Mass Arrest
M Zahir blames police, pleads for arrestees' release
UNB, Dhaka
Dr M Zahir, counsel for the petitioner who demanded and secured ad-interim injunction on Sept 29 against the mass arrest ahead of the October 3 grand rally of Awami League, blasted the police action and pleaded for the arrestees' immediate release.Zahir submitted his complaint that police had acted trampling the fundamental rights of citizens. Meanwhile, a government report submitted to the High Court reveals that police arrested 3,025 people in Dhaka city in the wake of Awami League's April 30 deadline of toppling the government of which 2,200 were awarded short-term jail. The report said the magistrates sentenced them to jail for one or two days for violation of Section 86 of DMP Act (suspicious movement). "Why were so many people thrown behind the bars when produced before the court? Who have testified their offence? How did the magistrates prove their offence beyond doubt?" Zahir raised the pertinent questions before the vacation bench comprising Justice M Awlad Ali and Justice AFM Abdur Rahman. Pleading for the immediate release of those arrested ahead of Awami League rally, he also demanded a list of the arrested showing the grounds for arrest. Additional Attorney General AJ Mohammad Ali sought time for hearing of the petition. The court is set today for hearing.
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