ASK worried at arrest of Ba-Dwip publisher

Rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) yesterday strongly protested the arrest of publisher and author of Ba-Dwip Prakashani, Shamsuzzoha Manik.

In a statement, ASK said from various media sources it was learnt that publications of Ba-Dwip were seized and its stall closed at the Amar Ekushey Granthamela on Monday. ASK is deeply concerned at the closing of the stall and the arrest of Manik along with an official and an author of the publication house that day, it added.

The organisation said it came to know from media reports that police had sought to remand the arrestees under Section 57(2) of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act. ASK has long feared the abuse of Section 57 and the incident reinforced that, the statement said.

Article 39 of the constitution guarantees the freedom of thinking, conscience, and expression of opinions, but the rules in existing laws which give police power to make arrests on suspicion or apprehension do not defend the freedom of expression, ASK said.