Families submit memo to chief justice, demand release of opposition leaders

Family members of detained leaders and activists of the opposition parties yesterday handed over a memorandum to the Chief Justice, demanding the immediate release of their loved ones and the withdrawal of all "fabricated" cases against them.

Over a hundred members of the families of these leaders and activists earlier formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka to press home their demand.

After a three-hour protest, organised by the BNP, police intervened and prevented them from handing over a memorandum to the Chief Justice.

BNP Standing Committee member Selima Rahman told the media that due to police obstruction, a four-member delegation delivered the memorandum to the Chief Justice's office.

The families of arrested BNP gathered in front of the National Press Club on 28 November. Photo: TBS

In the memorandum, Mirza Abbas's wife, speaking on behalf of the victims' families, said the current government has adopted harassment and fabricated cases as its primary tool for suppressing the opposition.

The ruling party is arbitrarily employing the state police and various intelligence agencies as partisan instruments in this endeavour. The government and the ruling party have transformed the judiciary into the principal vehicle for executing their misdeeds, it reads.

'Living in constant fear of police'

Omar Saifullah, first-year student at a Dhaka-based private university who took part in the protest, shared his distressing experience.

He mentioned that the police initially came to arrest his uncle, Chatra Dal leader Amanullah Aman on 30 October. However, instead of his uncle, they detained his father, Shahidullah, who has no involvement in any political cases.

Saifullah recounted that the police vandalised their apartment and confiscated two of his mobile phones. Despite visiting various law enforcement offices, including the detective branch headquarters, he was not able to retrieve his phones.

Both of his mobile phones contained crucial documents related to higher studies and university offer letters. Saifullah, who is scheduled for a viva at the US embassy on 31 January of the upcoming year, expressed deep concern about the impact on his future, stating, "My future is at stake now."

Atar Banu, 65, from Kamrangirchar, joined the protest at the national press club in solidarity. She said her son Mohammad Hasem, 40-year-old scrap shop owner, was taken by the police from his shop on 15 November. Despite efforts to secure his release, the judge denied bail, and he was sent to Keraniganj prison.

Atar Banu said her son's only crime was participating in a political procession.

Abdul Hai Bhuiyan, 70, and Abeda Khantun, 60, struggled to comfort their granddaughters, Nurjahan Akter Nuri, 4, and Aklima Akter Borsha, 6. Nuri, separated from her mother who was taken by Kotwali police last Tuesday night, kept asking for her mother.

A family member sits on the road in front of National Press Club with a photograph if his arrested kin. 28 November. Photo: TBS

"Police went after my son Abdul Hamid Bhuyian, who is a ride-sharing driver. Unable to locate him at home, they apprehended his wife – the mother of their children. She was held for three days at the police station and subsequently charged in a case," Abdul Hai Bhuiyan said.

Anita, daughter of Yunus Mridha, joint convenor of Dhaka City South BNP, expressed concern about her family's situation. She said, "My father is suffering from cardiac disease, and my mother, currently undergoing treatment at a Dhaka hospital, fell ill due to his detention. We live in constant fear that the police may break into our home again and apprehend us."

The wife of Habibur Rahman Habi, advisor to BNP Chairperson, said, "The government has turned the entire country into a prison. All efforts seem geared toward staging an election to legitimise the oppression we are currently facing."

Barrister Tasnuva Tabassum Ratri, daughter of arrested BNP leader Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, shared that her father is battling cancer. "He requires two chemotherapy sessions per week, but the court has denied his bail. He is consistently detained before every election. The uncertainty about how long we must endure this pain is overwhelming," she said.

19,606 detained since 28 October

According to the memorandum submitted to the Chief Justice, since the BNP rally on 28 October in the capital, a staggering 19,606 individuals have been arrested in over 815 cases. Among these cases, 70,508 leaders and activists from the opposition party have been implicated.

During this period, over 8,179 leaders and workers sustained injuries, and tragically, 17 dedicated BNP activists, including a journalist, lost their lives.

Furthermore, nine people have been sentenced to death in 29 cases deemed "false." From 2009 to 2023, over 50 lakh activists and supporters of the BNP and affiliated groups have been accused in a staggering 150,000 cases.