FROM PAGE 14

January to March this year.

The network claimed that violations of human rights and extrajudicial killings by law enforcement agencies are still on-going.

They also demanded a trial of law enforcement agency members, if they are found responsible for the death of Sultana Jasmine, 38, an office assistant of Naogaon’s Chandipur union land office, who died in the custody of Rab on March 24, two days after she was detained by the battalion.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement yesterday, the cultural organisation Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi also expressed deep concern over the case against Matiur Rahman and demanded repealing of the DSA.

Udichi thinks the DSA is a major tool for curbing freedom of speech and democracy.

“Attempts are going on to gag the voices that go in favour of people,” said the statement.

“Journalists, teachers, artists, intellectuals, students, and common people are being harassed by misusing the act,” it added.

Udichi demanded repealing the act and releasing all who are kept arrested under this act.

Similarly in Bandarban, a group of journalists also demanded the withdrawal of the case against Prothom Alo editor and the scrapping of the DSA.

They came up with the demand at a human chain in front of the Bandarban press club yesterday.

Covering their face with black cloth, they joined the hour-long programme protesting the DSA, which they termed as a tool for harassing journalists.

Meanwhile in Pabna, a group of journalists and civil society members yesterday formed a human chain in front of the district press club, demanding an end to harassing journalists under DSA.

They also demanded repealing of the act and the withdrawal of the case filed against Matiur Rahman, Samsuzzaman Shams and other journalists.