Call for investigation of Mushtaq Ahmed’s death in prison

Akmol Hossain, president of the National Committee Against Fascism and Imperialism, and Hasibur Rahman, general secretary, expressed deep anger and concern in a statement on Saturday, over the death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed in custody.

The statement said there was a good reason to believe that Mushtaq Ahmed, who was detained for nine months under the Digital Security Act for expressing concern over the situation in the country, had his bail application rejected six times and could die without proper medical attention.

Protesting against Mushtaq Ahmed's death, the spokespersons demanded an immediate formation of an independent and multilateral inquiry committee comprising the National Human Rights Commission, trusted human rights organizations and activists and lawyers for the accused, including Mushtaq Ahmed, to reveal the cause of his death and identify those responsible.

It is clear to the countrymen that Mushtaq Ahmed and others detained under the Digital Security Act case across the country have in fact become victims of attacks on freedom of speech and expression and state retaliation, a press release said.

The statement expressed outrage that such a dangerous situation was a gross violation of the fundamental rights of citizens and called for the release of all the detainees, including cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, who is still being held in the same case under the Digital Security Act, and the lifting of the harassment case and the exercise of all fundamental rights in the country.