Amnesty calls for release of Anis Alamgir

Amnesty International has called for the release of journalist Anis Alamgir, who has been arrested in a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

“Anis Alamgir’s arrest continues an alarming trend of individuals being targeted for being perceived to support activities of the now banned Awami League,” said the rights group’s Rehab Mahamoor on Thursday. “Rather than misusing anti-terror legislation to silence people expressing their views and opinions, the interim government and authorities should instead be facilitating freedom of expression and association, including in the lead up to elections.

“The interim government must respect its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and immediately release Anis Alamgir.”

A team from the Dhaka Metropolitan Polices Detective Branch detained Alamgir on Sunday, saying they wanted to question him at their office, reports bdnews24.com.

Around midnight, a man named Arian Ahmed, identified as a member of an organisation called the “July Revolutionary Alliance”, filed a case against Alamgir and three others, accusing them of “conspiring to destabilise the state and inciting a banned organisation”.

The three others accused in the case are actress Meher Afroz Shaon, fashion model Maria Kispotta and television host Imtu Ratish Imtiaz.

On Monday, investigating officer Inspector Muniruzzaman of Uttara West Police Station produced Anis before the court and sought a seven-day remand.

In his petition, he wrote that about a month ago, Alamgir said on a private TV talk show that the Awami League’s “undeclared” leaders have shaken the government. It also said that Shaon posted an anti-government comment on the Nov 26 this year from her verified Facebook account, mocking the recovery of cash from lockers. She called it a complete "telesmati karbar" [magical swindle].

“Accused Imtu Ratish Imtiaz mocked the locker recovery on his verified Facebook ID, calling it ‘this is science’. In addition, these four accused, together with others, have at various times used their verified Facebook pages and YouTube channels to post and make different inciting statements, endangering public safety, attempting to have other persons killed, and conspiring and abetting others to commit murder and grievous assault,” the petition said.

The petition asked the court to place Anis on seven days’ remand to find out whether anyone else was involved.

Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor (PP) Omar Faruq Faruqi argued in favour of remand on behalf of the state.

“He cannot speak like this on a talk show,” the PP said. “In the name of speaking on talk shows, he cannot demean the government. He targets individuals and makes comments on talk shows.

 “He may speak on a talk show, but by inciting the banned Awami League he is goading people into terrorist activities.”

Defence lawyer Nazneen Akhter opposed the remand petition and applied for bail.

Alamgir then asked for the court’s permission to speak.

“I am a journalist,” he said. “I covered the war in Iraq. Before that I covered the war in Afghanistan. The Taliban detained me at that time. Since then, my fear of death has gone.

“For two decades I have been doing journalism with courage. I spoke out during Khaleda Zia’s time, I spoke out during the Awami League’s time. I have spoken about [Yunus] and I will continue to speak. Whoever comes next, I will keep speaking in the same way.”

He claimed that he had questioned those in power for two decades and his job was not to bow to anyone.

After both sides completed their arguments, the court granted police five days’ remand to interrogate the journalist in their custody.