Human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has expressed deep concern over reports of police directives to take “action as per the situation” against leaders and activists of a banned political party and to show them re-arrested after securing bail.
In a statement, the rights organisation said media reports indicated that field-level police officials had been instructed to carry out “shown arrests” or re-arrest individuals in other cases following their release on bail.
According to published reports, a written directive from the Rajshahi Range of Bangladesh Police asked officials to re-arrest bailed individuals after considering their “ability to strengthen or organise the party”.
ASK said such instructions contradict the rule of law, personal liberty and the fundamental principles of justice.
The organisation said while the state has responsibility to take legal action against any citizen where there are specific allegations and evidence, re-arresting individuals on the basis of assumptions or for planned harassment runs counter to legal and democratic norms.
It said the jurisdictional basis and accountability framework for such decisions by police authorities remain unclear.
ASK said such steps are inconsistent with the newly elected government’s commitment to establishing good governance, protecting human rights and ensuring accountability at all levels.
The organisation said the Constitution and international human rights charters guarantee citizens’ liberty, justice and equal protection of the law.
ASK demanded that the legal basis of the directives be made public, that all related orders and processes be reviewed, and that measures be ensured in line with the Constitution and international human rights standards.
It also called for an end to unlawful arrests, harassment and practices such as “shown arrests”, and urged effective steps to safeguard citizens’ right to justice, personal liberty and equal protection under the law.
