France, Germany deplore conviction of Adilur, Nasiruddin

Staff Reporter :
France and Germany have expressed regret over the Bangladeshi court’s decision on the rights body Odhikar bosses-Adilur Rahman Khan and ASM Nasiruddin Elan.

According to a joint statement issued by France and Germany, a vibrant civil society is essential for the prosperity of every nation.

Earlier on Thursday, Human Rights organisation Odhikar’s Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan and its Director ASM Nasiruddin Elan were sentenced to 2 years imprisonment in a case filed in 2013.

Cyber tribunal judge AM Julfiker Hayet pronounced the judgment on Thursday.

France and Germany are ‘deeply attached to respect for the rule of law as well as to the democratic acquis in Bangladesh,’
the statement said.

They will continue to support defenders of human rights in Bangladesh, like throughout the world, reads the joint statement.

‘We regret the Bangladeshi court’s decision regarding Adilur Rahman Khan and ASM Nasiruddin Elan,’ said the statement.
‘We have expressed our concern to the authorities on this situation and will maintain our dialogue with them on this case,’ the joint statement said.

The two countries recalled that Adilur Rahman Khan, on behalf of the human rights organisation Odhikar, was the 2017 recipient of the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law.