ARTICLE 19, a UK-based international human rights organization working on freedom of expression and right to information, has expressed deep concern over the arrest of journalist Raghunath Kha, Satkhira district correspondent of Deepto TV and Bangla 71, and demanded his immediate release.
He was earlier reportedly picked up by plainclothes law enforcers and had been shown arrested in two cases seven hours after he went missing, according to a press statement issued on Wednesday.
Faruq Faisel, regional director of ARTICLE 19 South Asia, said: “Recently, attacks, threats, harassment, and filing of vexatious cases against journalists in Bangladesh are increasing at an alarming rate. In particular, we observe a growing tendency of Bangladesh police to acting in a more authoritarian way by of making arbitrary detentions, random arrest, abusing forces, suing, intimidating, and harassing dissent. The role of journalists in ensuring transparency and accountability is undeniable. The arbitrary arrest of journalist Raghunath Kha reflects the worrying picture of stifling the voice of journalists and media.”
“In Bangladesh, people are worried about enforced and mysterious disappearances and abductions in the name of law enforcement agencies. ARTICLE 31 of the Constitution of Bangladesh clearly states that no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation or property of any person shall be taken except in accordance with law,” he said.
“Bangladesh Supreme Court provided a direction in 2016 on the procedures of arrest without warrant. The direction states that immediately after arresting a person law enforcement agency should inform to the family members or relatives or if none of them are available to identify the arrested person, a friend of the arrested person about the time, place and reason of arrest and where the arrestee was taken and kept. None of these were followed in the case of journalist Raghunath Kha's arrest,” he added.
Journalist Raghunath Kha left his house at around 6am in the morning of Monday. At around 11:30am, two men in plain clothes identified themselves as members of the law enforcement force and asked him to get off the motorcycle at the three-road intersection of Sultanpur Barabazar in Satkhira. Then took him to another motorcycle.
Later, when the local people contacted the police station, they said that they did not know anything about the incident. Seven hours after he was picked up, two cases were filed against him on charges of carrying explosives and extortion on Monday night and shown arrested on these two cases.
ARTICLE 19 calls for immediate release of journalist Raghunath Kha and demands fair investigation and punishment against the police officers involved in the incident. It also urges the government to ensure the safety of journalists and take effective measures to prevent harassment of journalists.
