Plase take action according to the Call and save life of a distressed Journalist

Unfortunately, Amnesty International is forced to issue another urgent
action, this time for Prisoner of Conscience, Shahriar Kabir.  I very much
hope that the Bangladesh government does not give us any more opportunities
to issue further urgent actions.   Please distribute widely.  Thank you.
Govind Acharya

PUBLIC      AI Index: ASA 13/008/2001

UA 314/01         Prisoner of Conscience/Fear of torture    11 December
2001

BANGLADESH        Shahriar Kabir (m), journalist


Prisoner of conscience and journalist, Shahriar Kabir was removed from the
Central jail in the capital Dhaka, on 10 December by plainclothes
policemen.  He is reportedly being interrogated at an undisclosed detention
centre and is at risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Shahriar Kabir was arrested on 22 November by members of the Special Branch
Police Force, upon his return from Kolkata, India, where he had been
interviewing Hindus who had recently fled persecution in Bangladesh. The
police seized his passport, five video cassettes, 13 audio cassettes, three
CDs, several unprocessed films and his camera. In a press release of 24
November, the government claim he was detained because "...it was later
found that the videos contain objectionable and misleading statements that
are detrimental to communal harmony and subversive of the state", and also
because Shahriar Kabir "....was involved in tarnishing the image of
Bangladesh and of the government in the outside world".

The next day, the police asked the court to remand Shahriar Kabir into
police custody for further interrogation. This was granted, but the court
stayed the remand order for two weeks. Shahriar Kabir was subsequently sent
to Dhaka Central Jail under the Special Powers Act, which allows an
individual to be detained on unspecified charges.

On 1 December, the Bangladesh High Court asked the government to explain
within one week why Shahriar Kabir's detention was not illegal. The ruling
followed a writ petition by his lawyers challenging his detention.
On 9 December, the government reportedly directed the police to file a
complaint against him under section 123A (condemnation of the creation of
state and advocacy of the abolition of its sovereignty), section 124A
(sedition) and section 505A (prejudicial act by words or other means) of
the Bangladesh Penal Code. The next day, Shahriar Kabir was taken to an
undisclosed detention centre for interrogation. He has not yet however,
been formally charged.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible,
in English or your own language:
- expressing concern that Shahriar Kabir has been taken to an undisclosed
detention centre with no access to lawyers or family visits;
- expressing concern that he may be subjected to torture;
- urging the government to make his whereabouts public and allow his
lawyers and family to visit him;
- urging the government to release him immediately and unconditionally as
he is a prisoners of conscience detained for the peaceful exercise of his
right to freedom of expression.

APPEALS TO:

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia
Office of the Prime Minister
Gona Bhaban
Sher-e Bangla Nagar
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Telegrams: Prime Minister Zia, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Fax: +880 2 811 3243
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister

Mr Nurul Huda
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
Fulbaria
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Telegrams: Inspector General Huda, Fulbaria, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Fax: +880 2 956 3362
Salutation: Dear Sir

COPIES TO:

Diplomatic representatives of Bangladesh accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 22 January 2002.