Journalist Shafiuzzaman Rana of Nokla upazila in Sherpur has been sentenced to six months imprisonment on the orders of the mobile court.

He is the Nokla upazila correspondent of the national daily Desh Parwan. Currently, he is imprisoned in Sherpur District Jail.

Nokla Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md Shihabul Arif conducted the mobile court and gave this sentence on Tuesday.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sadia Ummul Banin ordered the executive magistrate to run the mobile court.

The upazila administration has accused journalist Rana of obstructing government work, creating disorder and misconduct.

Bonya Akhter, the wife of journalist Shafiuzzaman Rana, revealed that her husband visited the UNO office on Tuesday accompanied by their son Shahriar Jahan. He submitted an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005, seeking details about the purchase of computers and laptops for an ADP project. The application was handed to Sheela Akhter, Confidential Assistant (CA) at the office, who requested them to wait.

After waiting for some time, Rana inquired about the copy again. Sheela responded, stating that the received copy could not be provided without the presence of the UNO.

Frustrated with the situation, Rana contacted the deputy commissioner to address the issue. His communication with the deputy commissioner reportedly angered the UNO, leading to negative comments from the UNO.

Subsequently, Nokla police arrived at the scene and arrested Shafiuzzaman on charges of misbehaviour with the UNO and Sheela. A mobile court conducted by Nokla Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shihabul Arif sentenced Shafiuzzaman to six months imprisonment.

Narrating the incident, the arrested journalist’s son Mahin said: "I occasionally accompany my father on various errands. On that day, I was with him when he visited the UNO office during an official discussion. My father sought information from the confidential wing of the UNO office, where Sheela, the office assistant, requested us to wait. After waiting for an extended period, my father asked again for the acknowledgment copy. Sheela informed us that the acknowledgment would not be provided until the UNO's discussion concluded, instructing us to wait. Subsequently, my father made a phone call, likely to the deputy commissioner. Sheela entered the official discussion room and informed the UNO, Sadia Ummul Banin, who, in response, became angry and abruptly left the room without completing the discussion."

Mahin recounted that UNO Sadia verbally abused journalist Rana upon her arrival. Pointing to Mahin, she said: "Are you going to be a thief journalist like your father?"

Following these events, Upazila Assistant Commissioner Md Shihabul Arif conducted a mobile court, sentencing Rana to six months imprisonment based on instructions.

Additionally, Rana's mobile phone was confiscated during this period.

Executive Magistrate Shihabul Arif said: "Journalist Shafiuzzaman Rana has been found guilty under Section 188 of the 1860 Penal Code and for molesting a female employee under Section 509 of the Penal Code. He is charged with trespassing into a government office, causing commotion, obstructing government work, creating a disorderly situation, and misconduct. Consequently, he has been sentenced to six months imprisonment.”

UNO Sadia Ummul Banin of Nokla said: "Journalist Rana came to apply for information, demanding immediate action. I informed him that I was in a meeting and had a 20-day timeline for providing information. However, he confronted CA Sheela, using offensive language and engaging in inappropriate behaviour. This misconduct disrupted the office atmosphere, leading me to request the assistant commissioner (land) to conduct the mobile court."

Bangladesh Mofossal Sangbadik Forum (BMSF) is deeply concerned about the arrest of journalist Rana. The president of the organization Ahmed Abu Jafar condemned the incident and demanded punishment against the culprits, as well as the immediate unconditional release of Rana.

Sherpur Press Club General Secretary Adil Mahmud Ujjal strongly condemned the incident and said: "It is not desirable to punish a journalist through a mobile court."

Journalist Union Sherpur district President Manik Dutta said: "Six-month sentence for a journalist! This cannot be accepted in any way."

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat emphasized on the fair investigation of journalist Shafiuzzaman Rana's imprisonment through mobile court. Besides, he is monitoring the matter regularly.

The state minister spoke to the Chief Information Commissioner Md Abdul Malek and inquired about the matter. At this time, the state minister emphasized on fair investigation of the incident.

Information Commissioner Shahidul Alam Jhinuk is going to Nokla on Sunday to investigate the issue of sentencing a journalist to prison by setting up a mobile court. He is scheduled to submit the report to the Information Commission on Monday.

Controversy over mobile courts is not new. After hearing three writs related to such courts, the High Court on May 11, 2017 declared 11 sections and sub-sections of the Act of 2009 regarding the operation of mobile courts by the executive magistrate as illegal and unconstitutional.

At the same time, the operation of mobile courts by executive magistrates is also declared illegal in this act.

The Appellate Division stayed the decision pending disposal of the state party's appeal against the High Court's judgment declaring the operation of mobile court by the executive magistrate as illegal.

On January 16, 2018, a five-judge appellate bench led by the then Chief Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Mia gave this order.

As a result, there is no hindrance in the operation of the mobile court for the time being, the lawyers said.