Odhikar secy sent to jail

Adilur Rahman Khan

A Dhaka court yesterday sent Odhikar Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan to jail after he was produced before it following a High Court order.
Metropolitan Magistrate Mostafa Shahriar Khan passed the order after DB Inspector Ashraful Islam, who is the investigation officer of the case, produced him in court.
Adilur's lawyer also submitted a petition praying to the court for providing him with first class division in jail custody. But the court rejected the plea.
The High Court on Monday stayed the five-day remand granted by a lower court on Sunday for interrogation of the Odhikar secretary.
It asked the authorities concerned to send Adilur to jail immediately in connection with the case filed against him under the Information and Communication Technology Act.
The court, however, allowed the investigation officer to interrogate the accused, if necessary, at the jail gate.
Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Kumar Dey on Sunday placed Adilur on a five-day remand after Detective Branch (DB) of police produced him before it with a 10-day remand prayer.
Detectives arrested Adilur at his residence in Gulshan on Saturday on charges of tarnishing the image of the government, the state and law enforcers by publishing a “false report” online about the crackdown on Hefajat-e Islam at Motijheel Shapla Chattar in May.

Police take Odhikar Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan to Dhaka Central Jail after he was produced in a metropolitan magistrate's court yesterday. The rights activist was arrested Saturday on charges of tarnishing the image of the government, the state and law enforcers by publishing a “false report” online about the crackdown on Hefajat-e Islam at Motijheel in May. Photo: Focus Bangla

Meanwhile, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) called for the immediate release of Odhikar secretary.
"Adilur Rahman Khan is being charged for the lawful exercise of the right to freedom of expression, so Bangladeshi authorities must immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against him and release him," said Ben Schonveld, ICJ's South Asia director, on its website.
Terming the HC's stay on the remand order as a positive development, Ben said, "Until the charges are dropped, he must be released on bail."
The US government has also voiced deep concern over the arrest of Adilur and urged the Bangladesh authorities to grant him immediate release, reports UNB.
A statement by the deputy spokesperson of the US Statement Department said, "The government of the United States is deeply concerned by the August 10 detention of Adilur Rahman Khan, who is the Secretary of the internationally-respected Bangladeshi human rights organisation Odhikar."
In a democracy, it is essential that the government ensure an environment in which civil society organisations like Odhikar can freely operate, said the statement received here yesterday.