Shafik’s wife terms charges concocted

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Taleya Rehman, wife of senior journalist Shafik Rehman, on Wednesday termed baseless and concocted the charge against her husband over a plot to ‘abduct and kill’ prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

Speaking at a solidarity programme, she also demanded her husband’s unconditional release.

“He (Rehman) has been picked up over a fully false and fabricated charge. It’s pity an allegation of murder has been brought against the man who loved the country and introduced Valentine’s Day. I can’t tolerate such a blatant lie,” Taleya said.

Shafik Rehman Mukti Parishad arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club demanding his release.

On Saturday morning, detectives arrested Shafik Rehman, former editor of the Bangla daily Jai Jai Din. He was later put on a five-day remand in a case filed in connection with a conspiracy to abduct and kill Joy.

On Tuesday, additional commissioner Monirul Islam of Dhaka Metropolitan Police told reporters that Shafik Rehman had confessed to having several meetings with people convicted by a US court for bribing a former FBI official to get information about Joy.

Some media also reported that the journalist also confessed to his link with the plot against Joy.

Recalling the memory of their 59 years of conjugal life, Taleya said what police men are saying and newspapers are publishing about her husband do not match with her experience and thought about him.

Mentioning that her husband is sick, she sought cooperation of all in having her husband released soon.

Rehamn’s wife also feared that her husband may be implicated in some other changes, including one brought against detained Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna.

Source: Prothom Alo