(London) – Bangladeshi authorities should release a human rights activist detained in connection with his work, a coalition of human rights groups said today in a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed. Adilur Rahman Khan, one of Bangladesh’s most prominent human rights defenders and secretary of the group Odhikar, was arrested on August 10, 2013.
“Odhikar and Mr. Khan have long campaigned against extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture, and violations of the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, including when members of your party, the Awami League, were being persecuted under the previous caretaker government,” the letter said. “It is sad and ironic that your government is now prosecuting Mr. Khan for his work in documenting human rights violations.”
