ASK condemns arrest of 60-year-old father after police fail to find son
Rights body demands lawful basis for the man’s detention.
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has condemned the arrest of a 60-year-old man in Dhaka's Dhamrai after police allegedly detained him while looking for his son, a Jubo League activist.
In a statement issued today (21 September), the human rights organisation said police had raided the home of Rifat Ahmed in Bhabanhati village to arrest him but, after failing to find him, took his father Mohammad Kolim Uddin to the police station.
Family members have alleged that police arrested Kolim at around 12:30am after arriving at the house looking for Rifat. They said Kolim had no involvement in politics.
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Dhamrai Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazmul Huda Khan told The Daily Star that Kolim had no previous case against him and held no party post, but was shown arrested in a pending political case based on information that he was an Awami League supporter.
ASK said arresting a family member after failing to find another person was unacceptable in a democratic, rights-based state.
"Imposing one person's liability on another person goes against the fundamental principles of individual accountability, justice and the rule of law," the organisation said.
The rights body referred to Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution, which provide for protection under the law and protection of life and personal liberty except in accordance with law.
It also cited Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which safeguards against arbitrary arrest and detention.
ASK said allegations of false cases, harassment, detention and arrests linked to political identity, family relationships or the actions of another person had also emerged under previous governments.
A change of government, it said, should be accompanied by changes in the practices of state institutions that had created fear among citizens.
The organisation urged the government to move away from such practices and demanded Kolim's immediate and unconditional release if there was no specific and lawful allegation against him.
It also called for clear instructions to law enforcement agencies to ensure that no person is detained, arrested or harassed because of the political identity or activities of a family member.
