Shahriar Kabir's arrest by B'desh government declared illegal by High Court Judges
Jaffor Ullah
Bangladesh scribe arrest 'illegal'
BBC News
By the BBC's Alistair Lawson in Dhaka
Two high court judges in Bangladesh have ruled that the detention of a
prominent journalist, Shahriar Kabir, on sedition charges is unlawful. But
they ruled that it was not within their power to give him bail.
Mr Kabir was imprisoned last month after returning from a visit to India in
which he filmed Hindu refugees who allegedly fled Bangladesh to escape
persecution from Islamic extremists. The government says Mr Kabir's
activities have undermined the sovereignty of Bangladesh, but his lawyers
say that he is a political prisoner forced to endure appalling conditions in
jail.
Expose
Mr Kabir's lawyers say that his imprisonment shows that press freedom in
Bangladesh is under threat. They say that his only crime was to expose the
plight of Bangladesh's Hindu minority by filming them in refugee camps in
India. Many Hindus say they have been force to flee Bangladesh to escape
communal violence following the election of a new government in October
which contains two hard-line Islamic parties.
After the court ruling on Saturday, lawyers for Mr Kabir say they intend to
return to court as soon as possible to try and get him released. They say
that because they are denied access to him in jail, it is not clear whether
he will be informed of the court ruling in his favour. Meanwhile concerns
about his health, including a heart condition, have worsened during his time
in jail.
Criticism
Mr Kabir faces life imprisonment if he is found guilty of the charges
levelled against him, which includes sedition, and undermining the
sovereignty of the state. Some of the charges stem from an interview which
he gave to the BBC in India. Human rights groups, including Amnesty
International, have condemned his imprisonment, describing him as a prisoner
of conscience.
His lawyers say the case should never come to trial, and that the only
reason he is in the dock is because he is seen as close to the opposition,
and has been strongly critical of the hardline Jamiat-e-Islami party, which
is now part of the government. But the prosecution argues that he is a
troublemaker rather than a political prisoner, and that he faces such
serious charges because he has publicly questioned the independence of
Bangladesh in violation of the country's constitution. The government also
accuses Mr Kabir of unfairly accusing individual ministers of collaborating
with Pakistan during Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971.
K-Rahman
turban and start dancing on the road.
Janoar Kothakar!
"Jaffor Ullah" <Jaf...@netscape.net> wrote in message news:<ct_%7.4925$3x5.5...@e3500-atl2.usenetserver.com>...
Shakil Sarwar
(BBC) awami gordov alistiar distorted the ruling of awami-appointed
judges. I have, in a previous occasion, analysed what kind of a gordov
this alistair is. Readers might want to check this check from Google
archive. Readers might recall few years ago this murtad najmun ara
sultana gave a ruling making shariah-based fatwa null and void.
The high court judges declined the govt petition for the EXTENSION of
detention of a scoundrel named shahriar kabir. The news had been
correctly reported by Daily Independent and Daily Inqilab (compare
this with the awami gordov daily star's mahfuz anam's version). Below
are the Independent and DS versions ( Jan 13, 2002):
Shahriar's detention extension orders held void, release ordered
Declaring the extension of detention orders against
journalist-writer Shahriar Kabir "illegal", the High Court
yesterday directed the government to set him free if not wanted
in any other case, reports UNB.
After hearing a habeas-corpus writ petition filed on behalf of
the detainee, an HC Division Bench comprising Justice Mohammad
Hamidul Huq and Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana yesterday delivered
the judgement.
The bench found that the government had the authority to pass the
initial detention order upon Shahriar Kabir, "but the extension
of detention is illegal and not having any sanction of law".
The writ petition was moved by Barrister Amirul Islam for the
detained writer-columnist, charged in a sedition case, while the
government was represented by Deputy Attorney General Mizanur
Rahman.
Shahriar Kabir, also acting President of Ghatak Dalal Nirmul
Committee, was arrested at Zia International Airport on his
return from Kolkata on November 22 and put in detention under the
Special Powers Act 1974.
