Bangladesh erupts in protests CUSTODY DEATH OF WRITER SPARKS CONCERN AMONG FOREIGN LEADERS
DECISION REVERSED AS THE ISLAND OFFERS ITS WEST CONTAINER TERMINAL
HUNDREDS of Bangladeshi activists staged a fourth day of protests on Monday (1) over the death of a writer in detention as the UN rights chief called for a review of a digital security law used against opposition figures.
Students tried to march to the home ministry in Dhaka demanding action over what they called the “murder” of Mushtaq Ahmed in a high-security jail, as well as the repeal of the Digital Security Act (DSA).
Riot police stopped the protesters 100 metres from the government complex that houses all the major ministries.
Ahmed, one of hundreds detained under the DSA since it was enacted in 2018, died last Thursday (25) at a jail where he had been held since May.
The 53-year-old, a crocodile farmer as well as a writer known for his satirical style, was charged with spreading rumours and conducting “anti-state activities” on Facebook. Jail authorities said Ahmed fell unconscious and died last Thursday (25) at the Kashimpur high-security prison outside of Dhaka.
Ahmed had not been suffering from a major illness, prison chief Mohammad Ghiasuddin said.
International and local rights groups demanded a probe into the death of the writer, who was arrested over comments posted on social media criticising the Bangladesh government’s response to coronavirus.
Ambassadors from 13 countries, including the US, France, Britain, Canada and Germany, expressed “grave concern” over the case.
“We call on the government of
Bangladesh to conduct a swift, transparent, and independent inquiry into the full circumstances of Mr Mushtaq Ahmed’s death,” the ambassadors said in a statement. They added that there would be follow up approaches over “wider concerns about the provisions and implementation of the DSA, as well as questions about its compatibility with Bangladesh’s obligations under international human rights laws and standards.”
Ahmed was detained under the Digital Security Act, passed in 2018, which rights groups say has been used to silence critics with hefty fines and lengthy prison sentences. Ahmed was denied bail at least six times.
Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina last Saturday (27) shrugged off concern over the internet law, Ahmed’s death and criticism of her government’s rights record.
Protesters have also demanded the release of more than a dozen activists detained during clashes with police since Ahmed’s death.
Student leader Masud Rana said there could be a “revolt” against the government.
More groups also planned protests to demand the release of cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, who was detained with the writer.
A court in Dhaka rejected a police plea to interrogate the cartoonist who was detained 10 months ago, along with Ahmed on charges of anti-state activities and spreading rumours.
In a court appearance last week, Kishore told his brother that he was tortured in police custody, which seriously injured his left leg and an ear drum.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Monday urged Bangladesh to ensure a transparent probe into Ahmed’s death.
“There needs to be an overhaul of the Digital Security Act under which Ahmed was charged – and all those detained under this act for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and opinion must be released,” she said.
Bachelet also expressed “serious concern” at allegations that Kishore has been subjected “to torture or other ill treatment”.
Bangladesh’s high court has put off until Wednesday (3) a decision on whether Kishore should get bail, according to his representatives.
SRI LANKA will offer a strategically located deep-sea port to India and Japan, an official said on Tuesday (2), as the island seeks to balance traditional ties against China’s rising regional influence.
The government last month abruptly pulled out of an agreement with Delhi and Tokyo to jointly develop the partially built East Container Terminal, located next to a $500-million (£358m) Chinese-run container jetty within the capital Colombo’s sprawling port.
But Colombo reversed course on
Tuesday, offering the West Container Terminal (WCT), which is yet to be built and located on the other side of the Chinese-run jetty known as the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT).
“The discussions to develop the WCT will be only with India and Japan,” government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said in the capital. He added that the cabinet decided on Monday (1) to allow India and Japan to have an 85 per cent stake in the West Container Terminal – the same terms China was granted when building the CICT. It’s unclear yet how Tokyo and Delhi will divide their majority stake in the port.
The government said the Indian High Commission in Colombo has “approved” Sri Lanka’s latest offer.
There was no immediate response from India’s foreign ministry in New Delhi, and a government spokesman said Japan has yet to respond to the new proposal.
Sri Lanka’s government blamed trade unions calling for local instead of foreign development for the abrogation last month of the East Container Terminal, which will now be completed by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
Colombo is located in the Indian Ocean between Dubai and Singapore, meaning control of its ports is highly sought after.
Two Chinese submarines berthed at the CICT – which started operations in 2013 – in 2014, sparking concerns in India which considers Sri Lanka to be within its sphere of influence. Since then, Sri Lanka has refused permission for further submarine calls. In December 2017, unable to repay a huge Chinese loan, Sri Lanka allowed China Merchants Port Holdings to take over the southern Hambantota port, which straddles the world’s busiest east-west shipping route.
The deal, which gave the Chinese company a 99-year lease, raised fears about Beijing’s use of “debt traps” in exerting its influence abroad. India and the US also expressed concerns that a Chinese foothold at Hambantota could give Beijing a military advantage.