Pro-BNP lawyers protest 'instructed' verdict against Odhikar officials

Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Ainjibi Forum (BJAF), a body of pro-BNP lawyers, today protested the conviction of Odhikar Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan and its Director ASM Nasiruddin Elan.

During a rally held on the Supreme Court Bar Association premises, the lawyers also demanded cancellation of the court verdict and immediate release of Adilur and Nasiruddin from jail.

A Dhaka court on September 14 sentenced Adilur and Nasiruddin to two years' imprisonment in a case filed under the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Act for running "a distorted report and doctored images" about the May 5-6, 2013, police action on a Hefajat-e-Islam rally in Motijheel.

Today, the speakers at the BJAF's rally termed the verdict as "an instructed one."

Senior Advocate Zainul Abedin, a former president of the SCBA and convener of United Lawyers Front, said the verdict against Adilur and Nasiruddin has proved that there is no rule of law, democracy, and human rights in the country.

The lawyers' movement will continue until the present government quits and hands over power to a neutral government, he said.

Lawyers Subrata Chowdhury, Kayser Kamal, Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Syed Mamun Mahbub, among others, spoke at the meeting.