ASK worried over Shafik Rehman's arrest

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) yesterday expressed deep concern over the arrest and remand of senior journalist Shafik Rehman.

If the law enforcers had specific evidence of crimes against him, they could have arrested him abiding by an arrest warrant from a court, reads a statement of the rights body.

"We think the way the law enforcers arrested him created confusion in the people's psyche. And, we hope the activities carried out by them should not make people think that the government is trying to suppress the voice of opposition," it added.

A Dhaka court on Saturday placed Rehman, also a pro-BNP intellectual, on a five-day remand in a case for alleged attempts to abduct and murder the prime minister's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, hours after detectives arrested him in his house in the capital.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque yesterday said the way the arrest of Shafik Rehman was being discussed was inappropriate.

He said it was discussed in talk shows and elsewhere. "It is inappropriate to discuss an under investigation case," he told an event at Dhaka University. He said police had certain information about Shafik Rehman.

Replying to a query, the IGP said Rehman and another journalist, Mahmudur Rahman, were arrested on the basis of certain charges.

"They could not be arrested if they were not involved," he said.

When asked why the law enforcers identified themselves as journalists to enter Rehman's house, the IGP said the law enforcers were wearing the jackets of detectives.

"But we, the law enforcers, apply certain tactics when we go on such drives," he added. The IGP, however, refused to disclose progress of the investigation.