In the wake of public outrage, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul yesterday said the way model Meghna Alam was detained was not right.

The High Court also questioned the legality of Meghna’s 30-day detention under the Special Powers Act.

On Saturday, the chief of the DMP’s Detective Branch, which detained her from her home, was removed from his post.

These developments come as legal experts and rights groups raise concerns over the way she was picked up and how a late-night court hearing was held more than 24 hours after her detention.

“When I was an activist, I used to think, ’Why are they applying the Digital Security Act or the Special Powers Act?’ Now that I am in the government, should I not consider the interests of the expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia? Should I not worry about whether that market can shrink for some reason?”

— Law Adviser Asif Nazrul

They also term the Special Powers Act a draconian legislation and call for its abolition.

“There are some allegations against Meghna; but the process involving her arrest was not right,” Prof Asif told a press briefing at the Secretariat.

“Her detention was approved by the home ministry. A meeting of senior government officials was held in this regard. We are aware of the comments by various human rights activists. The police are currently investigating the matter.”

Meghna, the winner of Miss Earth Bangladesh 2020, was picked up by police from her flat in the capital’s Bashundhara on Wednesday evening. Law enforcers produced her before a Dhaka court around 10:30pm the next day, and the court ordered that she be detained for 30 days. Meghna was sent to Kashimpur jail by a Dhaka court.

Asked whether the Special Powers Act should be abolished, Asif the adviser said, “There should be no repressive laws…. However, there are political considerations…. Suppose we do away with the Special Powers Act. Then a political government assumes power and does away with our decision. Wouldn’t that be pointless?”

Police on Friday said Meghna was arrested on charges of spreading lies about an important individual to deteriorate relations between countries. It was later known that the individual in question was a diplomat of Saudi Arabia.

When a reporter asked Prof Asif whether the issue could affect recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in the Middle Eastern country, he said the labour market in Saudi Arabia was of crucial importance.

“When I was an activist, I used to think, ’Why are they applying the Digital Security Act or the Special Powers Act?’ Now that I am in the government, should I not consider the interests of the expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia? Should I not worry about whether that market can shrink for some reason?”When we are activists, we only look at one room in the house. But when we are in charge of the government, we see all the rooms. Then, after seeing them, we make decisions. That’s why you might think, why is there a delay or why was such a decision made? Decisions need to be made after considering the bigger picture."

On Friday, after many social media users noted that the scene of men breaking into Meghna’s flat and taking her resembled an abduction, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police issued a statement refuting the allegation and asserting that Meghna was detained in accordance with the law. The statement made no mention of the time of her detention.

The statement added that she had harmed national security and was involved in a conspiracy to damage the economy.

HC ISSUES RULE

The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain in two weeks why Meghna’s detention should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench led by Justice Razik-Al-Jalil issued the rule following a writ petition filed by Meghna’s father Badrul Alam, said his lawyer Qazi Zahed Iqbal.

Rights activist and lawyer Sara Hossain placed arguments as principal lawyer for the petitioner.

Meghna’s detention order stated that she was taken into custody as per section 2(f) of the Special Powers Act, 1974, to prevent her from engaging in activities harmful to public safety and law and order under.

DB CHIEF REMOVED

DB chief Additional Commissioner Rezaul Karim Mallick was removed from his position and attached to the DMP Headquarters.

DMP commissioner’s office in an order on Saturday said Rezaul has been transferred in the interest of administrative purposes.

Meghna’s detention saga unfolded when she went live on her Facebook page on Wednesday, saying that individuals identifying themselves as law enforcers from Bhatara Police Station were trying to break into her flat without a warrant.

A visibly distressed Meghna is heard in the video requesting the men “carrying firearms” to leave and telling them that she would go to the police station.

The 12-minute footage shows the individuals breaking into her flat and forcibly taking her phone. The video and some of her previous posts were removed from her profile soon afterwards. But some social media users downloaded it and then posted it again.

On Thursday, the DB also arrested Dewan Samir, 58, owner of manpower agency Sanjana and CEO of Kawaii Group, for allegedly blackmailing a Saudi diplomat using women. Now on five-day remand, he is accused of leading a fraud ring that used romantic traps to extort $5 million from Saudi Ambassador Essa Bin Yousef Alduhailan, according to a police forwarding letter. The DB chief Rezaul had told this correspondent that Samir is an “associate” of Meghna.

RIGHTS BODIES DEMAND RELEASE

Two separate bodies issued statements demanding Meghna’s immediate release.

Human Rights Forum Bangladesh’s 19 members strongly condemned the arrest, calling it a clear violation of constitutional rights.

“The Special Powers Act is a tool to violate human rights and we firmly demand that it be repealed,” said the statement.

The Form consists of Ain o Salish Kendra, Acid Survivors Foundation, Association for Land Reform and Development, Bandhu Social Welfare Society, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movements , Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies, Bangladesh Legal Aid & Services Trust, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, FAIR, Kapaeeng Foundation, Karmojibi Nari, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Nagorik Uddyog, Naripokkho, National Alliance of Disabled Peoples’ Organizations, Nijera Kori, Steps Towards Development, Transparency International Bangladesh and Women with Disabilities Development Foundation.

Another statement sent by 38 notable signatories said, “This draconian legislation, with its vague and overly broad provisions, has a troubling history of being used to arbitrarily detain individuals for extended periods without formal charges or judicial oversight.”

The statement was signed by Meghna’s lawyers Barrister Sara Hossaina and Dr Qazi Zahed Iqbal as well as Dr Sharif Bhuiyan, member of the constitutional reform commission, Barrister Rashna Imam, Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua among others.