Earlier, this bench of the High Court had issued a rule upon the
government to show cause as to why the detention of Kabir should
not be declared illegal and without lawful authority.
Following the detention orders, the government filed a sedition
case against Kabir on the basis of some video footage brought by
him from India regarding torture and migration of Hindu people
after October 1 election.
The sedition case is now pending with the court.
_______________________________________________
Shahriar's detention illegal, declares HC
BSS,Dhaka
The High Court yesterday declared the detention of
writer and journalist Shahriar Kabir illegal as it
delivered the judgement on a writ challenging the
government order.
A division bench comprising Justice Mohammad Hamidul
Haque and Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana delivered the
judgement after a long hearing on the writ moved by
Barrister M Amirul Islam.
The court order, however, would not bring him out of the
grill since the detainee also faces a sedition case.... (Daily Star)
mwzaman
DS, January 18, 2002):
Commentary
An Appeal for Shahriar's Release
Mahfuz Anam
We took our time in writing this appeal. In fact we can be accused of
having
taken too long. We have a natural loyalty to any democratically
elected government about whose action we did not want to rush to any
judgement.
We wanted to give Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, her relevant minister
and officials ample time to tell the people why an author, a columnist
and a civic activist has been imprisoned and denied most of his basic
rights. On a personal note, this writer was moved by the photograph of
Shahriar's young son holding the poster saying 'Amader Babake Dekhte
Dao' (Allow us to see our father). The writer recalls his own
childhood days waiting anxiously along with his mother and other
brothers at the Dhaka Central Jail gate hoping to see his father
detained by Gen. Ayub Khan in 1958. The meeting with his father was
denied for months before a High Court order made the meeting possible.
Shahriar was arrested on 22 November 2001 under section 54 of Criminal
Procedure Code (CrPC) without any specific allegation, on arrival at
ZIA from Kolkata. On 25 Nov. he was given one-month detention which
was later extended to four months under SPA. On 8 December government
filed treason case against him under Section 123(a), 124(a) and 505(a)
of Penal Code of Bangladesh.
So far the lower courts have rejected his bail petition four times.
The High Court declared illegal the detention under SPA against which
the government has appealed during the 57 days of detention:
Shahriar has not been allowed one of the most basic right of an
accused under detention which is the right of family visits once every
15 days. So far not a single visit by his wife and two children has
been permitted. He has been able to meet his family only during court
appearances for his bail hearings.
He was not initially allowed any access to legal protection and no
visit by his lawyers was permitted. Even after the High Court ruled
about lawyers' visiting rights the jail authority did not comply.
After a demonstration by lawyers at the jail gate and a threat to
issue a demand for justice notice, two lawyers were permitted to see
Shahriar in the presence of police thus preventing a confidential
discussion of the case between the prisoner and his lawyers.
He has been kept with common criminals without the "Division" (a
special prison for respected citizens) which is normally allowed for
accused who are writers, journalists, politicians and socially
prominent people.
He has been brought to court in handcuffs and in prison vans with
common criminals. These vans which has capacity to carry a maximum of
15-20 prisoners are made to carry 60 or more after being packed like
sardines.
What is Shahriar's crime? He went to Kolkata. He interviewed some
people who claimed to have cross the border following attack on some
minorities after the October1, 2001, election. He gave interview to
BBC in which he spoke out against the oppression on the minorities.
According to the FIR filed by the police, when arrested at ZIA he was
in possession of some video films. These video films are supposed to
contain interviews with members of Hindu community who said they were
forced to leave home because of attacks on them. There is also
reportedly some footage of demonstrations in India in which slogans
were raised against repression on Hindus in Bangladesh and some
placards were seen which read "We do not accept the border". The
police nowhere accuses Shahriar of organising any of these
demonstrations, inciting people to violence, writing the
anti-Bangladesh placards, or in any way being involved with any of the
activities which was recorded in the video.
