In reply to the letter sent by Dr Kamal Hossain, the lawyer of The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, on July 16, Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, on Friday, said the alleged defamatory statement quoted in Dr Kamal's legal notice was the verbatim report of the speech delivered by his client in parliament on June 26.

"My client is responsible for what he said in parliament and stands by it," he said. "He (SQ Chowdhury) does not feel obliged to specify that the statement made by him was directed either against your client or any one else," he added.

Barrister Rafique said, "My client is not obliged to take responsibility for any inference made by your client or the Inqilab as to the ostensible target of my client's remarks."