Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, yesterday raised concerns about what it called “the intensified crackdown by the government on the media and the opposition.”
The AHRC pointed to several actions taken by law enforcement agencies and senior members of the government as causes for concern.
It noted a police raid without just cause on the office premises of the New Age, a national English daily, on the evening of December 28 last, in which journalists were threatened with “dire consequences.”
The AHRC said the January 7 arrest of Ekushey Television Chairman Abdus Salam in a “pornography” case was made despite the fact that no complainant had officially accused Salam and the police did not have evidence to merit the action.
It recalled a High Court ruling the same day against the publication or broadcast of any statements by Tareque Rahman, son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is also senior vice-chairperson of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
In its press statement, the AHRC said former prime minister Khaleda Zia had been effectively confined by police to her office at Gulshan in Dhaka since the night of January 3.
According to the press statement, on January 11, Tofail Ahmed, commerce minister in Sheikh Hasina’s cabinet and a senior Awami League leader, reportedly said: “…BNP would meet the fate the Naxalites did after the country’s liberation in 1971….”
The alleged Naxalites the minister is referring to were extra-judicially murdered by law-enforcement agencies, and was a cause for concern, according to the press release.
The ruling party and its allies are allowed to hold public meetings, including one held yesterday, yet authorities continually denied the opposition their right to do the same, the AHRC press release said.
