Citizens, including academics, rights activists and lawyers, on Sunday issued a joint statement demanding immediate release of economist Professor Abul Barkat on bail considering his professional life and humanitarian aspect.
The statement said that the renowned economist, teacher, researcher and freedom fighter Abul Barkat was arrested on a charge of corruption and was not being granted bail despite there was no clear evidence against him.
The 122 signatories stated that Barkat had been teaching at Dhaka University for the past 40 years and served as general secretary and president of the Bangladesh Economic Association.
鈥楬e has been wrongfully arrested and sent to jail before the trial process begins on corruption allegations 鈥� which is completely unacceptable to us,鈥� the signatories said.
They also said that the 72-year-old professor was suffering from different diseases, including heart disease, post-stroke complications, lung problems, uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure for a long time.
Expressing concern over Barkat鈥檚 health condition, the signatories demanded his immediate release on bail on humanitarian grounds.
Signatories to the statement include Dhaka University professor emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury, human rights activist Sultana Kamal, rights activist Khushi Kabir, lawyer ZI Khan Panna and rights activists Shireen Parveen Haque.
The statement was sent by non-government organisation Association for Land Reform and Development executive director Shamsul Huda.
On July 11, the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court sent Barkat, also former Janata Bank chairman, to jail in connection with a case filed on charge of embezzling Tk聽297 crore.
On February 20, Anti-Corruption Commission deputy director Md Nazmul Hossain filed the case against 23 people, including Barkat on charge of the embezzlement.