Nagarik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s wife Meher Nigar on Thursday expressed concern about his health as he was taken back to jail from Dhaka Medical College Hospital and called for no more mental torture on him.
Fearing that the health of ‘ailing’ Manna might deteriorate in jail, Meher Nigar at a press conference urged authorities concerned to ensure proper treatment of Manna providing him with facilities of a first-class prisoner.
‘We urge the government to take necessary measures to examine his health properly,’ Meher Nigar told the press conference at Nagarik Oikya central office at Topkhana road in the city.
Asked if she feared that her husband might die in custody, she said, ‘Manna has three blood vessels to the heart blocked and condition of his heart deteriorated following his arrest and subsequent mental torture on him. Against this backdrop, the situation may take a turn in any direction for any further mental pressure.’
She said that Manna was always respectful to the law of the land and ready to face any ‘lawful trial.’
She said, ‘Manna never tolerates terrorism, violence and conspiracy. We are hurt as his distorted telephone conversation is being propagated.’
The police handed Manna over to the Dhaka Central Jail after he was discharged from the hospital.
The Nagarik Oikya convener was supposed to be produced before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after expiration of 10 days, for which he was remanded in custody, but due to his poor health he was not produced.
Manna, also former Dhaka University Central Students Union vice-president, was taken to the coronary care unit at the hospital on March 10 after he complained of chest pain during the second consecutive 10-day remand in custody of the Detective Branch of police.
An aspirant city mayor candidate, Manna is facing two cases filed by the government with Gulshan police station over his leaked telephone conversation with Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka and an expatriate businessman.
The Rapid Action Battalion handed Manna over to the police at night of February 25, about 23 hours after he was reportedly picked up by law enforcers on February 24 from Baridhara in the city.
Source: New Age
