Mushtaq Ahmed
মুশতাক আহমেদ
Ahmed in 2020
Born(1967-12-05)5 December 1967
Chuadanga District, Khulna, Bangladesh
DiedFebruary 25, 2021(2021-02-25) (aged 53)
Gazipur District, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
Occupation(s)Writer, Entrepreneur

Mushtaq Ahmed (Bengali: মুশতাক আহমেদ; 5 December 1967 - 25 February 2021), popularly known as Kumir Bhai, was a Bangladeshi dissident,[1] writer, and entrepreneur. His pen name was Michael Kumir Thakur.[2] He founded the first ever commercial Crocodile breeding farm in Bangladesh.[3][4] His book Kumir Chashir Diary was published in 2018.[5][6] He was working on another book.[7] He was accused with 10 others of sharing cartoons in social media posts criticizing the Bangladeshi government's corrupt and mismanaged response to covid-19 pandemic and was detained in pre-trial for almost a year.[8] On 25 February 2021 he died in jail, after being denied bail 6 times.[2][4][9]

Personal life

Ahmed passed the SSC and HSC examination from Faujdarhat Cadet College. He then attended the University of Chittagong. Ahmed was married to Masiha Akhter Lipa. He has two sisters. [10]

Mushtaq Ahmed was an activist and used to write Facebook posts about contemporary socio-political issues. In one of his Facebook posts before his arrest in May 2020, Ahmed expressed his frustration about covid-19 pandemic management by Bangladesh Government and wrote, "When a society laments the loss of an economy more than the loss of human life, it doesn't need a virus, it's already sick."[11]

Arrest and death

Arrest

On 6 May 2020, around 1:00am, Rapid Action Battalion-3 arrested Ahmed from his home in Dhaka for criticising Bangladesh government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in 10 Facebook posts and links.[2][4][12] After 8 months, he was charged under the notorious[13] 2018 Digital Security Act, though the act allows a maximum 105 days for completing investigation and submitting charges.[14][15] Digital Security Act is alleged to be used in Bangladesh to crack down on political dissent.[16] Around 2000 cases have been filed from 2018 to the beginning of 2021 under Digital Security Act.[17]

Six civilians, including security guards of houses and malls, peon and relatives, have been made witnesses of the case against Ahmed, but five of them told Prothom Alo that they didn’t give any such testimony to the police.[18]

Detention

For the whole 9 months, from Ahmed's arrest to his death, his family was not able to meet him. Visit to prison was not allowed due to the pandemic. Two days before his death, the prosecution produced him before the court for bail hearing, only to be denied bail. In all, his bail appeals were denied six times.[4][14] His wife started suffering from mental illness when bail was denied for the fourth time and needed hospitalization.[10] Human rights organizations around the world decried his arrest and prolonged detention without trial, without bail.[19][20][21] Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher, The Daily Star, wrote, "writer Mushtaq was condemned and his punishment implemented without the minimum due process of law being available to him."[22]

Death

In an interview with The Daily Star, cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, Ahmed's co-accused, revealed that Ahmed was tortured in custody.[23] Ahmed died on 25 February 2021, after collapsing in Kashimpur High Security Jail with low blood pressure.[12][15] He was first taken to Jail hospital and later to Shaheed Tajuddin Medical College Hospital where the doctor pronounced him dead on arrival.[1][7] According to the postmortem report, Mushtaq died naturally even though Mushtaq's lawyer and Mushtaq's co-accused Kishore claimed that Mushtaq was tortured. According to Mushtaq's lawyer Mushtaq was held in prison for nine months and denied bail despite being in poor health.[24] He was buried at Azimpur graveyard.[12]

After his death, in an interview with Prothom Alo, senior jail superintendent Md Gias Uddin said that Mushtaq Ahmed was very gentle and quiet. He was a good person. He did not complain about any issues. Ahmed read books about history and other subjects in prison.[25] Gias Uddin also confirmed that Mushtaq was not suffering from any major illness.[26] "We saw him taking only gastric tablets" he told journalists.[17]