So what did Shahriar do that constituted treason? As we stated before
he went to Kolkata. He interviewed some people who claimed to be
citizens of Bangladesh who have been attacked and made homeless and
forced to cross over to India. He spoke out against repression on
minorities on BBC. He carried some videos back to Dhaka, which he did
not show to anybody. So where is his treason? Is it "treason" to find
out what has happened to the members of Hindu community who could be
CITIZENS OF BANGLADESH?
The Home Minister is on record to have said about the attack on
minorities that "Some of it is false, some exaggerated and some true".
Going by him the whole thing was not a figment of imagination and that
some atrocities against the minorities were committed. This was later
confirmed by the Secretaries Committee, which prepared an official
report on it.
As an Editor I could have easily assigned a reporter to travel to the
border areas to investigate whether stories about minorities going to
India was true or not. My reporter would have taken pictures (or
video, if he had a camera) of any demonstration taking place there as
the one filmed by Shahriar. Then, would my reporter be guilty of
"treason"? As for the BBC interview many people gave interviews and
expressed similar views. In fact the BBC itself broadcast a highly
critical series on this issue. Obviously the government thought better
of not meddling with the international media.
Here are several counts on which we write this protest commentary.
First, why this maltreatment of Shahriar? The denial of family
visiting rights is something that only the most oppressive governments
can do.
Second, keeping Shahriar with common criminals. The Home Minister was
reported to have said, "What is so special about him?" It is sad
commentary on the sophistication of our governments that they forget
what is proper and what is not once they assume power. Shahriar is an
author of more than 70 books. He has done nothing else in his life
except write-either books, or columns, articles for journals. For the
most part of his life he was a journalist with the weekly Bichitra in
its earlier incarnation as a magazine under the Dainik Bangla Trust.
That is what is special about him. If the minister cannot distinguish
between a petty criminal (that is the way he is being treated) and
Shahriar Kabir then it is indeed a sad day.
Third, the denial of legal counsel in the earlier phase of his
internment and limitations on his full access to legal rights.
Overall, the fact that he was not allowed meeting with his lawyers was
a denial of the fundamental right of a prisoner. Only after a High
Court order was the lawyer allowed to visit him, but that also in
front of a police officer.
It is now 57 days that a writer, columnist and a civic right activist
has been denied all his fundamental rights. He has been kept in prison
with criminals,terorrists and murderers for the simple reason that he
spoke his mind about an issue that embarrassed the government. So is
embarrassing the government the new definition of treason. The
government has not been unable to provide any credible evidence
against Shahriar for the crimes he has been accused of. In fact there
is a lot of speculation regarding what triggered the government to act
the way it did? Some believe the pressure was from one of the
coalition partners.
He has worked against the BNP during the elections and spoke out
against Jamaat (an alliance partner of the government) and wrote
incessantly against fundamentalism and communalism. He has also
written many books on our Liberation War. His life long mission has
been against Razakars and criminals of the 71 War of Liberation. It is
very clear that politically Shahriar belongs to the camp opposed to
this government. Is this why he is being punished? Is he being set as
an example of what will happen if anybody tries to embarrass the
government? Is it a warning against writing on minority issues? Is he
being made an example to warn other columnists?
For all the above questions we would like to believe the answer to be
no. We would like to believe that BNP government would strengthen our
democracy, civic rights, freedom of expression and freedom of
journalists. But Shahriar's case is raising serious doubts in our
mind. Permit us to remind the government that we live in a globalised
world. We cannot oppress at home and expect to be treated as a
democrat abroad. What we do at home has a ripple effect everywhere and
impacts on our international standing. You may differ with a writer
but you cannot oppress him for his opinion. In fact freedom of opinion
and the right to express that opinion is what the present world is all
about. Remember why the Soviet Union and the whole socialist bloc
collapsed. Just for denying these rights.
We refrain from passing any comment on the case itself as a mark of
respect for the judiciary before whom Shahriar is seeking justice. The
Courts are our final destination to seek justice and we hope that
Shahriar will find it there.
