in favor of shutting down Al Jazeera in the country. He is former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru.

Senior lawyer Kamal-ul-Alam, who was appointed as Amicus Curiae, said there was no reason for the writ petitioner to be offended. The writ is not admissible. However, he said that if the head of a democratically elected state is disputed, then the state itself is disputed. He added that an hour-long report was broadcast. The name of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is being mentioned. Complaining. But he also commented that he could not show any connection with her.

Senior lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali told the court that Al Jazeera’s broadcasting in the country should not be stopped. He also opined that the writ was not admissible in this regard.

On February 9, six amicus curiae (friends of the High Court) were asked to comment on whether the High Court could issue an order to stop the broadcasting of Qatar-based Al Jazeera television network and remove the report ‘All the Prime Minister’s Man’ from the online platform.  

On February 8, a writ petition was filed in the High Court to stop Al Jazeera from broadcasting. Rite asked for the removal of the ‘All the Prime Minister’s Man’ report, which was circulated by the media, on all online platforms, including YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Enamul Kabir Emon filed the writ petition. In the writ petition, the Secretary of Posts and Telecommunications, Secretary of Information and Technology, Chairman of BTRC, Inspector General of Police and others have been made defendants.

An investigative report on Bangladesh was aired on Al Jazeera on February 1, which caused a huge reaction. The report alleges that high-ranking officials were involved in corruption. Officially this report has been strongly protested. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Army also strongly condemned and protested the report. Al Jazeera’s report from various quarters of the government has been called untrue.