Expressing opinion not a crime
"I don't believe that expressing an opinion can be considered a crime. I still believe in freedom of speech."
Jhumon Das is unwavering in his beliefs even after six months imprisonment without trial.
His detention and time spent in jail, however, had many turns of events.
Jhumon, 25, from Naogaon village in Sunamganj's Shalla upazila, was detained by police on March 16 for criticising Hefajat-e-Islam leader Mamunul Haque and was in jail till Tuesday evening.
He was initially shown arrested under section-54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. "But I was shocked to find out that a police sub-inspector [on March 22] filed a case against me under the Digital Security Act."
"I have full faith in Bangladesh as a non-sectarian state. But as a cop filed the case against me, it became a case of the state against me.
"I believe an individual's views, be they of a cop, do not represent the state and my writing did not offend the secular nature of Bangladesh," he told The Daily Star.
Since his arrest, Sunamganj court rejected his bail plea four times, while the High Court rejected it once.
Finally, on September 23, a High Court bench granted him bail for a year.
About how the matter unfolded, he said, "After I criticised Mamunul Haque for his defamatory speech about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's sculpture and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh tour, I realised that my Facebook post agitated Hefajat supporters.
"I also found out that a huge mob was gathering to attack our village and several fake accounts were created with my name, posting false statuses to agitate more people. My friends suggested that I turn myself in to police to pacify the situation. So, I called police and surrendered. I was first taken to Shalla Police Station and the next day, I was transferred to Sunamganj jail. There, I heard that my village was attacked. Then when I appeared in court, I came to know that there was a case filed under the DSA against me."
Several hundred Hefajat-e-Islam supporters from nearby villages attacked Noagaon village the day Jhumon was sent to jail. They vandalised around 90 Hindu households, including Jhumon's, and four temples.
"Many of the accused attackers were also arrested and were sent to the same jail that I was in. They started taunting me and saying that I hurt religious sentiment by criticising Mamunul Haque. That created a security threat for me in jail. However, the jail super controlled the situation and ensured my safety.
"What hurt a lot was not being able to see my son, who was born just a few months before I was detained," he said, adding that he is very thankful to everyone who stood by his family in his absence and helped secure his bail.
"For around 10 years, I worked for many companies as salesperson in different districts. Recently, with the support of a cousin, I started a small business. Now, as the High Court ordered me not to go out of the district, I am not sure what to do for a living."
About his security, he said, "After my release, I met the superintendent of Sunamganj police, who assured me of my security. But he also asked me to inform the police about my whereabouts at all times -- even if I just step outside my village. I understand the security concern, but how can anyone start a new life while maintaining all this? I am living in constant fear."
About the freedom of speech, he said, "I've been using Facebook since 2013 and I mostly express my opinions regarding the Liberation War, the independence. I believe that Bangabandhu built a secular country and I've never posted anything that is anti-religion or anti-state."
"My Facebook post was criticising Mamunul Haque as an individual who was threatening the secular nature of the country by insulting the Father of the Nation and our neighbouring country's prime minister."
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