DHAKA: Two prominent human rights activists were given two-year prison terms by a Bangladeshi court on Thursday( Sept 14 ), according to critics, as part of an election-related government crackdown.
Adilur Rahman Khan and Nasiruddin Elan, the leadership of the Odhikar organization,” were sentenced to two years in jail ,” according to Judge Zulfiker Hayat.
For years, Khan and Elan have served as Odhikar’s leaders, documenting thousands of alleged illegal killings, forced disappearances of activists, and police brutality.
The criminal charges brought against Odhikar’s leaders were connected to a fact-finding statement on extrajudicial killings that they had compiled ten years prior.
According to counsel Nazrul Islam Shamim,” They were sentenced to two years in prison for publishing and disseminating fake information, hurting religious views, and undermining the picture of the position.”
Before the general elections in Bangladesh, which are scheduled for the end of January and in which the ruling party controls the government essentially like a rubber stamp, some Western governments have expressed concern about the political climate there.
Nur Khan Liton, a former leader of another of the nation’s top human rights organizations, told AFP that this verdict would” send an ominous message to the people defenders in the country and make their work considerably challenging.”
Along with a number of foreign ambassadors, both gentlemen were present in the court in Dhaka for their punishment.
Since 1994, Odhikar has been documenting Bangladesh’s violations of human rights. It has collaborated attentively with international human rights organizations and UN organizations.
The UN expressed concern earlier this month over what they claimed was Bangladesh’s use of legal action to terrify and abuse civil society figures and rights activists.
According to UN rights department spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, both men have” experienced harassment and intimidation.”
Dhaka responded angrily to the UN’s remarks, describing them as a” obvious disregard” of their legal system.
Odhikar’s running license was revoked by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year after it was claimed that it had damaged the reputation of Bangladesh. This sparked a backlash of criticism from rights activists.