Information on the arrest of Jinnat Ali, lawyer of former president Ershad, for his role in smuggling letters to and from the jailed Ershad [BGD18062.E]

Please find attached some articles that report on the arrest of Jinnat (or Jinat) Ali after he was found smuggling letters for former president Ershad while the latter was in jail. One of the attachments states that "writing letters in secret in prison is a criminal offense," adding that "both the writer and the courier could be punished by up to three years in jail" (Reuters 23 July 1991). Although the available reports do not provide information on demonstrations or other events that might have followed Ali's arrest, the same source states that the letter which was found in the lawyer's possession was a call for the organization of a campaign against the existing government (ibid.).

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.

Reference

Reuters. 23 July 1991. PM Cycle. "Ex-Bangladesh Leader Attempts to Organize Protest from Jail." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 23 July 1991. "Ershad's Lawyer Arrested, Letters Seized." (NEXIS)

The Independent [London]. 29 July 1991. "Lawyers Quit." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 28 July 1991. BC Cycle. "Lawyers for Ex-Bangladesh President Withdraw." (NEXIS)

. 23 July 1991. PM Cycle. "Ex-Bangladesh Leader Attempts to Organize Protest from Jail." (NEXIS)