Human Rights Forum condemns arrest, jailing of ex-JnU prof Anwara Begum
The organisation urged law enforcement and the judiciary to exercise greater scrutiny in handling July uprising cases
The Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB) has condemned the arrest and jailing of former Jagannath University (JnU) professor and freedom fighter SM Anwara Begum in an attempted murder case related to the July uprising.
In a statement issued today (1 June), the rights body expressed deep concern and disappointment over the denial of bail and imprisonment of the 69-year-old teacher.
Referring to Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the HRFB emphasised that her status as an elderly woman should be taken into account in bail considerations.
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The forum reaffirmed its demand for a fair investigation and proper trial of all human rights violations committed during the July Uprising.
However, it expressed concern that indiscriminately listing hundreds of individuals as accused, arresting them, and imprisoning them without trial could undermine the integrity of these cases.
The HRFB stressed that while allegations of wrongdoing should be investigated and tried under existing legal procedures, arbitrary arrests — particularly under charges related to the murder case — risk obstructing the broader justice process.
The organisation urged law enforcement and the judiciary to exercise greater scrutiny in handling July uprising cases, ensuring that only those genuinely implicated are identified, arrested, and prosecuted.
Anwara is a former political science professor at JnU and a former Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) member during the Awami League government's term.
She was arrested on 28 May from near JnU campus and sent to jail by a Dhaka court the following day.
She had been named in a case filed by former JnU Chhatra Dal general secretary Sujon Molla, with the city's Sutrapur Police Station.
