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Call for Rathish's rescue getting louder

Religious minority leaders demand PM's intervention to find out 'missing' lawyer; protests in Rangpur continue

Star Report
Leaders of religious minority community yesterday demanded immediate intervention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to find out special public prosecutor Rathish Chandra Bhowmik of Rangpur, who has been "missing” since March 30.
To press home their demand, they will block the main roads in all districts of Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions for an hour from 10:00am on April 7, said Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikyo Parishad, at a press conference in the capital's Jatiya Press Club.
They will observe the same programme at the same time in all other divisional headquarters to intensify pressure on the government to rescue Rathish, said Rana, urging all non-communal forces to join the programme.
Advocate Rathish, 55, who represented the state in cases over the murder of Japanese national Hoshi Kunio and Rahmat Ali, khadem (caretaker) of a shrine, has been "missing" since Friday morning. Rathish is also president of Rangpur district
unit of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad.
Oikya Parishad and Puja Udjapan Parishad jointly organised the press conference.
In his written speech, Rana said they, from a human chain in Dhaka on March 31, gave the government a 24-hour ultimatum to find out Rathish, otherwise they would announce tougher movement.
"The 24-hour ultimatum has already elapsed, but the administration, despite giving assurance, couldn't rescue abducted Rathish Chandra Bhowmik. Moreover, [the administration] surprisingly remains silent over the issue, which makes us more concerned," he said.
Rana said religious minority and indigenous people have already been gripped by the panic and insecurity over the upcoming 11th parliamentary elections.
"We think fundamentalist groups might have abducted Rathish to intensify this panic and insecurity," he said.
"If he cannot be rescued immediately, concern, insecurity and frustration among minority community people will be intensified manifold - we think it will leave negative impacts on the upcoming elections," he added.
Jayanta Sen Dipu, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, said Rathish - who is a person acceptable to all for his involvement in non-communal, cultural and political movements - remained missing since Friday.
"But, the government high-ups did not say anything about it which is very unfortunate," he said.
Asked if Rathish's involvement in recovering Debottor (endowment) Property can be a reason for his "abduction", Jayanta did not give any direct answer.
But he said Rathish played an important role in recovering Debottor (endowment) Property worth Tk 300 crore in the last one year.
Replying to the same question, Rana said, "We do not want to divert the ongoing investigation over the issue by saying something in advance."
Minority leaders Hubert Gomez, Prof Nim Chandra Bhowmik, Subrata Chowdhury, Kajal Debnath, Swapan Kumar Saha, Milan Kanti Dutt, Tapash Kumar Pal, Nirmal Chaterjee and Nirmal Rozario, were also present.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad yesterday in a statement expressed concern for "missing" Rathish,
and demanded that the government find out the lawyer immediately.
PROTESTS IN RANGPUR
Different religious and professional organisations demonstrated for the fourth day demanding immediate rescue of Rathish.
Yesterday, lawyers in the district observed work abstention till 2:00pm demanding immediate rescue of their missing colleague. They also formed a human a human chain at the court complex.
Abdul Maleque, general secretary of Rangpur Lawyers' Association, said their agitation will continue until Rathish is rescued.
Babul Mia, officer-in-charge of Rangpur Sadar Police Station, said law enforcement agencies have been working round the clock to find the lawyer.
In this regard, police arrested four suspected abductors - Delwar Hossain, Rafiq Mia, Ziarul Mia and Baharul Mia of Gotlar area in Rangpur Sadar upazila - from different places in the district yesterday, added Babul.
On the other hand, Jatiya Hindu Mohajot of Rangpur unit formed a human chain in front of Rangpur Press Club yesterday, demanding rescue of the missing lawyer.
Rangpur Zila Khatriya Samiti, an organisation of Hindu community, also formed a human chain in front of the press club at around 12:00pm on the same demand.
They threatened to go for a tougher movement if police fail to rescue him in the next 72 hours.