Nation outraged

Different organisations and eminent citizens yesterday expressed deep concern over the abduction of businessman Abu Bakar Siddique, husband of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan.
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Manusher Jonno Foundation, Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan), Sramik Nirapatta Forum in separate statements demanded immediate rescue of Siddique and punishment for the culprits.
Quoting a report of ASK, Sujan in its statement said 68 people were abducted in 2013, while the number stood at 39 from January to March in 2014.
Forty-three eminent persons including Prof Anisuzzaman, Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Advocate Sultana Kamal, Dr Shahdeen Malik, Barrister Sara Hossain, M Hafizuddin Khan, Syed Abul Moksud, Aroma Dutta, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, Dr Hamida Hossain, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Rokeya Kabir and Shaheen Anam, also condemned the abduction and demanded immediate rescue of Siddique.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court lawyers and human rights activists yesterday formed a human chain on the premises of the Supreme Court Bar Association, demanding the rescue of Siddique within 24 hours.
BSS reports, leading environmentalists also expressed concern over the abduction of Siddique, managing director of Hamid Fashion, a Narayanganj-based garment factory.
Dr Atiq A Rahman of BCAS, Sanowar Hosain of Bangladesh Poush, Quamrul Islam Chowdhury of FEJB, Muklesur Rahman of CNRS, Sharmin Murshed of Brotee, Rashed al Mahmud of Unnayan Annesan, Dr Rob Mollah of NACOM, Hosain Shahriar of ESDO, Mahfuz Ullah of CFSD, Bakuluzzaman of Sushilan, Hla Hing Nu of BPNKS, Moududur Rahman of CCEC, Prof Anwarul Islam of Wild Team in a joint statement expressed the concern, the report added.
In a press release, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), a regional human rights body, expressed grave concern over the abduction.
“While we recognise the ongoing efforts by the police and the Rab to investigate this case, we're gravely concerned that there's still no information on the whereabouts of Mr. Siddique and the circumstances behind his abduction,” said Evelyn Balais Serrano, executive director of FORUM-ASIA.
In a separate press release, NGO Federation also expressed concern over the abduction of Siddique, who was abducted in a broad daylight on his way to Dhaka from Narayanganj on Wednesday.
Rizwana, recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2012, filed a complaint with the law enforcement authorities, asserting that her husband might have been abducted by the persons disgruntled with her environmental advocacy work.