GENEVA (1 March 2021) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Monday urged the Government of
Bangladesh to ensure its investigation into the death in custody of writer Mushtaq Ahmed is prompt, transparent and
independent.
Mr Ahmed died on 25 February after he was transferred to a prison hospital for treatment. He had spent nine months in
pre-trial detention for publishing an article and sharing Facebook posts critical of the Government’s COVID-19 response.
The Government has announced it will investigate Mr 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,” Bachelet said.
The High Commissioner also expressed serious concern at allegations that another man detained on similar charges,
cartoonist Ahmed Kishore, has been subjected to torture or other ill treatment. She reminded the authorities of their
obligation to promptly and effectively investigate the claims and to ensure his safety and well-being.
Mushtaq Ahmed and Ahmed Kishore were among 11 individuals arrested in May 2020 under the Digital Security Act for
allegedly spreading misinformation about COVID-19 or criticizing the Government response. The men were repeatedly denied
bail and remained in pre-trial detention for nearly nine months before they were officially charged on 20 January this
year for posting “propaganda, false or offensive information, and information that could destroy communal harmony and
create unrest”. They were brought before a court on Tuesday last week, where Kishore alleged that he had been subjected
to torture by two Rapid Action Battalion officers and reportedly appeared visibly injured.
“The Government must ensure that its investigation into Ahmed’s death is prompt, transparent and independent, and that
any allegations of ill-treatment of other detainees are also immediately investigated,” Bachelet said.
Allegations of torture and ill-treatment by the Rapid Action Battalion have been a long-standing concern. The UN
Committee Against Torture in 2019 recommended the Government commission an independent inquiry into allegations that
members of the unit have carried out torture, arbitrary arrests, unacknowledged detention, disappearances and
extrajudicial killings as a matter of routine policy, and to ensure that the personnel conducting the inquiry receive
effective protection from harassment or intimidation.
The High Commissioner also expressed concern at reports that police had allegedly used excessive force during protests
demanding justice over Mushtaq’s death - 35 people have been reportedly injured and 7 arrested. Another activist, Ruhul
Amin has also reportedly been arrested under the Digital Security Act for a post on Facebook over Mushtaq’s death.
“Various UN Human Rights bodies have long raised concerns about the ill-defined, overly broad provisions of the Digital
Security Act that have been used to punish criticism of the Government,” Bachelet said. “Bangladesh urgently needs to
suspend the application of the Digital Security Act and conduct a review of its provisions to bring them in line with
the requirements of international human rights law. My Office stands ready to continue its dialogue with the authorities
in this regard.”