arif In the photo on the left, Arif is recieving first prize in Cartoon Against Corruption Contest from Rafiqunnabi on August 9, 2007. Standing next to him was ACC chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury as the chief guest for the event. [Photo:Daily Star]

It has been TWO weeks since Arifur Rahman's cartoon 'Naam' was published which prompted the Bangladesh police to take him to jail and lock him up without pressing any formal charge against him or allowing him any legal representation in his defence. Arif was picked up from his home in Uttara under section 54 code of criminal procedure (see notes below on CrP 54) for drawing the very harmless cartoon that portrayed a widely used naming convention for Bangali Muslim men. The cartoon did not insult the prophet in any way, nor was it Arif's intention, since his own first name is Mohammed (newspaper reports addressed him as Md Arifur Rahman).

This young (early 20's) talented cartoonist has earned accolades for targeting corruption with his creative genius. Only a month before his arrest he was awarded with a crest and Tk 10,000 cash in a Cartoon Contest Against Corruption arranged by Daily Star, attended by ACC chief Hassan Mashhud Chowdhury among others. Arif's cartoon that won the first prize displayed a tree thriving and growing after all the worms that had been eating away the tree have been captured in a jar.

prize The worms represent the corrupted people, while the tree represents the economy and development of the country.

Last year Transperacy International of Bangladesh (TBI) arranged a cartoon exhibition against corruption where Arif won the 3rd prize .

Is it not a travesty that the CareTaker Government (CTG) that threw him in the jail unlawfully vouches for their diligence in anti-corruption drive?

When the public struggled to make sense of the arrest, a series of aberrant events started to unfold, deepening people's suspicion that religious extremists have spread their tentacles deep inside the government.

For last two Fridays, the religious fanatics orchestrated processions on Dhaka streets demanding cease of Prothom Alo publication and arrest of the editors.

The baitul Mukarram khatib and the leaders of different Islamists have been instigated this rage against the cartoon. These people have made their agenda clear on many occassions in the past. The Khatib in 2003 declared war against America for attacking Afghanistan. Last year during Pahela Baishakh celebration he demanded the the first day of the year be celebrated on first Muharram (first month of the Islamic calendar). Islami Oikko Jote – another group behind the procession has just as much a glorious track record that includes issuing fatwa and promoting persecution of the Ahmediyas.

free arif Bangali blogger Aronnok Sourov who contributes regularly to Bangla blog Sachalayatan from Japan had some very strong words to say on the actions taken by the current governing body, especially the law and information adviser. But what spoke thousand words was the banner he created (backdrop courtesy Creative Commons "press in chains") asking for Arif's immediate and unconditional release (soon concurred by many bloggers in deshi blogsphere).

I join hands with my fellow bloggers and demand immediate and unconditional release of Arifur Rahman.


 

Zafa Noor [http://keepmehonest.wordpress.com] is one of the most popular Bangladeshi-American bloggers. A consultant engineer by profession Zafa likes to write, among other things, against human rights abuses; take a stand on political issues while staying completely non-partisan; promote efficient use of energy and conservation of environment (not in a tree-hugging way), believes in secular society where everybody practices their faith without hurting another fellow human being; about raising children as NRB…

[Read posts by Zafa Noor]

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Odhikar, an NGO on Human Rights issued a publication named ABUSE OF SECTION 54 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE . Under section 54 of CrP Code, individuals may be arrested under suspicion of criminal activity without any order from a magistrate or a warrant.

According to the Section, there are nine specific reasons for which the police may arrest someone under this law. These reasons are summarized below:

[Note how many time the phrase "reasonable suspicion" appears and how many vague terms like "cognizable offence" or "credible information" you can find]

1. If the person arrested has been concerned in any cognizable offence or if there has been credible information against him or the police have reasonable suspicion to think so;
2. If the person has in his possession any implement of housebreaking and cannot give a lawful excuse for doing do;
3. If a person has been proclaimed under this or any other Code, or by Government Order, to be an offender;
4. If there is reasonable suspicion to believe that the person possesses stolen property;
5. If the person obstructs a police officer on duty; or if he has or attempts to escape from lawful custody;
6. If the person is a deserter from the armed forces of Bangladesh;
7. If the person has been concerned in; or if there is credible information of his being so involved in; or there is reasonable suspicion that he is concerned in committing any act abroad which would have been a punishable offence in Bangladesh (if committed in this country). He would be detained under custody in Bangladesh under the Fugitive Offenders Act 1881 or under extradition laws.
8. If the person is a released convict, he can be arrested if he does not notify the sentencing judge of his change in address or absence from residence;
9. If the arrest of a specific person for a specific crime has been made by another police officer by requisition.

Source: http://keepmehonest.wordpress.com/