We believe that the charges against Dr. Alamgir are politically-motivated. The government is trying to intimidate Dr. Alamgir into silence and force imprisonment on him essentially because he has a history of being vocal against authoritarian rule.

On April 29, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission brought a formal case against Dr. Alamgir, charging that in his wealth statement he "concealed" six fixed-deposit accounts valued at Tk 11.7 million (approx. US$ 167,000). The ACC insists that the concealment was deliberate and indicates corruption. The case is pending trial at the Third Court (a special speedy tribunal), expected to be heard on May 21.

On April 24, 2007, as the expiry of the second detention deadline loomed, the government allegedly encouraged a private person named Masud Rana (the name of the hero in a famous spy novel series) to file an extortion case for Tk. 60,000 (approx. $850) against Dr. Alamgir and 114 others. The case was filed in a court in Chandpur, which is Dr. Alamgir's constituency.

In March, 2007, with the expiry of Dr. Alamgir's initial period of detention looming, the government filed treason-related charges to justify its continued imprisonment of Dr. Alamgir. The prosecutor failed to produce evidence, but referred to "secret files" with information. The High Court dismissed the case. Read this account of the exchange between the government prosecutor and the Court.