The mass media is free to disseminate news, statements, opinions, reports and videos on transfer of assets abroad by S Alam Group owner Mohammad Saiful Alam (S Alam) and his wife Farzana Parveen.
Justice M Enayetur Rahim, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, refused to issue any injunction to this end on Thursday.
However, he has kept with record a petition filed by the couple seeking an injunction against dissemination of news, statements, opinions, reports and videos regarding their transfer of assets abroad.
The court said the petitioners, if they wish, can place this application during the hearing of the leave-to-appeal petition scheduled for 08 January 2024 by the regular Appellate Division bench.
Earlier on August 23, the chamber judge ordered to maintain till January 08 the status quo upon the subject matter of a High Court order that asked the authorities concerned to investigate a slew of allegations against the business house. He also sent the matter to the regular Appellate Division bench for detailed hearing on it that day.
In continuation of that petition, S Alam and his wife on September 12 filed a petition seeking a media injunction until settlement of the HC order.
Justice Rahim heard the petition on Thursday and kept it with record.
Lawyers Rokanuddin Mahmud, Ajmalul Hossain and Muhammad Saifullah Mamun appeared in the court hearing on behalf of S Alam and his wife while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission.
He asked the lawyers what restrictions can be issued upon the media. However, everyone should follow the rules, added the chamber judge.
Lawyer Ajmalul Hossain said, "We feel there is a media-trial going on with S Alam. Now my point is, the media trial will not go on or the court trial will go on?"
Then the court said, "We're all the victims of media trial. If a judgment comes in favour, then they say it is historical, if it comes against a party then they say it motivated. I've seen it like this."
"When a judgment or order is given, different interpretations come by different parties in different ways. We're in a helpless situation with all these matters."
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