Reactions

Domestic

Ahmed's death sparked widespread protests across the country demanding justice, repeal of the Digital Security Act and release of all detainees under the act.[27][28][29][30][31] During the march of 300 protesters[32] at the University of Dhaka and at the National Press Club, security forces clashed with them. The students were chanting "justice" near the Dhaka University campus[24] when police lashed out with batons and fired rubber bullets[32] and tear gas rounds.[13][26] Thirty activists were injured during the clash and six people were arrested by police.[33] Journalists, civil society and many political parties including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party termed his death as state sponsored murder.[14][34][35][36][37] Bangladesh's National Human Rights Commission said the state cannot avoid responsibility for the death which is a gross violation of human rights.[38]

Responding to a query on Ahmed's death, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh - Sheikh Hasina, counter questioned, "What can be done if someone falls ill and dies?".[39] “No death is desired. It is also not desired that unrest will be created”, she added.[40]

Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Home Minister of Bangladesh told journalists that Mushtaq Ahmed violated the law and there were cases against him. He also alleged that Mushtaq Ahmed hurt the faiths of others through his writing several times.[41]

International

United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged independent investigation into Ahmed's death and overhaul of Digital Security Act.[42] Thirteen diplomatic mission heads in Bangladesh - including France, the UK and the US, called on the Government of Bangladesh to conduct a swift and transparent inquiry into his death.[43] They questioned Digital Security Act's compatibility with Bangladesh’s obligations under international human rights laws and standards.[44] Nine international human rights organizations have urged the Bangladesh government to repeal the Digital Security Act. They asked the UN to review Bangladesh’s security forces' and law-enforcement agencies' participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations, given their concerning record of human rights abuses.[45]

“Ahmed’s death has sent a chill through Bangladesh civil society and should force the government into ending this peremptory treatment of peaceful criticism,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch. “Posting satire about the ruling Awami League on Facebook should not amount to the equivalent of a death sentence”, he added.[15][46]

Aliya Iftikhar, Committee to Protect Journalists's senior Asia researcher said, "Mushtaq Ahmed's death in a Bangladeshi prison, where he never should have been detained in the first place, is a devastating and unconscionable loss".[47]

The International Federation of Journalists general secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said, “We stand in solidarity with our colleagues in Bangladesh as they mourn the loss of Mushtaq Ahmed. This writer should have never been imprisoned let alone die in a high-security jail. This is a crime against freedom of expression. The long list of incarcerations against journalists and activists is evidence enough that The DSA must be urgently repealed.” [48]

Global association of writers, PEN International, demanded an independent and transparent investigation into writer Mushtaq’s death in custody and also urged the Bangladesh government to immediately repeal the Digital Security Act.[49]

Aftermath

On the sixth day of continued protests, cartoonist Kishore was granted bail, 10 months after his arrest.[50][51] He was released from jail the next day.[52]

