BNP demands release of teacher arrested over remarks against Tarique

BNP has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of AKM Shahidul Islam, vice principal of the Gabtoli Technical Training Centre (TTC) in Dhaka, who was arrested over allegations of making derogatory remarks about the party’s Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the demand in a press release on Saturday (December 27).

The release stated that Tarique Rahman visited the graves of Shaheed Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho, and national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on Saturday. During the visit, police arrested AKM Shahidul Islam under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code over allegations of making derogatory remarks about Tarique Rahman and produced him in court. The court later ordered him to be sent to jail.

BNP said that in a democratic country, every individual has the right to freedom of expression. The party also highlighted that it has long fought for democracy, as well as for the freedom of speech and individual rights.

The BNP further noted that freedom of expression is a fundamental human and civil right, allowing individuals to voice their thoughts, opinions, and beliefs without fear. The party believes that arresting and jailing Shahidul Islam solely for expressing his opinion was unjust.

In the press release, BNP called on authorities to respect people’s democratic rights by immediately releasing Shahidul Islam unconditionally.

Earlier on Saturday (December 27), Officer-in-Charge of Shahbagh Police Station, Md Moniruzzaman, said Shahidul Islam was shouting and calling BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman an “extortionist and terrorist” during the party leader’s visit to Osman Hadi’s grave in the Shahbagh area. Witnessing this, BNP leaders and activists at the site caught him and handed him over to Shahbagh Police Station. He was later formally arrested under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code and sent to jail through the court.