We would like to point out to the government that this particular case
has damaged its image to the voters who elected them in the hope that
state power be not abused as before. In conclusion we appeal to the
government that Shahriar be released. (The Daily Star, January 18,
2002)
"Jaffor Ullah" <Jaf...@netscape.net> wrote in message news:<ct_%7.4925$3x5.5...@e3500-atl2.usenetserver.com>...
Shakil Sarwar
Don't become a maniac to quote mahfuz anam who is an well known awami
pighead editor. This janwar does not have any natural loyality to any
democratically elected govt. This is the scoundrel who supported
innumerous fascist acts of the awamis. Now he is shedding crocodile's
tears and trying to butter up BNP govt. Where was this janwar's
conscience when Inqilab's editor, Owner were charged with treason for
publishing a parody of national anthem? While Inqilab editor Bahauddin
escaped the arrest warrant, owner Moinuddin Khan was thrown into jail.
Besides, Inqilab office had to take the heat of awami bombing several
times during the past awami regime. Did this kutta utter a few words
to protest those incidents? What about several attacks and
vandalisation of Weekly Evidence office and incarceration of its
editor Manjur Kader? What about shooting at Daily Dinkal office and
harrassing of its office employees? What about the armed attacks on
Daily Sangram office?
On 18 Jan 2002 12:29:46 -0800, mwz...@aol.com (mwzaman) wrote:
>(A DAILY STAR COMMENTARY DEMANDS SHAHRIAR KABIR's RELEASE DETENTION,
>DS, January 18, 2002):
>Commentary
>An Appeal for Shahriar's Release
>Mahfuz Anam
>
>We took our time in writing this appeal. In fact we can be accused of
>having taken too long. We have a natural loyalty to any democratically
>elected government about whose action we did not want to rush to any
>judgement.
From: shakil...@my-deja.com (Shakil Sarwar)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Re: Detention of a Journalist
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 14:34:33 GMT
>On Tue, 04 Dec 2001 19:40:12 GMT, "Dr. Shabbir A. Bashar"
><sha...@badh.betelco.com> wrote:
>Dear Shakil Sarwar,
>
>Thank you. I would like to thank you for participating in this discussion. I have learn a lot more about what is
>going on behind the scenes. Your reference to the Bangla Newspaper, Inquilab, has been quite useful.
>
>Nov. 22 : A press notice released by Shotonagorik (Hundred Citizens ?) Committee claims that there a consipiracy to
>tarnish the image of the country by using the issue of minority abuse. It is further claimed that this is being done
>on oneside by the defeated conspirators who want to destroy the silent revolution of the ballot box of October 1 by
>the conscious masses of Bangladesh; on the other side, there is the neighbouring state & its and her agencies and
>organisations & her self interest. In the second paragraph, the statement urges the government to take stern action
>against those who are spreading lies to further their party interests at the cost of the (image of the) country;
>another statement blames various Indian fundamentalist Hindu religious groups and other organizations for their
>agressive interference in the domestic politics of Bangladesh and finally the statement ends with a list of
>recommendations to immediately repatriate the (Bangladeshi) anti-state activists residing in India. The signatories,
>judging by all the titles, sound like a bunch of academics - and one could have guessed as much by the impractical
>recommendations they made such as the one in the previous sentence.
>
>Does anyone know if the concept of Miranda Rights exist in the Bangladeshi legal system ? The related article in
>Inquilab on Nov. 24 states that instead of confessing about his (alleged) activities to the officials of the
>detective agencies, Mr. Kabir engaged in a debate with them. Does a man in his position have a right to an
>attorney/solicitor/legal representation ? This article also states that Mr. Kabir is the defacto chairman of the
>hate group Ghadanik.
>
>The article on 25th states that Kabir was intent upon broadcasting his findings (recorded in a Betacom cassette)
>through a "controversial" TV channel. It then quotes Mr. Kabir's statements to a BBC Online program where he claimed
>that the fundamentalists of Bangladesh are forcing the Hindus to go to India, they want that Bangladesh be a pure
>Muslim state. Mr. Kabir also said that after the victory of the alliance government, not only are the minorities
>being abused but also Hindu women are being raped in massive numbers. This article then ends with a statement from
>the Interior Ministry (don't know the official English name of Shorashtro Montronaloy).
