British journalist and human rights activist David Bergman has strongly condemned the arrests of former minister Abdul Latif Siddique and other participants of a discussion organised by Moncho 71 at Dhaka Reporters Unity, describing the move as detrimental to both the government and the country.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Bergman expressed confusion over the decision to arrest those involved in the event, questioning, “It is unclear who within the Bangladesh government/police decided that the best way to handle the disruption of the ‘Mancha 1971’ meeting was by arresting its organisers/participants, including former Awami League politician Latif Siddique.” He continued, “But whoever the decision makers were, they certainly were not acting in the best interest of either the government or the country.”
Bergman argued that, regardless of any disagreements with the content or tone of the discussion, “none of the 16 detained individuals committed any criminal offence by taking part in the event.” He added, “Political convenience is no justification to arrest people or take away their human rights.”
He also pointed out that such actions have become common under the Awami League (AL) government and are now being repeated by “a range of new political forces.”
The journalist warned that the arrests could strengthen the groups responsible for disrupting the meeting. He said, “And it helps gives the impression – one which I don’t think the vast majority of the government intends to give – that the current government is ‘against 1971.'”
Bergman also criticised the police for filing charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the court for denying bail, labeling the accusations as “preposterous” and “a straightforward state lie.”
He highlighted the bizarre nature of the allegations, noting that the FIR accused Siddique of “instigating others to destabilise the country through armed struggle and overthrow the current interim government.” He drew parallels between this case and similar fraudulent charges made under the previous Awami League (AL) government, stating that magistrate courts have failed to serve as independent safeguards against “state deception.”
Bergman acknowledged that some political forces are working to destabilise the government and delay the forthcoming elections, but cautioned, “Such government actions will only fuel more division and dissatisfaction. Moreover, by using the criminal justice system in this manner, it raises critical questions about how much the current interim government differs from the previous AL administration.”
Earlier on Thursday, 16 individuals, including Latif Siddique and Dhaka University Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karzon, were sent to jail under the Anti-Terrorism Act after being accused of conspiring to overthrow the interim government. The case was filed at Shahbagh Police Station.
The investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Toufiq Hasan, submitted a petition for detention, which was granted by Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana.
The 16 accused individuals include Abdullah Al Amin (73), Manjurul Alam (49), Kazi ATM Anisur Rahman Bulbul (72), Golam Mustafa (81), Mohiul Islam (64), Zakir Hossain (74), Touhsiful Bari Khan (72), Amir Hossain Suman (37), Al Amin (40), Nazmul Ahsan (35), Syed Shahed Hasan (36), Mohammad Shafiqul Islam Deloar (64), Dewan Mohammad Ali (50), and Abdullahil Kayyum (61).