On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 8:02 PM, Shahzad Ahmad <shah...@bytesforall.pk> wrote:
> Dear colleagues, > > Wish to draw your kind attention on the latest developments in Bangladesh. > > Adilur Rahman is a personal friend and a renowned human rights defender. > He was picked by the police on 10th August 2013. Some details of the case > are here https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/23539 > > Following note has been sent to relevant UN Special Procedures and Mandate > Holders by concerned civil society organizations, however, it will be good > that you all are also aware and probably can help. > > Best wishes and regards > Shahzad > > PS: We dread policy laundering so re very very concerned. > > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > > *Dear Special Procedures Mandate Holders* > > This is to alert you regarding the ordinance titled Information and > Communication Technology (ICT) (Amendment) Act, 2013 being passed and > approved by the Cabinet of Bangladesh on 19 August 2013. > > The cabinet has approved the proposed draft of the “Information and > Communication Technology (ICT) (Amendment) Act, 2013” which seeks to make > significant changes to the existing legislation enacted in > 2006<http://www.prp.org.bd/downloads/ICTAct2006English.pdf> > . > > *Initial reports indicate that some of the key provisions of the > amendment are as follows:* > > 1. Section 76 of the present Act classifies all offences committed under > the Act to be Non-Cognizable. However, the 2013 amendment seeks to classify > some of the offences as cognizable. By doing so, the police could arrest > persons without issuing a warrant by invoking Section 54 of the Code of > Criminal Procedure<http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/print_sections_all.php?id=75> > . > > > > 2. Offences under the present Act are bailable, while the amendment seeks > to make the offences non-bailable. > > > > 3. The maximum period of imprisonment for offences under the Act has been > increased to 14 years as against 10 years under the present Act. Penalties > and fines are also to be enhanced. > > > > Reports also suggest that the Ordinance is likely to receive the assent of > the President soon, after which the provisions will come into effect. As > soon as the copy of the Ordinance is made available to us we will share it > with you. > > We would further like to bring to your notice to the fact that this draft > amendment has been passed in a hurry by the cabinet while the Parliament is > scheduled to be in session soon on 12 September 2013. By doing so, the > government has denied the opposition parties the opportunity to discuss the > provisions of the amendment and raise objections. > > We must also bring to your attention the recent arrest of Adilur Rahman > Khan, a prominent human rights activist on 10 August 2013 for the alleged > offences under the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006. The > documents submitted before the courts in relation to his arrest also > suggest that the authorities seek to proceed against Adilur Rahman Khan for > charges similar to sedition. > > We anticipate that further arrests of human rights defenders such as > Adilur Rahman Khan would be carried out soon after the Information and > Communication Technology (ICT) (Amendment) Act, 2013 ordinance is > promulgated by the President. > > We therefore call upon your office to urgently intervene and urge the > Government of Bangladesh and the President of Bangladesh to refrain from > bringing the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) (Amendment) > Act, 2013 into force. > > Please do contact us should you need any further information or > clarification. > ------ >
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