DHAKA: Supreme Court Bar Association leaders Monday threatened that they would launch a strong movement in retaliation for the “torture” allegedly being meted out to acting editor of Daily Amar Desh Mahmudur Rahman on police remand.

President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, overwhelmingly dominated by the pro-opposition BNP lawyers of the apex court, Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain issued the warning on behalf of the SCB leaders at a press conference.

The news meet was arranged under the auspices of the SCB at the South Hall of the Supreme Court where they demanded immediate cancellation of Mahmudur Rahman’s remand and his release.

Mahbub Hossain later told banglanews24.com.bd that the law-enforcing agencies are “torturing in the name of remand” but the case is completely bailable.

“We are astonished the way the press is being destroyed,” he said.  

The bar chief also alleged in the briefing that Mahmudur Rahman is being subjected to inhuman behaviour. They would face the matter legally.  

“If the government thinks that they are the last government of the country, then they are living in fool’s paradise,” he said.

Barrister Moudud Ahmed MP, the counsel for Mahmudur Rahman, deplored: “Police are not following any directives given by the High Court regarding remand.”

The former law minister made a stark observation about the way Mahmud is allegedly being treated. “He was stripped and tortured, which is rare in history,” he told the journalists.

Another lawyer of Mahmudur Rahman, Barrister Abdur Razzaq, and Secretary of the association Bodruddoja, among others, also spoke at the press meet.

BST 1744 HRS, June 14, 2010
JA/HJS/MMK/ARF/MMA/MUA