Fifty-nine noted personalities have signed a statement calling for releasing Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna from prison and giving him a chance to defend himself in a trial.

A press release, issued by Nagorik Oikya yesterday with the photocopy of the signatures, read that Manna, a former student leader and politician, had been in jail for the last nine months without a trial.

Former caretaker government adviser Hafizuddin Khan, Communist Party of Bangladesh President Mujahidul Islam Selim, human rights activist Nur Khan Liton, Gonoshasthaya Kendra Trustee Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury were among the signatories.

Manna was arrested on February 24, a day after his telephone conversation with BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka about strengthening the anti-government movement, among many other issues, was leaked. A sedition case was filed against the two on March 5.

FULL LIST OF THE SIGNATORIES

1. M Hafizuddin Khan, former adviser to caretaker government and president of Sujan
2. ASM Abdur Rab, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD)
3. Mujahidul Islam Selim, president of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB)
4. Badiul Alam Majumder, general secretary of Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan)
5. Khalequzzaman, general secretary of Bangladesh Sammyabadi Dal (BSD)
6. Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, freedom fighter and trustee of Gonoshasthaya Kendra
7. SM Akram, adviser to Nagorik Oikya and former parliament member
8. Mustafa Mohsin Montu, General Secretary of Gono Forum
9. Haider Akbar Khan Rono, presidium member of CPB
10. Prof Dr Abul Quashem Fazlul Huq of Dhaka University
11. Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, executive president of Gono Forum
12. Sultan Mohammad Monsur Ahmad, former DACSU VP and parliament member
13. DU Professor Dr Ashif Nazrul
14.  Syed Abu Zafar, general secretary of CPB
15. Abdul Malek Ratan, general of JSD
16. Prof Nurul Islam, former VC of Easter University
17. Political scientist Prof Dr Dilara Chowdhury
18. Nayeemul Islam Khan, editor of the daily Amader Orthoneeti
19. Journalist Golam Mortaza
20. DU teacher Robayet Ferdous
21. Journalist Ashraf Kaiser
22.  Journalist Abu Sayeed Khan
23. Saiful Haque, general secretary of Biplobi Workers Party
24. Noyeem Jahangir, former secretary general of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad
25. Engineer Enamul Haque, convener of Amjanata Dal
26. ABM Mustafa Amin, convener of Forward Party
27. Journalist Saleh Uddin
28. Journalist and columnist Mahbub Kamal
29. Former District and Sessions Judge Md Rafiuddin
30. Engineer Dr SI Khan, river water researcher and environment scientist
31. Mostafa Kamal Majumder, secretary of Green Watch
32. BM Kalimullah, veteran politician and freedom fighter
33. Habibullah Chowdhury, freedom fighter and politician
34. Badiul Alam, city editor of The News Today
35. Journalist Khairul Alam Bakul
36. Journalist Mahbub Alam
37. Former lawmaker Prof Humayun Kabir Hiru, convener of Samajik Andolon
38. MA Gufran, senior vice president JSD and former MP
39. Dr Shahjahan, convener of Manabadhikar Federation
40. ATM Abul Hashem Majumder, Head of customer service at Asian TV
41. Advocate Shakhawat Hossain Khan, former president of Narayanganj district lawyers association  
42. Advocate Fazlul Haque Sarker, former president of Chandpur district lawyers association
43. Mahbubur Rahman Masum, president of Narayanganj district Manabadhikar Commission
44. Shamsuzzaman Hira, former VP for CUKSU
45. Golam Jilani Chowdhury, former GS of CUKSU
46. Lyricist Shahidullah Farayezi
47. Principal Md Ishaq Hossain, president of Bangladesh College Teachers Association
48. Advocate Mahbubur Rahman Islmail, president of Bangladesh Textile Garments Federation
49. Human rights activist Nurjahan Rubi Amatullah
50. Human rights activist Nur Khan Liton
51. Sheikh Abdun Nur, president of Sonar Bangla Party
52. Syed Harun-or-Rashid, general secretary of Sonar Bangla Party
53. Milu Chowdhury, chairman of Bangladesh Manabadhikar Parjabekkhan Parishad
54. BM Nazmul Haque, secretary general of Bangladesh Jatiya Party
55. Dr Nazim Uddin Ahmed, president of Trinamool Janata Party
56. Former upazila chairman Abul Barakat Dulal
57. Educationist Prof Enamul Haque
58. Human Rights activist Mohammad A Quashem
59. Educationist Principal Rokeya Rumu