Amar Desh publisher freed after 'detention'
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Bangla-language daily Amar Desh Publisher Hashmat Ali has been released after six hours in detention since Tuesday morning, reports bdnews24.com.
His family members told the news agency that he had returned to his Shahjahanpur residence around 3.00pm.
But Hashmat went out after a while and had yet to return. A family member preferring anonymity said: "We are in danger. Please do not reveal our names."
Some four members of an intelligence agency whisked Hashmat away around 9.00am, his family earlier said.
The pro-opposition newspaper's acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman claimed at around 1.00pm that National Security Intelligence took Hashmat and were forcibly trying to file a case against him.
NSI Director Shafiqullah said earlier that they had not detained anybody by that name.
"He is probably sitting at home," he suggested hopefully.
"This is reminiscent of June 16, 1975 when all but four newspapers were banned," Mahmud said of Ali's detention. "Coincidentally, this is June again."
"I have heard that he is being coerced into bringing charges against me," he said. "Is this what they have learnt from the "Uddins", the perpetrators of 1/11?"
His family members told the news agency that he had returned to his Shahjahanpur residence around 3.00pm.
But Hashmat went out after a while and had yet to return. A family member preferring anonymity said: "We are in danger. Please do not reveal our names."
Some four members of an intelligence agency whisked Hashmat away around 9.00am, his family earlier said.
The pro-opposition newspaper's acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman claimed at around 1.00pm that National Security Intelligence took Hashmat and were forcibly trying to file a case against him.
NSI Director Shafiqullah said earlier that they had not detained anybody by that name.
"He is probably sitting at home," he suggested hopefully.
"This is reminiscent of June 16, 1975 when all but four newspapers were banned," Mahmud said of Ali's detention. "Coincidentally, this is June again."
"I have heard that he is being coerced into bringing charges against me," he said. "Is this what they have learnt from the "Uddins", the perpetrators of 1/11?"