BNP urges release of teacher arrested for allegedly insulting Tarique

BNP has raised concerns over the arrest of teacher AKM Shahidul Islam on Saturday morning on allegations of making derogatory remarks against the party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. 

The country’s biggest active political party has termed the legal measures against Shahidul as “violations of the right to free speech,” and called for his immediate release, according to a statement issued Saturday night. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi signed the statement.

Shahidul Islam, vice-principal of Gabtoli Technical Training Centre, allegedly made disparaging remarks targeting Tarique Rahman while the BNP leader was paying tributes at the graves of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi and poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on the Dhaka University campus on Saturday morning.

Following allegations that Shahidul insulted Tarique, police arrested him under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and produced him before a court, which ultimately sent him to jail.

Detailing the incident, BNP said Shahidul was simply exercising his right to free speech and arresting him on this ground was inappropriate. In its statement, the party requested authorities concerned to release the teacher unconditionally and immediately, in a bid to honour the general people’s democratic rights.

BNP has been fighting for establishing people’s right to free speech and their personal freedom, the statement read. BNP believes that the right to free speech is a basic human right, which allows a person to express his/her thoughts, opinions and beliefs without any fear, the statement added.