[chottala.com] Bangladeshi sculptor, daughter-in-law locked in India for 8 yrs

Bangladeshi sculptor, daughter-in-law locked in Tihar for 8 yrs

A 75-year-old Bangladeshi sculptor, whose works include the country's
Liberation War of 1971, and his daughter-in-law have been languishing
in Delhi's Tihar Jail for the last eight years. Rashid Ahmed and Nur
Nahar were arrested on the charge of possessing fake currency while on
a visit to India.

Mukto Bangla (Free Bangla), one of the sculptures designed by Ahmed,
is on display at the Islamic University in Kushtia, Bangladesh.

After waiting years, Ahmed's daughter, who is in Dhaka, has approached
the Bangladesh High Commission in India for the release of her father
whose health has been deteriorating.

Ahmed had come to Delhi in 2004 with daughter-in-law Nur Nahar as they
wanted to visit the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer.

According to his family, Ahmed and Nur Nahar checked into a hotel in
Paharganj, Delhi where they later had an altercation with the manager
over money. The next thing they knew was that both had been arrested
by the CBI on the charge of possessing fake currency notes. Ahmed and
Nur Nahar were sent to jail after being produced in a city court.

Ahmed's daughter approached the Bangladesh High Commission which
subsequently sent several reminders to the Ministry of External
Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs regarding his early release.

In 2005, Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, then a Union Minister, also wrote to
External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, asking him to look into the
matter.

In his letter, Dasmunsi said "Rashid Ahmed, who is a great sculptor of
Bangladesh... designed the monument of the liberation struggle...
Muktijudhha Smriti Soudha... came to India with his daughter-in-law...
on 20th December, 2004 he was arrested by some persons with fake
currency... since 22nd December, 2004, he is in custody in Tihar
Jail... since the days of the Bangladesh Liberation, this sculptor's
name is known not only in Bangladesh but parts of West Bengal as well
with respect. True it is that that the case is being pursued in court,
but it appears to me that if the artist is freed and proceedings are
withdrawn, it would be a great contribution to our understanding and
ties with Bangladesh. I cannot imagine and believe such an honest
sculptor shall indulge in such nefarious things."

When his comments were sought, Md. Nazibur Rahman, Minister (Consular)
at the Bangladesh High Commission, said: "After we sent reminders to
the MHA and MEA, we got a response from the MHA that the letter has
been sent to the authorities concerned. We have not got any
confirmation about Ahmed's release. Since the case is being tried in
court, expediting it is not in their hands."

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/bangladeshi-sculptor-daughterinlaw-locked-in-tihar-for-8-yrs/971622/0

http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2012/07/09/153462


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