South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders, condemns the arrest of Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury, a road safety campaigner, who was placed on a day’s remand for interrogation hours after he was arrested on 6 September 2018, based on a false and doctored charge.
Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury, the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a platform working for passengers’ rights, was arrested two days after an extortion case was filed with Mirpur Police Station by Mr. Dulal. The complaint alleges that Mozammel, claiming to be a transport leader, demanded BDT 200,000 from him, and he gave Mozammel BDT 10,000. SAHR learns that there are discrepancies against the complaint made and the actual facts and that this false case is imposed on Mozammel as he has been vocal against anarchy in the transport sector.
SAHR believes that the Government of Bangladesh has used framing its citizens under false cases as a tactic to curb people’s right to expression. SAHR is further concerned for his treatment while in custody, given reported violations of detainee rights in Bangladesh. SAHR calls on the Government of Bangladesh to immediately release and drop all charges against Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury and end such persecutions of its citizens speaking out for truth and justice.
On behalf of the members of South Asians for Human Rights:
Sultana Kamal
Chairperson
Mohamed Latheef
Co-chairperson