FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: 
Ms Theba Islam 
07951 737634 
02 Sept 2007 

CALL TO RELEASE BANGLADESHI UNIVERSITY ACADEMICS 

FACTS OF THE CASE: 

On August 24, 2007 at 12.15am, Dr. M. Anwar Hossain and Harun-ur-Rashid 
both University Professors at Dhaka University were arrested in separate 
raids on their homes and taken away by the Military Intelligence of the 
Bangladesh Army. 

Their arrests follow severe agitation between students of Dhaka University 
and the Bangladesh Army and police. Amnesty International and Human Rights 
Watch are currently investigating the case as the Professors have been 
detained solely because of their peaceful political beliefs in returning 
to a democratic process. 

In today’s Court appearance, the Professors were charged with "giving 
provocative statements and instigating the recent violent protests on 
Dhaka University campus" Both have constantly rejected these allegations. 

Dr. M. Anwar Hossain made the following press statement whilst in remand. 
Please note it is unclear whether this was made under duress: 

“We know that the members of the armed forces have self respect...however 
we must not forget that the common citizens of our country and the 
students of Dhaka University also have self respect. I hope the Armed 
forces will remember this and learn from this incident so that they do not 
make such a mistake in the future…” 

Despite their statements of innocence in remand, the Magistrate ruled 
today that the interrogators would question the teachers for four more 
days on a new set of charges involving the breach of emergency powers 
rules. 

Dr. M. Anwar Hossain’s family are particularly concerned as his recent 
court appearance showed evidence of torture and ill treatment. Dr. M. 
Anwar Hossain stated in Court today that "People were physically tortured 
in front of us to torment us mentally. We were devastated." This was 
described as a brutal tactic used in military interrogation. Dr. M. Anwar 
Hossain, is 58 years old, has a health condition which require regular 
treatment. It is unclear if he currently has access to medical care and 
his medication in detention. 

Dr. M. Anwar Hossain is a Professor of the Department of Biochemistry and 
Molecular Biology at the Dhaka University. He is also the Dean of the 
Faculty of Biological Sciences at the Dhaka University. He is the General 
Secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers Association. 
Here is a resume of his career as a distinguished academic in his field – 
http://www.bmbudhaka.net/fac/mah.htm 

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
•	Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and 
expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without 
interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through 
any media and regardless of frontiers.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: 

Please send faxes, letters, or emails: 
•	Expressing your extreme concern about reports of the detention of 
these Academics in Bangladesh who appear to have been detained solely for 
exercising their human right to freedom of expression, including: 
1. Prof. Anwar Hussain, Chairman, Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular 
Biology and General Secretary, Dhaka University Teachers Association 
(DUTA). 
2. Prof. Harun-or-Rashid, Dean, Dept. of Social Science, Dhaka University 
3. Prof Saidur Rahman, Former Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University 
4. Prof. Abdus Sobhan, Convenor of Rajshahi University Progressive 
Teachers Society 
5. Prof. Moloy Kumar Bhowmik, Dept. of Management, Rajshahi University 
•	Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all 
detainees; and 
•	Requesting that the authorities ensure that all detainees are not 
subject to torture or ill-treatment and are granted access to their 
families and lawyers. 

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES CAN BE SENT TO: 
Local and International Media 
Your MP, Councillor, Parliamentary Representative 
Foreign Office Contacts 
International Human Rights Organisations 
Institutes and Faculties of Biochemistry 
Amnesty International 
Civil Society Organisation 
Victims of Torture Groups 
Science and Human Rights Programmers 
Any relevant groups you think can help in the release of the Professors 

RECENT MEDIA REPORTS: 

•	BBC - “Bangladesh moves to quell unrest” - 24 August 2007 
•	http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6961543.stm 
•	The Guardian - “Bangladesh relaxes curfew after arresting 
Academics” - 24 August 2007 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2155562,00.html 
•	Al-Jazeera News - “Bangladesh arrests Academics” - 24 August 2007 
•	http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0ECC1CDE-98CB-4BE2-9E91-
3F32983ABAC0.htm 
•	Human Rights Watch - “Bangladesh: Abuses Grow in Crackdown on 
Protests, Students Angry After Eight Months of Emergency Rule” - 25 August 
2007 
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/08/25/bangla16739.htm 
http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_64071.shtml 
•	BBC - “Photo the Bangladesh army cannot stand” - 28 August 2007 
•	http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6966467.stm 
Latest news - 
http://news.google.co.uk/news?hl=en&ned=uk&ie=UTF-8&q=%2BAnwar+%2BHossain+%
2BBangladesh 

CONTACTS: 

DHAKA, BANGLADESH 
Mr. Sanjeeb Hossain, son of Dr. Anwar Hossain 
Dhaka 
Email: [log in to unmask] 
Mobile: 01552385105 / 01197127226 

LONDON, UK 
Mr. Abu Ahasan, nephew of Dr. Anwar Hossain 
London 
Email: [log in to unmask] 
Mobile: 07857926189 

Ms. Theba Islam, niece of Dr. Anwar Hossain 
London 
Email: [log in to unmask] 
Mobile: 07951 737634