A group of 30 eminent citizens has called for the immediate release of people arrested in what they describe as 'politically motivated' cases, raising concerns over due process and prolonged detention, reports bdnews24.com.
In a statement issued on Monday, the signatories, including human rights activists, academics, lawyers and researchers, said many of those detained, including intellectuals and professionals, are being held without proper legal procedure, with some facing worsening health conditions.
They expressed concern over what they described as a surge in cases filed since the interim government assumed office.
According to the statement, thousands of individuals, including lawyers, writers, journalists and teachers, have been named in what it termed 'blanket cases', some involving between 1,200 and 1,300 accused.
The group alleged that many arrests were made on the basis of political affiliation and that some detainees had been denied bail for more than a year despite what they described as insufficient evidence.
"In several instances, individuals were re-arrested in fresh cases immediately after securing bail from the High Court in earlier ones," the statement said.
It added that a number of journalists were among those detained, some of whom are suffering from serious illnesses.
"Many journalists have been detained simply for expressing dissent or criticising the interim administration," the signatories said, questioning official claims of judicial independence.
"We have not seen the reflection of an independent judiciary in these cases."
The group urged the government to grant bail on humanitarian grounds, ensure transparent investigations, and expedite trials to prevent prolonged detention without conclusion.
They also called for strict adherence to constitutional safeguards to protect detainees' rights to medical treatment and legal protection.
Among the signatories were human rights activists Sultana Kamal and Khushi Kabir, Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, senior lawyers ZI Khan Panna and Subrata Chowdhury, photographer Shahidul Alam, and several Dhaka University professors, including Samina Lutfa, Robaet Ferdous and Zobaida Nasreen.