Shorashtro Montronaloy => Home Ministry
>On the 27th, there is an alarming article titled "RAW's Big Budget Mission to Save Shahriar Kabir". This states that
>the videos siezed from Mr. Kabir contained materials such as slogans and propaganda for the so called "Swadhin
>Bongobhumi" (Independent Bongo (Bangla/Bengali) Land); one of the slogans was "we will not and do not accept
>(international) borders".
The border that is implied here is the one between Bangladesh and
India (West Bengal to be more specific) - essentially in line with
Nehru-dreamt Akhand Bharat. They are definitely not talking about all
international borders.
>It further states that Mr. Kabir was a frequent visitor to the Indian High Commission in
>Bangladesh and that he was the receipient of a monthly stipend of 100,000.00 (app. US$1,760.00) from the (Indian
>secret service) RAW; that he was trained on surveillence (by them) at India's Dehradoon and later at Dhaka's Indian
>mission.
I noticed that you have a tendency to convert Bangladeshi currency
unit to US currency. This might send wrong singal to a certain section
of people. While US$1,760/month may not look like an impressive
amount, an income of TK 100,000/month in Bangladesh is a dream salary
to most Bangladeshis. You can live like a King (Emperor) with that
kind of monthly salary (Of course, those who make that kind of money
may still think that they deserve more!).
>The article also says that they have learned that Mr. Kabir also attended a week long course at the
>(Israeli secret service) Mossad; given that Mr. Kabir has no steady income, his lifestyle is very lavish. It is
>alleged that there are complaints about his, along with those of Laila Hasan & Hasan Imam, possible connection with
>the Udichi bomb blast. The detective agencies are preparing to interview Hasan Imam, his wife Laila Hasan, Muntasir
>Mamun and Tajul Islam Abed Khan amongst others.
>
>On 28th, the paper goes on to reveal that Mr. Kabir was one of the operators of the Indian secret service, RAW's bank
>accounts in Bangladesh. It states that the Indian secret service has an "entertainment" home in the Gulshan
>Residential district of Dhaka which is used for meetings by political, business, diplomatic, military and
>non-military personnel. This house is one best intelligence gathering means of the Indian organisation. There are
>regular drinking and gambling sessions in the evenings which are attended by high society girls; Mr. Kabir controls
>19 of these women.
>
>> 5. He organized protests and demonstrations in India condemning
>> ‘communal’ violence in Bangladesh, and made anti-Bangladesh statements
>> in India.
>
>I don't recall seeing this.
It should be borne in mind that online newspapers publish only a
portion of their paper version. I don't know if Zunaid collected the
above info from paper-print version of Inqilab. However, the closest
we can get is from a report on Nov 27 -- 'Video cassettes seized from
him contained various processions organised under the banner of
Calcutta-based Bangladesh Refugee Welfare Council. According to some
sources, some people from the greater Khulna, Barisal, Faridpur and
Jessore set up refugee camps in West Bengal. Bangladesh Refugee
Welfare Council is a sister-organisation of Calcutta-based United
Bengal Citizens Association.' Zunaid has to defend his position.
>> 6. He met with Indians to erect ‘refugee’ camps in India so that the
>> violence can be given an international flavor.
>
>I didn't see this in Inquilab.
See my comments above.
>> 7. After his arrest, Indian High Commission ‘officials’ rushed to win
>> freedom of Mr. Kabir by offering high amounts of bribes.
>
>I didn't see this in Inquilab.
