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finally after due processes he was sent sors Dr Asif Nazrul, Dr Amena Mohsin, clared that they would increase the in-
to the jail. On his appearance to court, Dr Shahnaz Huda, Dr Chowdhury Abrar, tensity of protests in due course of time.
Alam claimed that he was mentally Rice University professor Dr Elora It may be noted that Bangladesh in
and physically abused by the police. Shehabuddin, BRAC University pro- 2017 witnessed over 30 cases of assaults
As Alam, who leads Drik gallery, an fessor Dr Firdous Azim, Jahangir- on journalists, where one murder (of
acclaimed photo agency, and Pathsha- nagar University professor Dr Anu Abdul Hakim Shimul from Dainik Sam-
la South Asian Media Institute, a school Muhammad etc, the petition demanded akal) was reported. The opposition BNP
of photography and multimedia jour- Alam’s early release. claimed that the AL leaders had filed
nalism, was a familiar face for the Other who endorsed the petition over 75,000 bogus cases involving lakhs
Dhaka based media outlets, his arrest included human rights defenders Dr of political leaders and social activists.
was covered by all national and inter- Hameeda Hossain, Shaheen Anam, Facing the heat, Prime Minister
national media persons. So sympathy Rezaur Rahman Lenin, Nasiruddin Hasina commented in the media space
waves in favour of the internationally Elan, Sheepa Hafiza, rights activists Dr that the political opponents were using
commended photographer emerged Iftekhar Zaman, Tasaffy Hossain, Nur the turmoil to stir up anti-government
very fast. Khan, Dr Tasnim Azim, health rights sentiment as the nation was approach-
Condemnation from various in- activist Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, wom- ing for next parliamentary polls. She
fluential international outfits poured en’s rights activists Shireen P Huq, Muk- however assured that harsh punish-
against the government. From tasree Chakma, Maheen Sultan, lawyers ments (read death penalty) would be
Amnesty International to Human Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adilur Rahman pronounced against the callous drivers
Rights Watch to South Asians for Khan, Cynthia Farid, Masud Khan, Ziaur causing human losses.
Human Rights everyone put strong Rahman, Devashish Roy etc. Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Hasina’s son also
words against the Hasina regime stepped into the social media question-
and demanded immediate release of ing Alam’s intention to allege that he
Alam. Civil society and media rights was tortured by the police.
bodies like Transparency Interna- In 2017, Bangladesh Joy went on speaking that the attend-
tional Bangladesh, Reporters Without ing doctors in the medical college found
Borders, Committee to Protect Jour- witnessed over 30 no injuries on Alam’s body and the in-
nalists etc issued statements asking cases of assaults on ternational media directly talked to the
the government or Alam’s uncondi- hospital authority to get it confirmed.
tional release. journalists, including But Alam during his court appearance
Four internationally accepted the murder of Abdul alleged in front of news cameras that
intellectuals namely Noam Chomsky, he was hurt and so found difficulties in
Naomi Klein, Arundhati Roy and Vijay Hakim Shimul from walking.
Prashad also raised voices for Alam’s Though emerged as a secular repub-
immediate release. Pointing out over Dainik Samakal lic in 1971, Bangladesh soon lost its char-
tortures on Alam in prison, they as- ismatic leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
serted that it was dismay for the intel- to assailants. Slowly the country went
lectual world. The government, which Internationally acclaimed Indian to dictator’s hand and it continued till
handed over prestigious award Shilpa- photo journalist Raghu Rai, while send- 1990. The country regained democracy
kala Padak to Alam, should respect his ing a letter to PM Hasina, argued that next year with the win of AL under the
dignity and release Alam after drop- Bangladesh is a country of poets, writ- leadership of Hasina.
ping all charges framed against him. ers, artists, musicians etc, and hon- The last general elections in 2014
A group of over 100 petitioners ouring the spirit of democracy, the merged with violence allegedly propa-
urged the government to investigate government should release Alam un- gated by the ruling party. The BNP boy-
allegations of unlawful arrest and conditionally and in a dignified manner. cotted the polls and many opposition
torture on Alam. They also demand- The Bangla media fraternity under candidates withdrew their candidature
ed that the government should stop the banner of various journalist unions because of AL leader’s threats. The run
repression of students, academics, recently staged a protest demonstra- up to the next parliamentary elections
journalists and human rights activists. tion in front of the national press club by the end of 2018 thus promises distur-
Singed by Central Women’s Uni- in Dhaka demanding stringent pun- bance and violence once again.
versity vice-chancellor Dr Perween ishments against the goons (read pro-
Hasan, Illinois State University pro- AL activists) who attacked the scribes The author is a Guwahati based
fessor Dr Ali Riaz, Massachusetts during duty hours in the student’s pro- political commentator
University professor Dr Elora Halim test demonstration.
Chowdhury, Dhaka University profes- The agitating journalists also de- letters@tehelka.com

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