Board of Investment (BoI) Executive Chairman Mahmudur Rahman filed a defamation case against five members of the CPD board of trustees on Wednesday.

"As a research institute we feel bound to break our traditional silence in a situation that could threaten independent research and dissemination, as well as throttle freedom of speech and free thought," Dr Quazi Shahabuddin, director general of BIDS, said in a press release yesterday.

The release also said there is a long tradition of independent research and dissemination in Bangladesh, including well-developed norms for expressing differences in opinion about data or methods. "It is unfortunate that in recent times such norms appear to have been eroded," it added.

The release requested all concerned to demonstrate greater maturity and responsibility.

Meanwhile, different political parties and rights groups also protested the defamation case filed against members of the CPD board of trustees.

Supra, a civil society campaign for good governance, formed a human chain near the Shahbagh intersection yesterday protesting against Mahmudur Rahman's filing the defamation case against the five eminent citizens.

Members of different organisations including Faith and Hope Welfare Association, Swadhin Bangla Garment Sramik Federation, Safal Trust, Fido, Pradip and a number of Dhaka University students joined the human chain, a Supra press release said.

Following the human chain, they held a rally where the speakers termed the defamation case a threat to free speech and thoughts.

Chief of the Supra Secretariat Aminul Rasul Babul, its coordinators Mohammad Zakaria and Mostafa Kamal Akanda addressed the rally among others.

Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) and Karmajibi Nari in a joint statement condemned the filing of the case against five renowned citizens. The statement signed by Roekya Rafiq Baby and Dr Fostino Perera said such cases hamper citizens' democratic and constitutional rights of free speech.

Leaders of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Jatiya Sramik Jote, Movement for Effective Parliament and Barisal Division Awami Forum also sent separate statements protesting against the filing of the defamation case.