FARHAD MAZHAR ABDUCTION Eminent citizens concerned about smear campaign

Eminent citizens have expressed concern about ‘orchestration of smear campaign and hateful remarks’ on the abduction of poet, writer and researcher Farhad Mazhar. In a statement issued by Nagarik Samaj Monday night, they said that everyone had expected that the law enforcers would identify and arrest the abductors and bring them to justice. ‘But it is concerning and frustrating that certain quarters is orchestrating smear campaign and making hateful remarks in a bid to divert the crime of abduction to other ways,’ read the statement signed by jurist Shahdeen Malik. ‘Smear campaign would create scope of diverting the crime of abduction to other ways and thus would cover up the real perpetrators,’ it said. ‘Nagarik Samaj calls on the law enforcers to endeavour to unearth the truth, so that the concern of citizen’s safety and freedom of expression is protected,’ the statement said. The eminent citizens include Dhaka University professor emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury, Gonoshasthaya Kendra trustee Zafrullah Cowhdury, former adviser to caretaker government M Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, writer Badruddin Umar, good governance campaigner Badiul Alam Majumdar, academics Swapan Adnan, Dilara Chowdhury, Firdous Azim, jurist Shahdeen Malik, CR Abrar, Anu Muhammad, Amena Mohsin, Salimullah Khan, Rahnuma Ahmed, Asif Nazrul and Azfar Hussain, photographer Shahidul Alam, and rights activist Shireen Huq, Nur Khan Liton, Adilur Rahman Khan and Syeda Rizwana Hasan. Farhad Mazhar was reportedly found in Jessore on a Dhaka-bound bus on July 3, more than 18 hours into his abduction from Dhaka.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net