(RSF/IFEX) – On 23 December 2002, RSF welcomed the 22 December release of human rights activist Priscilla Raj and the high court’s 23 December decision to order the release of journalist Saleem Samad on bail. The two were arrested in connection with their work for a team from Britain’s Channel 4 television. The organisation also […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 23 December 2002, RSF welcomed the 22 December release of human rights activist Priscilla Raj and the high court’s 23 December decision to order the release of journalist Saleem Samad on bail. The two were arrested in connection with their work for a team from Britain’s Channel 4 television.
The organisation also called on the government and judicial authorities to drop all charges against Raj and Samad, as well as a third Bangladeshi national who assisted the Channel 4 team, human rights activist Mainul Islam Khan, and the Channel 4 team itself, Zaiba Malik and Bruno Sorrentino. Malik and Sorrentino were expelled from Bangladesh on 11 December, while Khan fled the country to avoid arrest.
Raj, who was working as an interpreter for the Channel 4 team, was freed from Dhaka prison five days after her lawyers obtained a high court ruling in favour of her release on bail. She confirmed to the press that she was subjected to psychological and physical torture, including electric shocks.
The high court’s decision was in response to a petition by Samad’s lawyer, Amir ul-Islam. Samad, who was working for the Channel 4 team, has also been tortured during interrogation sessions.
On 24 December, the government refused to allow Samad’s release. Due to Christmas holidays, now he cannot be freed until 26 December. Friends of Samad, who is a local RSF correspondent, fear the government might use the Special Powers Act to extend his imprisonment by a month. The Act is being used to hold journalist and human rights campaigner Shahriar Kabir, who was arrested on 8 December.
Kabir was arrested because he gave testimony to the Channel 4 team about the political situation in Bangladesh. He was tortured during an interrogation session and suffered a heart attack. He was transferred to Gazipur prison (north of Dhaka) on 22 December.
