FROM PAGE 12

Hossain, human rights activist; Zafrullah Chowdhury, founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra; Ali Imam Majumder, former cabinet secretary; Anu Muhammad, professor of economics; Shahdeen Malik, Supreme Court lawyer; Syeda Rizwana Hasan, environment activist; Badiul Alam Majumder, secretary of Shujan; Shahidul Alam, renowned photographer; Asif Nazrul, professor of Dhaka University; and Nur Khan, rights activist.

VIOLATION OF PRIVACY IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL: ASK

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) yesterday condemned the police and ruling party men’s checking of people’s mobile phones during the BNP rally.

In a statement, ASK said that it received numerous allegations that the police violated road users’ privacy by going through the content in their phones including photos, messages and call history.

“It was discovered from media reports that police searched people’s phones to try to ascertain if they were attending the BNP rally,” reads the statement.

Quoting media reports, the statement said: “The Chhatra League activists detained 12 pedestrians and handed them over to the police. They allegedly assaulted some of them as well.”

“The police, Chhatra League men, and the ruling party’s leaders and activists were accused of harassing the public in Gazipur among other areas,” it added.

Privacy is one of the fundamental rights of an individual recognised by the constitution, ASK said.

Actions that violate someone’s privacy are unconstitutional, the statement added.