The death in custody, in Bangladesh,  of writer Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed on 25 February 2021 has sparked a wave of protests by concerned people in Bangladesh, the Human Rights organisations, the Committee to Protect Journalists. etc



Today, 13 Ambassadors and High Commissioners expressed grave concerns. Please see the joint statements by the 13 diplomats as posted in the website of the US Embassy, Bangladesh: 

 

U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh



Joint Statement by Thirteen OECD Ambassadors and High Commissioners in Dhaka on the Death of Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed

 

The undersigned Heads of Mission in Dhaka express our grave concern about the death in custody of Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed on 25 February 2021.

 

Mr. Ahmed had been held in pre-trial detention since 5 May 2020 under the provisions of the Digital Security Act (DSA). We understand that he had been denied bail on several occasions and that concerns had been raised about his treatment while he was imprisoned.

 

We express our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

 

We call on the Government of Bangladesh to conduct a swift, transparent, and independent inquiry into the full circumstances of Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed’s death.

 

We will continue to engage with the Government of Bangladesh on our Governments’ wider concerns about the provisions and implementation of the DSA, as well as questions about its compatibility with Bangladesh’s obligations under international human rights laws and standards.

 

Signed:

 

High Commissioner of Canada, Mr. Benoit Préfontaine

Ambassador of Denmark, Mrs. Winnie Estrup Petersen

Ambassador of the EU, Mrs. Rensje Teerink

Ambassador of France, Mr. Jean-Marin Schuh

Ambassador of Germany, Mr. Peter Fahrenholtz

Ambassador of Italy, Mr. Enrico Nunziata

Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr. Harry Verweij

Ambassador of Norway, Mr. Espen Rikter-Svendsen

Ambassador of Spain, Mr. Francisco de Asis Benitez Salas

Ambassador of Sweden, Mrs. Alexandra Berg von Linde

Ambassador of Switzerland, Mrs. Nathalie Chuard

High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, Mr. Robert Chatterton Dickson

Ambassador of the United States of America, Mr. Earl R. Miller

 

By U.S. Embassy Dhaka | 26 February, 2021 | Topics: News, Press Releases

 

https://bd.usembassy.gov/joint-statement-by-thirteen-oecd-ambassadors-and-high-commissioners-in-dhaka-on-the-death-of-mr-mushtaq-ahmed/