Amnesty critical of mass arrest

Amnesty International has said the government of Bangladesh must refrain from arbitrary mass arrests, which appear to have been directed only at the opposition student activists.
“Criminal investigations must be impartial, regardless of the suspect's political affiliation or party membership.
“Moreover, the authorities must ensure that the detainees are brought promptly before a court and allowed to challenge the legality of their detention,” said a statement by the London based Amnesty International on Tuesday.
It said more than 300 supporters of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, were arrested in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong and other cities last week. “It is not known if any of them have been charged with a recognisable criminal offence.”