‘Torture’ police funded by YOU seize journalist

AN ELDERLY British journalist investigating corruption in Bangladesh has been arrested by a police squad that received UK aid funding despite allegations of torture.

Shafik Rehman, 81, was seized in April on accusations of plotting to kidnap and kill the prime minister’s son. He has been held without charge for three months and his family fear he faces the death penalty if he is convicted.

The former BBC contributor, who has dual British and Bangladeshi nationality, is a prominent opposition figure.

Britain is Bangladesh’s biggest aid donor. This year it is handing over £154million, despite growing repression and a freespeech crackdown that has seen three leading opposition journalists arrested since 2013.

‘This is the problem with aid all over the world – there is no accountability,’ said Mr Rehman’s son Shumit. ‘But ultimately Britain is responsible if it is paying these people.’

His father was taken by police posing as a TV crew then interrogated for ten days, his family say. Mr Rehman was forced to sleep on the floor in solitary confinement for a further 15 days, despite worsening health problems. He suffers from diabetes and has a stent in his artery.

He was arrested by Bangladesh’s detective branch, which is accused by Human Rights Watch of being responsible for abuses ‘including arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances and killings’. Yet in 2009, Britain gave £10million to a five-year UN scheme to enhance the unit’s ability to deal ‘professionally’ with investigations.

The Department for International Development said aid to Bangladesh police stopped last year, adding: ‘It is wrong to suggest DFID funding contributes to human rights violations.’