Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expresses deep concern over the reports of alleged ‘inhuman torture’ of Mahmudur Rahman, Amar Desh’s acting editor, who has been placed in police remand. It has been reported in several dailies that Mahmudur Rahman has raised the allegation before the court.

We are noticing with grave concern that the High Court’s directives regarding interrogation of detained persons were not followed at all during interrogation of Mahmudur Rahman and other people on remand. This directives were given in the BLAST vs. Bangladesh case of 2003, in which ASK was also a co petitioner. Moreover Article 35(5) of the Constitution says ‘No person shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment.’

Such misbehaviour with Mahmudur Rahman indicates the continuation of the undemocratic attitude of the previous governments. We do not expect such behaviour from an elected government, and want to see the change of country’s political culture in this regard.