A group of 122 prominent citizens, including renowned economists, academics, and human rights activists, has issued a statement calling for the immediate release of economist Professor Abul Barkat on bail.
The statement, sent to the media on Sunday, urges that Barkat be granted bail based on humanitarian grounds, citing his deteriorating health. Professor Barkat, a distinguished academic with nearly four decades of service at Dhaka University, has been accused of corruption and jailed pending investigation. The signatories, who include well-known public figures, have expressed deep concerns about the fairness of the legal process and the professor’s ongoing medical needs.
“Professor Barkat has lived a simple life and is well-known to many of us personally,” the statement reads. He has been accused of corruption and imprisoned before any formal judicial proceedings have begun, which we find unacceptable, the statement observed.
The 72-year-old economist has been suffering from multiple health issues, including post-stroke complications and heart problems, and requires medication three times daily. The group of signatories has voiced particular concern about Barkat’s well-being, emphasizing that his health could deteriorate further under the current conditions.
The statement’s signatories include Professor Serajul Islam Choudhury, Hamida Hossain, Sultana Kamal, ZI Khan Panna, Rasheda K Chowdhury, Shireen P Huq, Khushi Kabir, Shaheen Anam, Professor Nurul Amin Bepari, Professor M M Akash, Professor Md Ferdous Hossain, Swapan Adnan, Mustafizur Rahman, Professor Selim Raihan, Shamsul Huda, Rumana Huq, Subrata Chowdhury, Sanjib Drong, Saeed Ahmed, Monindra Kumar Nath, Taslima Islam, Kajal Debnath, Professor Atanu Rabbani, Dipayan Khisa, S M Abdullah, among others.
The group has called on authorities to release Professor Barkat immediately, stressing the urgent need for medical attention and a fair judicial process.