Dokument #1141300
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
According to the BBC Summary of World
Broadcasts, Anwar Hossain Manzu was arrested on 29 April 1991 and
detained for 120 days under the Special Powers Act (SPA) (1 May
1991). The report stated that Hossain, who was elected to
parliament in February 1991, took the oath of office on 27 April
after "emerging from his hideout" (ibid.). The report added Hossain
had surrendered himself to authorities of the Dhaka Central Jail
after having been placed on the government's "wanted list" (ibid.).
However, another source states that Hossain was arrested outside
the national parliament building (Japan Economic Newswire 16 May
1991).
According to a former Bangladeshi
journalist, the SPA allows authorities to detain individuals for up
to 120 days without filing charges (9 Feb. 1994). The source added,
however, that the Bangladesh High Court deemed Hossain's detention
illegal and ordered his release (ibid). As a result, the source
stated that Hossain was not detained for the entire 120-day period
allowed under the SPA (ibid.). The source added that no charges
were filed against Hossain during his incarceration (14 Feb.
1994).
A Thursday 8 August 1991 Xinhua General
Overseas News Service report stated that Hossain was granted bail
and released from Dhaka Central Jail on "Wednesday", but did not
state whether the court's action was related to his arrest on 29
April 1991 or to another incident (8 Aug. 1991).
In August 1992 Hossain was accused of
abusing his authority and misappropriating funds while serving as
Ershad's energy minister (Reuters 4 Aug. 1992). In April 1993, he
was arrested under the SPA for a second time (Japan Economic
Newswire 22 Apr. 1993). The Bangladesh High Court again ordered
Hossain's release (14 Feb. 1994).
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 1 May
1991. "Bangladesh: Former Minister Arrested." (NEXIS)
Former Bangladeshi Journalist, Montreal.
9 February 1994, 14 February 1994. Telephone interview.
Japan Economic Newswire. 16 May 1991.
"Former Bangladeshi Premier Detained for Three Months." (NEXIS)
. 22 April 1993. "Opposition Lawmaker
Arrested in Bangladesh." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 4 August 1992. BC Cycle.
"Former Bangladesh President Faces New Charges." (NEXIS)
The Xinhua General Overseas News
Service. 8 August 1991. "Bangladesh Ex-President Welcomes Change to
Parliamentary System." (NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 1 May
1991. "Bangladesh: Former Minister Arrested." (NEXIS)
Japan Economic Newswire. 16 May 1991.
"Former Bangladeshi Premier Detained for Three Months." (NEXIS)
. 22 April 1993. "Opposition Lawmaker
Arrested in Bangladesh." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 4 August 1992. BC Cycle.
"Former Bangladesh President Faces New Charges." (NEXIS)
The Xinhua General Overseas News
Service. 8 August 1991. "Bangladesh Ex-President Welcomes Change to
Parliamentary System." (NEXIS)