HC declares Akhtar Hamid’s detention illegal

The High Court (HC) yesterday declared illegal the detention of former deputy speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui.
The court also asked the government to release him immediately if he is not wanted in any other case.
Upon a writ petition filed by his daughter Faria Tajeen Siddiqui with the HC challenging the legality of the detention of her father, a HC bench comprising Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Qamrul Islam Siddique passed the judgement.
Hamid was arrested from his house on March 21 and sent to jail with a 30-day detention order after Mohadebpur thana police chief sued him on charge of “seditious” talk. Later, on April 16, the government extended his detention by three more months.
The Officer-in Charge filed a general diary (GD) accusing the ex-deputy speaker and BNP leader of threatening him with ‘dire consequences’ for arresting supporters of the former ruling party.
Earlier, on April 5 last, in response to a writ petition, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to show cause within two weeks as to why the detention of former deputy speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui should not be declared illegal. After a final hearing of the rule the court passed the order yesterday.   Advocate Afzal H Khan moved on behalf of the petitioner while Additional Attorney General MK Rahman appeared for the state. bdnews24.com adds: Naogaon district’s Mahadevpur police chief Ilias Fakir charged Siddiqui with conspiring against the government, predicting deaths of scores of Awami League supporters, spreading rumour on BDR mutiny, among others.
Fakir had quoted Siddiqui as telling him: “This government will fall within the next two months and lakhs of Awami League supporters will die.” The OC claimed Siddiqui had made the statement and personally threatened Fakir after inviting him to his home on March 19. By March 29, four cases and two general diaries ranging from physical assault to extortion were filed against the former deputy speaker. Fakir also quoted Siddiqui as saying. “After the Peelkhana incident, don’t you see where the country is heading to? You will understand if you hear ‘the CD’.”
 
Courtesy of The Independent