Say 24 eminent citizens as they condemn police activities

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Frisking citizens and checking their mobile phones are violations of human rights and contrary to democracy, noted citizens said in a statement condemning the way police checked people ahead of Saturday’s BNP rally in the capital.

What the government had done before the event was repression, said the statement.

Police have shot one person dead, injured many others, arrested BNP leaders and activists en masse, it said, adding that these acts violated the right to speech and organise rallies.

Programmes like rallies are recognised by the constitution as a right, it added.

“We urge the government to refrain from violating these rights,” read the statement, adding that the BNP activists arrested without specific evidence should be released.

Signatories to the statement include M Hafizuddin Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government; Hameeda 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