‘Please release my son’

Jahanara Imam, mother of a higher-secondary student Ismail Hossain who was arrested in connection with the movement against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh, demanded his son and others' immediate release at a nagorik somabesh (citizens' forum).

The rally was organised by concerned guardians and citizens yesterday in front of National Museum. Speakers at the rally claimed 54 people were arrested who were involved with the Student, Youth and Labour Rights Council between March 25 and April 28.

They demanded the release of all those who were arrested during the movement against Modi's visit to Bangladesh.

One of the arrestees, Ismail was a student of the capital's Bhashantek Govt College.

Jahanara said, "I worked door to door to finance my son's education. His final examination is coming up. I request the Prime Minister, please release my son."

"It is not a crime to join a rally. Everybody has a right to protest, my little boy also attended a protest," she added.

Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder and trustee Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury was chief guest at the programme.

"Students have taught us how to raise our voices against oppression. It was a fair-minded decision of students to protest at that time. The ones that joined the movement are our heroes," he said.

Among others, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Chairman of Bangladesh Kallyan Party Maj Gen (retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, Gonosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki, Former Vice President of DU Central Students' Union Nurul Haque Nur spoke at the rally.

After the rally, they went to the Supreme Court premises and held a sit-in program. A seven-member group representing the protesters met the Registrar General of Supreme Court Md Ali Akbar and stated their demands to him.