'Adhikar' editor Adilur Rahman Khan arrested 5 days remand

The Dhaka Times Desk Adilur Rahman Khan, editor of human rights organization Odhikar, has been arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. After the arrest, he was produced in the court and the court remanded him for 5 days.

He was arrested in front of his house on Saturday night. The police produced him in the court yesterday and applied for a 10-day remand. Court granted 5 days remand. Adilur Rahman Khan was the Deputy Attorney General during the BNP-led four-party coalition government.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Police Commissioner Masudur Rahman said he was arrested on charges of distorting information. Meanwhile, yesterday the court granted his remand as well as the request of the investigating officer of the case to search his home and office. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Kumar Dey allowed both the applications. The investigating officer of the case is DB Police Inspector Ashraful Islam.

In the remand application of the police filed in the court, it is said that there was no loss of life during the dispersal of the custody staff on the night of May 5. A total of 11 people were killed in the day-long attack and clash of security personnel from morning to evening that day. But the accused Adilur Rahman, through a private organization called 'Adhikar', intentionally published fictitious information in Bengali and English languages by creating a list of 61 people killed in the incident through their website to tarnish the image of the police force, government and the state. The police in the remand application claimed that there was no loss of life during the dispersal of the custodial staff that night.

Yesterday Supreme Court Bar Association president and leader of 'BNP' lawyers AJ Muhammad Ali held a hearing opposing the remand on behalf of Adil. Two officials of the Netherlands and Sweden embassies were also present in the court at that time. The court granted Adilur Rahman's 5-day remand and asked him to interrogate as per the directions of the High Court. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam highlighted the charges against the rights secretary in a press briefing at the Metropolitan Police media center before Adil was taken to court. He said that Adilur Rahman has been arrested on the charge of violating the Information Technology Act by disseminating distorted information and pictures about the Motijheel campaign.

After the report of Adhikar, the government sent a letter to Adhikar last month asking for proof of his statement. The letter sent by the Ministry of Information asked for the full identity, name and address of the 61 people who were allegedly killed. On May 5, there were no reports of more than 16 people killed in various newspapers, but the report said that 61 people were killed. Then sent a reply to the letter to the Ministry of Rights and called on the government to form a judicial inquiry commission on the Motijheel campaign. But they did not provide any information to the government.

Condemnation of various individuals and organizations

Opposition leader and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has expressed concern over the arrest of Adilur Rahman Khan, the editor of human rights organization Odhikar. Condemning this incident, he demanded the release of Adilur. Acting General Secretary of BNP Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also condemned the incident and demanded the release of Adilur. Besides, several human rights organizations and Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman have also expressed concern over the incident. Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof. Dr. Mizanur Rahman said, he is worried. It is also the responsibility of the state to protect the human rights of human rights workers.

Human rights organization Law and Arbitration Center (ASAC) has expressed concern over the arrest of its rights editor. The Asian Human Rights Commission has expressed concern over Adilur's arrest. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern over the arrest of Adilur Rahman Khan. TIB called for his release at the earliest by following due legal process.

Adhikar's office was searched and laptop and CPU were seized

Detective police have searched Gulshan office of human rights organization Odhikar. At this time, they seized three laptops and two CPUs. A team of Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) started a search operation at 9:30 pm on Sunday.

Metropolitan Detective Police (North) Deputy Commissioner of Police Nazmul Alam confirmed the search. He said, "On the orders of the court, we searched the Gulshan office of the human rights organization Adhikar."

"A team led by Assistant Commissioner Obaid of the Cyber Crime Team of the Detective Police searched the office of Adhikar in Gulshan," a source in the Intelligence Police said.

Adhikar's office assistant Rafiqul Islam said, "A raid was conducted at the office of Adhikar on the fourth floor of House No. 35, Road No. 117, Gulshan. At that time they took three laptops and two CPUs.” He also said that 6 members of DB police participated in this operation.