The petition
Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury DETAINED without a trial despite bail being granted in Bangladesh since the 14th of May 2007.
Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury holds a UK and Bangladeshi passport and lives in both countries but spends most of his time in the UK. Mr Choudhury had been illegally detained in Bangladesh since the 14th of May 2007, that's 2 months, 2 weeks and 6 days. Despite best efforts from family and friends and various other interested parties, he still remains in prison without any charges made against him and no reasons given for continued extensions to his forced captivity.
Many people in the Expatriate community here in the UK and those interested in the rules of law and justice across the world are concerned, hurt and frustrated by the actions of the Bangladeshi government, in 2007. The High court in Bangladesh had granted Mr Choudhury bail shortly after his arrest but the government intervened without an explanation and continues to act in a way that is against basic fundamental rules of law and justice. Their actions are carried out with out any recourse or normal checks and balances against their excess behavior and wrong doings.
The Bangladeshi government has recently increased Mr Choudhury's illegal detention for a further three months to the 23rd of October 2007. This would take his overall detention sentence to 5 months-without an explanation and, in our minds, being guilty of any crime.
The aim of this petition is to view what actions can be taken to help secure Mr Choudhurys early release and in discussing his future outline what is happening today in Bangladesh in the wider context of law and order and the responsibilities of the government.
CONCERNS:
Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury attended a house warming party in good faith and fell foul of the Emergency Rule re-meeting of political parties.
The main concern right now is that Mr Choudhury's health is deteriorating and at the age of nearly 50 he needs to be with loved ones not incarcerated. Basic hygiene is a big issue in the prisons of Bangladesh, within a short duration of time, Mr Choudhurys body composition has reduced, his waist from 36 inches has fallen to 30 and is still continuing to rapidly do so.
If and when Mr Choudhury is released his family is concerned about the impact this ordeal will have had on his physical and psychological health.
Bangladeshi people in the UK harbour dreams or plans to return home and invest hard earned funds, create jobs, buy properties in other words basically become involved locally in communities. Where does such actions and events committed leave these hopeful individuals?
The governments actions will come back to haunt them as inward investments will decrease and the countries economy will most definitely deteriorate.
The wider concerns is that the Government in Bangladesh can apparently detain a person without providing evidence and seemingly act against the High courts authority.
1) What is the motive behind the governments handling of this case? We can only surmise.
2) Is the Judiciary functioning independently?
3) Is the Governments response fair, proportionate and necessary?
4) What does this say regarding the Governments commitment to fair and equal treatment for all? Why does it act outside of the UNs International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights?
5) What is the governments commitment to human rights and civil liberties if it acts outside of the UNs International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights?
6) What can be done?
To show your support towards the release of Mr Choudhury and all the other unfairly captivated prisoners, please sign this petition and raise awareness of such injustice!!
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