Amnesty: Ensure fair trial for Prothom Alo editor, 8 others

Amnesty International has urged the authorities concerned to ensure a fair trial for the nine people who were recently indicted – including Daily Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman – in the case lodged over the death of Dhaka Residential Model College (DRMC) student Nayeemul Abrar Rahat.

The human rights organization took to Twitter demanding a fair trial for all the accused in the case on Thursday.

Amnesty said: “The editor of Prothom Alo and eight others, who are accused in a case of alleged criminal negligence, must have their right to a fair trial guaranteed. 

“The authorities must also ensure that the case is not used as a pretext to further restrict the right to freedom of expression.”

#Bangladesh: The editor of Prothom Alo and 8 others accused in a case of alleged criminal negligence must have their right to a fair trial guaranteed. The authorities must also ensure that the case is not used as a pretext to further restrict the right to freedom of expression.

— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) December 3, 2020

Earlier on November 12, Judge KM Imrul Kayesh of the Metropolitan Sessions Court in Dhaka framed the charges against the nine accused in the case over Nayeemul’s death.

Afterwards, the court fixed December 14 to begin the trial by recording the depositions of witnesses.

Ninth-grader Nayeemul Abrar Rahat, a student of the school under DRMC, died after being electrocuted behind the stage during an event organized by the Kishor Alo, a publication of the Prothom Alo, at the college ground on November 1, 2019.

His father Mojibur Rahman filed the case over Abrar's death five days later.

The nine people indicted are -- Prothom Alo's Senior Sub-Editor Mohitul Alam, Head of Event and Activation Kabir Bakul, executives Shah Paran Tushar, Shuvashish Pramanik and Jasim Uddin, Mosharraf Hossain, Sujon and Kamrul Hawlader, who were in charge of providing electricity supply for the function.