Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expresses its grave concern and strongly condemns the arrest and remand of Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of Human Rights Organisation ‘Odhikar’.

According to different media reports, Adilur Rahman Khan was arrested on 10 August 2013 from his residence at Gulshan on the allegation of violating the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006. It has also been reported that he was arrested on the allegation of fabricating facts about the ‘Seize Dhaka’ program of Hefajat-e-Islam held on 5 May, 2013 and the actions taken by the law enforcement officials during their operation on the early morning of 6 May 2013.

We are concerned about the fact that he was not allowed to meet his lawyer and family members after his arrest. We are further concerned over the procedure through which he was arrested by the Detective Branch of Police and being remanded. Ain o Salish Kendra, as a human rights organization, strongly condemns the arrest and considers that it will create a negative environment for the independent activism and the sense of security of human rights defenders.

We are expressing grave concern about the safety of Adilur Rahman Khan in the police custody and urging the Government to follow the due process of law as well as to ensure proper security measures for him.

HRFB Expresses Condemnation and Concern

Press Statement on the Arrest of Adilur Rahman Khan from HRFB

”Rights defender Adilur Rahman Khan on 5-day remand”  Reported in New Age Newspaper – 11 August 2013 Click Link

”Odhikar secretary on 5-day remand” Reported in Daily Star – 11 August 2013 Click Link

Side event at the UN Palais des Nations, Geneva on the 25th of April 2013 before the Universal Periodic Review for Bangladesh .  Adilur Rahman from Odhikar sat on the panel with Sultana Kamal from Ain o Salish Kendra and Iftekharuzzaman from Transparency International Bangladesh discussing the Restrictive measures faced by NGOs and Human Rights Defenders,  click for further details of event.

Watch Livestream of Adilur Rahman speaking at UN Side Event Earlier this year.