Shift Shahidul Alam to hospital for treatment: Bangladesh HC directs jail authorities

"Yesterday, a Dhaka court placed Shahidul Alam on remand in a case filed under the controversial Section 57 of ICT Act on charges of spreading propaganda and false information against the government," reported The Daily Star.

The High Court on Tuesday passed the order in response to a writ petition submitted before it.

The court also directed the hospital authority to form a medical board for examining the health condition of Shahidul.

It directed the hospital authority to submit a medical report before it by 10:30am on Thursday.

The court said it will further hear on the issue on the same day.

Shahidul’s wife Rahnuma Ahmed earlier in the day filed the writ petition with the High Court and challenged a lower court order which placed the photographer in remand.

Shahidul was arrested from his Dhaka flat on Sunday.

Human Rights Watch react:

Instead of prosecuting those responsible for unlawfully attacking student protesters demanding road safety, Bangladesh authorities are arresting students and targeting activists and journalists who are highlighting the abuses, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.

"Authorities should order an immediate investigation into reports that renowned photographer and activist, Shahidul Alam, was beaten while in custody," the Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

Thousands of students, including school children, have been blocking streets to protest the July 29 killings of two students by a speeding bus.

According to numerous witnesses, members of the ruling Awami League party student and youth wings, the Bangladesh Chhatra League, and the Awami Juba League, have attacked the protesters with machetes and sticks, Human Rights Watch said.

Eyewitnesses and journalists, including Shahidul Alam, also reported that in some areas police stood by while children were beaten up by Awami League supporters, some of whom wore helmets to hide their identity. Some perpetrators were identified when the attacks were caught on camera.

“Yet again, Bangladesh authorities seem determined to take abusive shortcuts to problems, and then denounce those who criticize,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The authorities should immediately release anyone, including Shahidul Alam, they have locked up for peaceful criticism. Instead, authorities should prosecute those, including members of the ruling party’s youth supporters, who are attacking children with sticks and machetes.”

Following the protests, Bangladesh authorities have promised an end to reckless driving, to regulate traffic, and to enact a new Road Safety Act. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, however, warned protesters to “not to cross the limit,” or be prepared to face police action. Security forces used teargas, rubber bullets, and in some cases, live ammunition against protesters.

“It would be shameful if the Sheikh Hasina government is deploying party hoodlums to target students for demanding safe roads,” said Adams. “Bangladeshi authorities must immediately halt the violence perpetrated by government supporters against protesters and journalists and respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”