Editorial for Asia Post
In The Name Of Investigation Political Harasment
Newspapers have reported that ASP Abdul Kahhar Akanda of CID has summoned Barrister Abdur Razzaq to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with Peelkhana mutiny ."We have found some information from various sources on his (Razzaq's) involvement in Pilkhana carnage and therefore, we need to question him to verify the information," Investigation Officer (IO) of the case Abdul Kahar Akond told The Daily Star last night. He however refused to say anything to substantiate the CID claim. Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kahar asked Razzaq to appear with his passport at CID's Malibagh headquarters at 10:00am today for an exclusive grilling on the carnage.
Meanwhile, Barrister Abdur Razzaq , the Assistant Secretary General of Jamaate Islami on Sunday filed two separate petitions seeking bail in this case and challenging legitimacy of the notice soon after the CID summoned him. The HC yesterday granted him anticipatory bail until April 5 in connection with the case and directed the government not to harass or arrest him during this period. Meanwhile, following Razzaq's petition, a vacation HC bench of Justice Shahidul Islam directed the government to consider him as a witness, not an accused, in the case during the interrogation, and to return his passport after examining it. Advocate Tajul Islam, one of Razzaq's lawyers, told The Daily Star that Razzaq would show up at the CID office at 10:00am the today, as the HC did not stay the CID interrogation notice. Razzaq stated in the bail petition that rumours about his involvement in the mutiny had been raised to harass him. During the hearing of the petitions, Razzaq's lawyer Ajmalul Hossain argued before the court that his client had no association with the Pilkhana carnage.The notice issued for interrogation was to serve political intentions to harass Razzaq. He, like all the other countrymen, is also concerned about the present situation of the country, he said. He also said the person who has no involvement in any case should not be interrogated.Earlier on March 19, immigration police of Zia International Airport (ZIA) filed a criminal case with the Airport Police Station against Abdur Razzaq and his wife Saleha Razzaq Siddiq on charges of obstructing the airport authorities to discharge their duties in the early hours that day.Abdur Razzaq the same day filed a contempt petition with the HC against the government for preventing him from going to Malaysia and Singapore despite having an HC order allowing him to visit the countries. The HC upon separate petitions then granted them bail and stayed the proceedings of the obstruction case against them.
We are deeply worried how the government is politicising the Peelkhana mutiny and also how such a senior lawyer of clean record is being harassed.First he and his wife ( who requires treatment abroad ) was not allowed to leave the country by the immigration police without any cause .Then Barrister Abdur Razzaq obtained a court order for allowing him to go abroad with his wife but the immigration police again stopped her though he produced the court order to them. .In that context he filed a case of contempt of court against some government officials and the police.The government instead of seeing good reason has acted apparently malevolently. The government filed a criminal case against him for forcing his way to boarding bridge , a sheer impossibilty to go there without immigration clearance in the passport. Now this CID notice from the bolt .The CID could not also explain the specific reason on being questioned by a newsman.We are sorry for Barrister, for Bangladesh and sorry for our political culture.We do not see any glimmer of hope.Political and official culture has seriously deteriorated in the last two months.If a party with such majoriy rules in such a manner, who can deliver us.We have no doubt that Barrister Abdur Razzaq will be vindicated and falsehood will fail in its objective.
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