Different international organisations and eminent personalities including Nobel laureate German writer Gunter Grass expressed contentment at the release of writer, journalist and filmmaker Shahriar Kabir from custody.

The organisations and the personalities have also urged the government for immediate withdrawal of ‘false’ charges of sedition against him. said a press release of the Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.

1 he release said two of the directors of the Netherlands International Institute for Social History in an e-mail message welcomed Shahriar, who is also (he South Asian representative of the institute, on his. release from jail on bail recently.

Earlier, the institute sent a letter to the Prime Minister urging her to free Shahriar and opened a web-site called ‘Shahriar Web-site' to mobilise support worldwide for release of the jailed writer.

Greeting the Bangladeshi writer, Gunter Grass, in another mail, has pledged to request the PEN, an international organisation for writers, to launch campaign against harassment of Shahriar.

Former Indian Speaker PA

Sangma, ex-Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukhujee, CPI leader Sri Kumar Mukharjee, CPIM leader Nibedita Nagh, eminent filmmaker Mrinal Sen, Mahasweta Devi and Prof. BB Datta also welcomed the release of the Bangladeshi writer.

The press release said several discussion meetings were arranged in the Kolkata Book lair demanding release of Shahriar Kabir. Filmmaker Soumitro Dasti-dar also formed a forum called 'Muktomon' with well-wishers of Shahriar in Kolkata.

Among others, Convenor of West Bengal Human Rights Protection Committee Kirity Roy. General Secretary of Suchetona /Academy Moli Debnath, President of Sabdik Rajatmohon Roy and writers Shuvoranjan Dasgupta. Shilpi Shuvaproshanna, Shipra Bhattachariya and Dr IV Shambhu Prasad also welcomed (he release of the acting president of Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.

Shariar Kabir was arrested on November 22 from the Zia International Airport on his way home from Kolkata under Section 54 of the CrPC. He was charged with sedition and released on bail on January 20.