122 Eminent Citizens Protest Arrest of Jailed Dr. Barkat, Demand His Release

❐ Staff Reporter

Prominent citizens, human rights activists and progressive intellectuals of the country have expressed deep concern and condemnation over the arrest and imprisonment of one of Bangladesh’s most renowned economists, researchers, renowned teachers and heroic freedom fighter Professor Dr. Abul Barkat. They believe that this incident is not only an injustice to Dr. Abul Barkat, but also a direct blow to the spirit of Bangladesh’s liberation war, justice and human rights.

Yesterday, Sunday, 122 prominent citizens issued a joint statement calling for the immediate release of Professor Dr. Abul Barkat on bail.

They said that Professor Barkat has made important contributions to the country’s economic thinking for four decades. As a teacher at the Department of Economics at Dhaka University and as the leader of the Bangladesh Economic Association, he has shown a dream of building a humane, non-discriminatory society. They believe that arresting him and sending him to prison before the trial process on corruption charges has begun is highly inhumane and immoral.

The statement mentioned that Professor Barkat, at the age of 72, is suffering from various complex physical problems. He requires three times a day medication and regular physiotherapy for serious physical conditions including heart, post-stroke complications, lung disease, uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure. It was also mentioned that he had been hospitalized in a serious condition due to pneumonia in the past. Keeping an elderly and sick person like him in prison without bail is extremely inhumane and a violation of human rights.

The country’s human rights organizations and prominent human rights activists have also strongly condemned this incident.

They say that political influence and targeted harassment of arrests, bypassing the judicial process, are unacceptable. Such incidents are setting a dangerous precedent for suppressing dissent and independent thought in the country.

The statement was signed by renowned professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, human rights activist Sultana Kamal, economist MM Akash, researcher Swapan Adnan, women’s rights activist Shahin Anam, CPD’s Mostafizur Rahman, and several other prominent citizens, teachers, lawyers, human rights activists, and cultural figures.

They said in clear language, “We cannot accept politically motivated harassment against Professor Barkat. Such treatment of those who have fought their whole lives to build a humane, just society is not desirable in a democratic state.”