A Japanese migrant rights group expressed its concern over the arrest of Odhikar chief Adilur Rahman Khan thorough a statement sent to Prime minister Sheikh Hasina Friday.
In the statement, the “Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan”said they had come to know about the “arbitrary arrest and detention of Adilur” as Odhikar is a partner organisation of the network.
“The arbitrary arrest and harassment of Adilur is a serious attack on human rights defenders in Bangladesh and around the world. We are very much concerned for his security,” the statement said.
Human rights organisation Odhikar’s General Secretary Adilur was arrested earlier this month allegedly for distorting information regarding the death toll in a Hefazat-e-Islam rally in Motijheel on May 5-6.
In the statement, the group urged the government to release Adilur immediately and end all forms of harassment against him and his organisation Odhikar and to ensure physical and psychological integrity of Adilur.
It also called upon the government to conform provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders which was adopted on general assembly on December 9, 1998.
