Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta blamed on Sunday the judiciary for taking the case against journalist Probir Sikdar under Section 57 of the ICT Act on charges of defaming a minister, reports bdnews24.com.
Mr Sengupta, the chief of the parliamentary panel on law and justice ministry, said on Sunday the case was "unnecessary".
"The judiciary is independent. Law ministry doesn't control it."
"It won't work if you blame the government. The government has separated [the judiciary]," he added in reply to a reporter's query at Parliament's media centre.
Journalist Sikdar was arrested after stating on Facebook that his life was in danger and that three persons from Faridpur -- LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, controversial business tycoon and alleged war criminal Moosa Bin Shamsher, and convicted war criminal Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar -- would be responsible for his death.
He was later shown arrested for defaming the minister and remanded in police custody for three days. He was, however, freed on bail a day after his grilling.
Mr Sikdar's arrest and remand outraged many across the country.
In 2001, Mr Sikdar lost a leg in an attack after writing against Mr Shamsher.
Mr Sengupta also discussed Mr Sikdar's case in a press conference after a meeting of the parliamentary panel on Sunday.
"If there is a case against him, why the remand and subsequent bail?" he asked.
Referring to a related law, he said, "It is said that the physically challenged men or women will have to be given bail. But he was given remand first."
About the demand to revoke the ICT Act, he said, "The Act cannot be annulled. Now it is the world of ICT. The issue here is Section 57."