See Salah Uddin Shoeb Choudhury's report (first two paragraphs) in
Inqilab's 24/11/2001 issue. It says that on hearing the news of
Shahriar Kabir's captivity, a councilor [A K Mathur, refer to Dec 2
issue), who is actually a RAW's undercover Bangladesh station chief,
from the Indian High Commission, rushed to the airport. For about an
hour, he bargained with the Airport Intelligence officers to free
Shahriar Kabir. He, however, managed to get hold of a 'chirkoot' (top
secret note destined for Janakantha Editor Atiqullah Khan) by bribing
couple of lac taka to the members of intelligence agency [one of whom
was later suspended from his job due to this reason). Few Gadanic
members and an actor-cum-Awami MP (it is obviously Asaduzzaman Noor -
although Inqilab did not spell out his name) phoned repeatedly phoned
to free Shahriar Kabir. But the intelligence officers did not lend
their ears to them.
>> 8. He was one of the planners of inciting violence against the Hindus
>> after the elections in order to create a problem for the new
>> government.
>
>I don't recalling reading this in Inquilab.
I don't know if Zunaid translated word for word. But in 24/11/2001 it
was worded in this way (which essentially presents him as a planner),
"He collected documents related to alleged atrocities, rapes and
communalism in Bangladesh taking place before and after the last
election. He also interviewed various personalities in India. He took
the initiative to broadcast these materials in bangladesh. ... He gave
Tk 20,000/= to the alleged rape victim Purnima to come to Dhaka, and
arranged a press conference in Dhaka soon after the election where
Purnima spoke about her concocted rape incident." Also, refer to
Inqilab's 28/11/2001 issue (first paragraph), Dec 1, 2001.
>> 13. He, along with his Ghadanic cohorts, was working on a hit list of
>> people who are Islamically oriented, and he got a list ratified by RAW
>> in India.
>
>Don't remember reading this either.
Refer to Inqilab's 28/11/2001 issue (2nd para).
>>Also, I don't remember this type detailed reports in the Daily Star. Could you send me references please ?
Daily Star is well-known (maybe not to you) for its biased reporting.
A peek at their archive will easily reveal my claim. Why would Daily
Star bother to embarras Awamis by publishing detailed report about
Shahriar Kabir? Try reading Jai Jai Din's Press Notes to get some idea
about the bias of different newspapers in presenting different news.
>That Mr. Kabir was no simple journalist as stated by Zunaid Kabir, there is no doubt. I personally do not support
>the ideologies of Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Group and as such I do regard it as a renegade, extra-judicial lobby which has
>taken the law into its own hands many times in the past. It has neither the mandate nor the authority for example to
>try Gholam Azam in GonoAdalot.
Thanks for clarifying your position. We have to rational/logical about
these matters, not emotional.
>> >advantage of his newsanchor identity. If he is engaged in
>> >extra-judicial activities, he can not be supported in the name of
>> >press freedom or journalist protection. Because he was not acting as a
>> >journalist after all.
>
>I always question "politically motivated journalists" and in this case, Mr. Kabir certainly fits that category if the
>reports in Inquilab are true. But there seems to be enough circumstancial evidence to land a certain amount of
>culpability on his shoulders. By his assiciation with separatists organizations and traitorous activities, he has
>ejected himself from the sanctity of an indepedent and neutral journalists whose job it is to seek the truth and
>protect the rights of the citizens and minorities who may fall prey to abuse.
Thanks for your bold statements.
>My heart goes out to those Bangladeshis, Hindus and other minorities, who WERE abused, raped and mistreated in the
>aftermath of BNP's election victory on 1st October. My heart goes out to those who WERE the victims of Udichi
>bombing; to those harmed at the Botomul on New Years' Day.
>
>I now refer to my original posting in this thread.
>
>> >> I am quite disturbed by the fact that a journalist (of international
>> >> reputation according to a letter to the editor published in the Daily
>> >> Star originating from one of Mr. Kabir's associated organization based
>> >> in Amsterdam, The Nederlands) of his stature has been detained under the
>> >> Special Powers Act in light of the fact that the BNP pledged to scrap
>> >> this law. I consider journalists to be the eyes and ears of democracy
>> >> and any assault on them is an assault on the essence of democracy,
>> >> transparency and accountability. The government alleges that Mr. Kabir
>> >> was about to spread anti-state propaganda by revealing attrocities
>> >> carried out against religious minorities following the election of the
>> >> present government.
