BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has condemned the arrest of noted journalist Shafik Rehman and demanded his immediate release.
The BNP chief issued a statement yesterday afternoon following Rehman's arrest in the morning.
“The incumbent government, which was elected without any votes, has launched a war against the people of an independent state. After snatching away people's voting rights, freedom of expression has also been snatched away," Khaleda said in the statement.
Journalists are being suppressed to silence their voices, she said.
“Using the state machinery, many eminent journalists and editors were arrested implicating them in false cases.”
“The unelected government's prime minister is implementing a mega-plan to uproot outspoken educated people from the country,” she added.
“He was arrested because he writes without fear against the incumbent rulers' failures and misrule...Shafik Rehman is a brave pen warrior. He was arrested because he could not be controlled,” she said in the statement.
“The government arrested Shafik Rehman to cover up its own attacks, killings, abductions and various other crimes. The aim of this arrest is to divert people's attention.”
She urged the government to show respect to people's fundamental rights, including freedom of expression.Jamaat condemns arrestCondemning the arrest of journalist Shafik Rehman, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has alleged that the government arrested Rehman unlawfully just to harass him politically.
Jamaat Acting Secretary General Shafiqur Rahman issued a press release yesterday afternoon saying, “The government has launched a repressive rule nationwide.”
"The government has subdued the media and arrested one honest, uncompromising and efficient journalist after another."
“Eminent journalist Shafik Rehman has become another victim of government’s oppression. I am urging the authorities to stop this torture and suppression and release him immediately,” he said.
Shafik Rehman was picked up by plainclothesmen from his house in Dhaka’s Eskaton yesterday morning.
Head of Dhaka DB’s south zone Masrukur Rahman Khalid told the Dhaka Tribune Rehman was arrested for plotting to abduct and murder Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and prime minister's adviser on ICT affairs.