The United States has expressed its concern over the arrest of rights activist Adilur Rahman Khan and demanded his immediate release.
“We have reached out to the Government of Bangladesh for an explanation, noting that this detention has a chilling effect on Bangladeshi civil society and is reverberating negatively around the world,” the deputy spokesperson said in a statement posted on the Department of State’s website.
“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 organization Odhikar”.
The detective police arrested him at his residence for allegedly distorting facts about the May 5 police drive against Hifazat-e Islam activists at Dhaka’s Motijheel.
Odhikar in a report said 61 people were killed during the drive against the government’s claim of zero casualties.
The information ministry sought details of the ‘61 deceased’ in a letter, but minister Hasanul Haque Inu said Odhikar refused to provide any details. Instead, he said, the NGO demanded a judicial probe into the incident.
Home Minister M K Alamgir said the arrest had been made based on ‘specific allegations’.
The main opposition BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami have already asked for his release. Khan was a Deputy Attorney General during the BNP-led government’s 2001-06 tenure.
Several human-rights groups condemned the arrest and demanded his release. New York-based Human Rights Watch also urged upon Bangladesh’s donors to press the government to release Khan.
The European Union diplomatic missions to Bangladesh on Monday said they were ‘closely monitoring’ the case of detained Adilur Rahman Khan and that “it is essential that no harm comes to him”.
The US deputy spokesperson said, “We urge Bangladeshi authorities to immediately release Adil while the government pursues any outstanding legal issues through a fair and transparent judicial process,” the statement read.
“In a democracy it is essential that the government ensure an environment in which civil society organizations like Odhikar can freely operate,” the statement read.
Source: Bd news24