>>
>I would like to see all the alleged evidence presented in a Bangladeshi court of law and the proceedings chronicled
>in a daily newspaper so people can decide for themselves based on the evidence. This has to happen for transparency
>and accountability to prevail. It will also act as a warning as well as a seed for further discussion and openness
>with regard to protection of minorities.
>
>> >> What does the government have to hide ? What is it scared of ?
>
>I ask the same question again. We want the truth. This is the time to push forward the bill to separate the
>judiciary from the executive. Once that is done, we can deal with many past ghosts such as the collaborators of 71,
>the removal of Sheikh Mujib (the vindictive trial staged by Hasina including the repeal of the Indemnity Act with the
>then opposition being absent from the House needs review if truth and reconciliation is to come out), the killing of
>Ziaur Rahman (whether Ershad was involved or not) etc.,
>
>> >> If Mr. Kabir has the evidence then it is his democratic right - indeed
>> >> the democratic right of all the citizens of Bangladesh - to present the
>> >> material. The truth has to come out. What is the government worried
>> >> about ?
>
>In light of Mr. Kabir's intention to broadcast material with the potential to create havoc, I now concede that the
>government did have something to worry about. Bangladesh being a victim of Taslima Nasrin's tantrums in 1994 was
>labelled as a barbaric state and expatriates like myself had to explain to our friends and colleagues that the so
>called Mullahs are the exception and not the rule, that women are not treated like chattle as one Time article
>(August 1994) claimed. The image of our country is vital to our trade and commerce - it cannot be allowed to be
>tarnished because certain political parties did not win the election. National interest is the interest of every
>single Bangladeshi, their livelihood both at home and abroad.
>
>> Its inability to protect the minorities ? Its incompetence ?
>> >> Or unwillingness ? I can understand the first two but if it can be
>> >> shown that the government is deliberately impeding the course of justce
>> >> (whether actively or through inaction) or discriminating against them,
>> >> then it has a lot to answer for. And detaining people like Mr. Kabir
>> >> for the purposes of sweeping attrocities under the carpet is wholly and
>> >> ethically unaccepatable.ed
>
>In principle, I stand by this stance. Circumstance have changed. The bottom line is, all Bangladeshis are
>Bangladeshis first regardless of religion, colour or sex. They should not be abused by acid throwing or being chased
>out of their ancestoral homes. The government must to seen to be proactive to protect these minimal values.
>
>> >>Also the very manner by which he has been handled makes me worry about
>> >> the wisdom behind the governments draconian approach.
>
>The government press screwed up big time. There should have been a formal statement within hours of Kabir's
>detention outlining his activities, the fact that he was under surveillence by the NSI and the Bangladesh High
>Commission in Kolkata etc., to shed enough light into why these actions were being taken and upto the limit where
>these reveleations may jeopardize Mr. Kabir's trial in a court of law.
>
>> >> oppressed by a minority of self serving incompetent and corrupt morons
>> >> who infest every branch, root and leaf of our society. The place is
>> >> being run by a bunch of imbeciles who are probably responsible for this
>> >> type of injustices; these idiots do not realize the consequences of
>> >> their miopic actions. Bangladesh is not a fundamentalist state - people
>> >> have rights to express themselves. This spirit must not be killed by a
>> >> bunch of half educated losers. The leadership has to bear
>> >> responsibility and explain to the people why journalists like Mr. Kabir
>> >> are in danger of harassment and detention without reason. The
>> >> leadership must explain its assault on our civil liberties for what
>> >> seems like a gross violation of Mr. Kabir's human rights. The
>> >> leadership must accept the fact that the world has moved on and that it
>> >> must justify its every action to the electorate.
>
>A clear press statement at the onset would have taken care of all these things and avoid another NasreenGate !! I
>look forward to further discussions on this topic.