Protests erupt in Bangladesh capital over custodial death of writer

Hundreds of protesters on Friday staged demonstrations in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh protesting against the death of a detained writer on Thursday night, local media reported.

Writer Mushtaq Ahmed, detained in a case filed under the Digital Security Act, died in Kashimpur High Security Jail in Gazipur, about 30 kilometers from Dhaka, reported New Age, a leading English Language daily published from Dhaka.

The protesters gathered at the Dhaka University area and announced various agitation programmes including surrounding the home minister’s office on Sunday.

They blamed the state for the incident and displayed various placards demanding the repeal of the Digital Security Act.

Hailing from Narayanganj’s Araihajar, Mushtaq was one of the entrepreneurs of crocodile farming in Bangladesh. He actively wrote about different issues on social media.

Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion arrested him and cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore from their residences in Dhaka on May 5 last year.

The two, along with nine other people, were charged with propagating disinformation against the government on social media.