Staff Reporter :Eminent personalities at a discussion on Friday demanded immediate release of Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Convener of the Nagorik Oikkya, or he should be tried. “Manna has been in the jail for more than one year without any trial. It is clear violation of human rights. The government should release him immediately or hold his trial,” said Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, founder of Ganoshasthya, at the discussion in the city.Organised on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the Nagorik Oikkya at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, the advisor of the Nagorik Oikkya, ASM Akram, presided over the programme.Dr. Zafrullah said that BNP observed Ziaur Rahman’s death anniversary but the party could not make people conscious about their rights and the government’s misrule. Barrister Mainul Hosein said that Mahmudur Rahman Manna must either be released on bail or tried. The courts are not for keeping anybody in jail without trial for political convenience.The government alone does not enjoy constitutional power, the courts are above the government, he said. The people empowered the judiciary with constitutional authority to protect their (people’s) fundamental rights. The Supreme Court can declare any act of the government unconstitutional and illegal.Barrister Mainul Hosein emphasized the awareness that judiciary is not helpless or weak. As the allegation against Manna is treason, it is important that he should be tried so that the people know the truth. No allegation is true unless proved in court. He highlighted the need of the judiciary not to be used politically. Denying bail has made the rise of false cases easy and sheltering the dangerous criminals easier.It is a terrible weakness of the government that anybody can overthrow it. It is not too late for the government to change politics and have confidence in the people’s government. Khalequzzaman, General Secretary of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, said that the national unity could not be formed despite Manna’s effort. He said that a political programme of Hefajat-e-Islam foiled the move.Saiful Haque, General Secretary of Biplobi Workers’ Party, said that the government had presented a glamorous budget in order to loot the public money, and sending democracy and good governance on exile. Elections in Bangladesh have become farce nowadays, he added.Asif Nazrul, a professor of Dhaka University, demanded immediate release of Mahmudur Rahman Manna, adding that detention without trial is nothing but sign of repression. This practice should go.
