Staff Correspondent:
Barrister M. Sarwar Hossain has been accused of using his legal profession as a shield while allegedly leading an organized network involved in disinformation and blackmail targeting prominent business figures and well-known individuals in Bangladesh.
According to allegations, the barrister has been spreading deliberate propaganda through social and electronic media with the aim of damaging reputations and pressuring influential individuals. Victims claim that when they seek legal remedies, he becomes more aggressive, allegedly deploying associates to intensify what has been described as “information terrorism.”One of the major allegations involves his repeated claims against Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan. It is alleged that Sarwar has been circulating false and defamatory statements about him across various platforms.
In response, Sobhan filed a civil case in a Dhaka court on November 22 last year, seeking legal remedy against what he describes as continuous defamation. The case states that Sarwar Hossain has been making “false, offensive, and damaging statements” for a prolonged period, harming Sobhan, his business প্রতিষ্ঠান, and family members both financially and reputationally.Despite the case, Sarwar reportedly continued his campaign. In a Facebook post dated May 5, he claimed that Sobhan was involved in the illegal occupation of 102,000 acres of land. However, analysts point out inconsistencies in this claim, noting that the total area of Dhaka’s two city corporations is approximately 306.4 square kilometers (around 75,700 acres), while the broader Dhaka metropolitan area covers about 360 square kilometers (roughly 88,900 acres). Critics argue that his claim exceeds even the total area of the capital.The Facebook post also alleged that no media outlet had reported on the case, insinuating suppression of information. However, sources confirm that multiple media outlets had indeed covered the case at the time it was filed.
Legal experts have raised concerns over whether a practicing barrister can publicly comment on matters currently under judicial consideration, particularly in a manner that may influence public perception.The allegations further state that Sarwar Hossain has been involved in similar controversies in the past. He was previously part of a legal panel defending 15 military officers accused in cases related to murder, enforced disappearance, and torture under the International Crimes Tribunal. Notably, he had earlier accused one of those officers in a disappearance case, leading to widespread criticism and eventually forcing him to withdraw from the defense panel.
Complainants allege that Sarwar has been systematically using media platforms to conduct smear campaigns and attempt to extort money from influential individuals.As the matter remains under judicial review, questions continue to arise about accountability, ethical conduct in the legal profession, and the broader implications of alleged misuse of digital platforms for personal gain.