References

  1. 1 2 AsiaNews.it. "Writer and activist Mushtaq Ahmed dies in prison". www.asianews.it. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  2. 1 2 3 "Death sets Mushtaq free from DSA, jail". The Daily Star. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021.
  3. ↑ Islam, Rafiqul. "Crocodile Farming in Mymensingh, Bangladesh". BdFISH Feature. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Mushtaq's grim punishment for the most 'unspeakable' crime". The Daily Star. 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  5. ↑ আহমেদ, মুশতাক (2018). কুমির চাষির ডায়েরি (First ed.). স্বরে অ. ISBN 9789848047019. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "Cartoonist Kishore, writer Mushtaq arrested under DSA". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  7. 1 2 Sharma, Unnati (2021-02-26). "Bangladeshi writer Mushtaq Ahmed, arrested 9 months ago for 'anti-govt content', dies in jail". ThePrint. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  8. ↑ Manik, Julfikar Ali; Mashal, Mujib (2021-02-26). "Bangladeshi Writer, Detained Over Social Media Posts, Dies in Jail". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  9. ↑ "Mushtaq: DSA's First 'Martyr'". The Daily Star. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Lipa never thought she would have to live just with Mushtaq's memory". Prothom Alo. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021.
  11. ↑ "Bangladeshi writer, detained over anti-govt social media posts, dies in jail". Hindustan Times. 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  12. 1 2 3 "Home from prison but to be laid to rest". The Daily Star. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Bangladeshi cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore gets bail after 10 months in detention". Peoples Dispatch. 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  14. 1 2 3 Anam, Mahfuz (27 February 2021). "Commentary by Mahfuz Anam: DSA - the law that jails now kills". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 "Bangladesh: Writer Dies After 9 Months in Custody". Human Rights Watch. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021.
  16. ↑ "Hundreds march in Bangladesh to protest death of imprisoned writer". France 24. 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  17. 1 2 "Anger in Bangladesh after writer detained over social media posts, dies in jail". WION. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  18. ↑ "Guards, peons witnesses in anti-state conspiracy case on FB". Prothom Alo. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021.
  19. ↑ Ganguly, Meenakshi (16 February 2021). "Limiting Free Speech Undermines the Fight Against Covid-19". Human Rights Watch. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  20. ↑ "Bangladesh: Guarantee the right to freedom of artistic expression and release detained artists". Amnesty International. 21 January 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "BANGLADESH: Torture being used to block access to justice". Asian Human Rights Commission. 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021.
  22. ↑ Anam, Mahfuz (5 March 2021). "Column by Mahfuz Anam: Why is personal freedom such a plaything of the law enforcers?". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021.
  23. ↑ Islam, Zyma (5 March 2021). "Scars of torture all over him". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021.
  24. 1 2 "Hundreds of student activists rally in Bangladesh to denounce prison death". Al Arabiya English. 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  25. ↑ ইসলাম, রোজিনা (5 March 2021). "কারা কর্তৃপক্ষ বলছে, ভালো মানুষ ছিলেন মুশতাক আহমেদ". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 9 March 2021.
  26. 1 2 "Clashes in Dhaka after Bangladeshi writer and government critic Mushtaq Ahmed dies in jail". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  27. ↑ Mahmud, Faisal (27 February 2021). "Anger in Bangladesh over dissident writer's death in prison". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  28. ↑ "Hundreds rally in Bangladesh over writer's death in prison". Al Jazeera. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  29. ↑ "Protest erupts over author Mushtaq's death in jail". Dhaka Tribune. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021.
  30. ↑ "No amendment, DSA has to go". The Daily Star. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021.
  31. ↑ "66 writers demand justice for Mushtaq, abolition of DSA". The Daily Star. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021.
  32. 1 2 "Protests Over Writer's Death Rock Dhaka for Fourth Day | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  33. ↑ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Bangladesh: Protests erupt over writer's death in prison | DW | 27.02.2021". DW.COM. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  34. ↑ "Mushtaq's death in custody a 'state killing'". Prothom Alo. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  35. ↑ "BNP describes Mushtaq's death as state-sponsored murder". Dhaka Tribune. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021.
  36. ↑ "UNACCEPTABLE". The Daily Star. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021.
  37. ↑ "SHUJAN concerned by Mushtaq's death in jail, demands repeal of Digital Security Act". Dhaka Tribune. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021.
  38. ↑ "State cannot avoid responsibility". The Daily Star. 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  39. ↑ "Unrest over any death undesirable". The Daily Star. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  40. ↑ "Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina shrugs off protests over writer's death in jail". South China Morning Post. 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021.
  41. ↑ "Bangladesh: Anger rises on custodial death of writer". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  42. ↑ "Bangladesh: Bachelet urges review of Digital Security Act following death in custody of writer". The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  43. ↑ "Anger brews over prison death of Bangladesh writer - Times of India". The Times of India. AFP. Feb 27, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  44. ↑ "Joint Statement by Thirteen OECD Ambassadors and High Commissioners in Dhaka on the Death of Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed". U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021.
  45. ↑ "Nine Int'l organisations urge Bangladesh govt to repeal Digital Security Act". Prothom Alo. 6 March 2021. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021.
  46. ↑ "Mushtaq Ahmed should never have been detained: Human Rights Watch". The Daily Star. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  47. ↑ "Bangladeshi writer Mushtaq Ahmed dies in jail; cartoonist Kabir Kishore allegedly abused in custody". Committee to Protect Journalists. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  48. ↑ "Bangladesh: Writer Mushtaq Ahmed dies in police custody". International Federation of Journalists. 22 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021.
  49. ↑ "PEN International calls for investigation into Mushtaq Ahmed's death". Dhaka Tribune. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  50. ↑ Mahmud, Faisal (3 March 2021). "Bangladeshi cartoonist granted bail after widespread protests". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021.
  51. ↑ "Kishore granted bail, after 10 long months". The Daily Star. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021.
  52. ↑ "DSA case: Kishore walks out of jail after 10 months". The Daily Star. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021.
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