Bangladesh Pardons Professors and Frees Students

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh – On Tuesday, Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed pardoned three university professors hours after a court sentenced them to two years in prison for stoking campus demonstrations. Today authorities released nine students accused of inciting unrest during those same demonstrations. The nine students released were the last of the students detained from August’s unrest.

Hundreds of supporters gathered for two days before the nine students were freed. The release appears to be an effort at reconciliation. Authorities feared the professors’ imprisonments would spark a fresh wave of protests in defiance of a state of emergency. 

Last August, violence erupted at Dhaka University when army soldiers allegedly assaulted university students. The government imposed curfews to suppress any further violence; however, one person died, and hundreds were hurt. The Bangladesh government has been under a state of emergency since January 2007. An interim government took power following months of strikes and riots by rival supporters of the two main political parties: the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Awami League. The interim government has promised to clean up the notoriously corrupt government and hold elections in 2008.

Amnesty International has said the professors’ pardons are not sufficient. Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said, “Charges should never have been brought against the professors in the first place. The arrest and prosecution of the Dhaka University professors is illustrative of the manner in which emergency regulations are open to abuse in cases involving the right to peaceful protest. The restrictions imposed through the Emergency Powers Rules exceed what is permissible under international law. The current rules and restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association are too widely framed and are being selectively applied.”

For more information, please see: 

AFP – Bangladesh Frees Nine Students after Mass Protests – 23 January 2008

Amnesty International – Bangladesh: Pardon of Teachers Not Enough Says Amnesty – 23 January 2008

Daily Times Pakistan – Bangladesh Pardons Teachers Jailed over Campus Unrest – 23 January 2008