Urgent Alert
Acting Editor of the daily Amar Desh taken into remand from Kashimpar Jail – 2
by Detective Branch Police
This morning (04 December 2013) at approximately 11:00 am, Odhikar learnt from the wife of the Acting Editor of the daily Amar Desh, Mahmudur Rahman that he was being taken to remand by the Detective Branch Police from Kashimpur Jail-2.
According to his wife, Pervin Mahmud, the Detective Branch police would not disclose as to which police station he would be taken to. They told her that it would be the Cantonment Police Station, the Tejgaon Police Station or the Detective Branch headquarters in Mintoo Road; however, they refused to confirm anything or give any more information. He was taken out of the Jail in a white microbus with no license plates. She and others have contacted the three police station, but they all deny receiving any information in this regard.
She told Odhikar that this remand was based on a prayer submitted by the Detective Branch Police in a previous case filed against him, where the Magistrate had granted 15-days remand. When in remand, he fell ill and had to spend a long period of time in the BSMMU Hospital prison wing as his health had deteriorated. From the hospital he was sent to Kashimpur Jail-2. According to Pervin Mahmud, there were 3 days left in that 15-day remand period. There were no new charges brought against him.
It must be noted here that on 11 April 2013, the Government arrested Mahmudur Rahman. He faces charges including sedition and the publication of a skype conversation that led to the resignation of Justice Nizamul Huq Nasim, of the International Crimes Tribunal. The government has also accused Amar Desh of inciting violence; and shut down the Amar Desh newspaper presses.
This is not the first time Mahmudur Rahman has been taken into remand, and he has been mentally and physically tortured and ill treated during previous remand periods. There is serious risk of the same treatment being meted out to him this time too.
Odhikar calls upon the international media bodies and the international human rights community and everyone concerned to intervene in their respective capacities to demand the immediate release of Mahmudur Rahman and ensure safety and freedom of human rights defenders and journalists in Bangladesh.