Dhaka — A case has been filed against senior Supreme Court lawyer and Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Sunamganj-2, Mohammad Shishir Monir, on allegations of hurting religious sentiments. The complaint was submitted on Sunday (7 December) after Monir reportedly commented that “Roza and Puja are two sides of the same coin.”
The case application was lodged with the court of Dhaka’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam by lawyer Ridwan Hossain Robin, who acted as the complainant.
Confirming the development, the complainant’s counsel Syed Nazrul Islam told the media that the court recorded the plaintiff’s statement after a preliminary hearing. However, no immediate order was issued; the court has kept its decision pending.
According to the case document, the alleged remarks came from a video recently published on a YouTube channel named “DSN.” In the video, Monir is heard saying that “Roza and Puja are two sides of the same coin.” The complainant claims the statement was made intentionally for political gain, with the aim of offending Muslims in Bangladesh. Following circulation on social media, the comment allegedly sparked outrage among religiously sensitive communities.
The complaint further notes that approximately 91 percent of Bangladesh’s population is Muslim. For followers of Islam, fasting (Roza) is observed solely for the satisfaction of a formless Almighty, whereas adherents of the Hindu faith perform rituals with images or idols of deities. Comparing Roza to Puja, the complaint argues, is unacceptable to Muslims and constitutes a direct insult to religious beliefs, potentially inciting unrest.
The petitioner has also requested the court to issue an arrest warrant against Shishir Monir in connection with the allegations.
