Former #BCL Leader Roton’s Funeral Violently Disrupted by #BNP Supporters and Police in #Dhaka: 5 Mourners Assaulted and Detained. The apparent practice of denying political opponents and their families the right to mourn their loved ones continues under the BNP government, despite widespread criticism of similar incidents in the past. Yesterday, the Namaz-e-Janaza (Islamic funeral prayer) for Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury (Roton), the former General Secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the #AwamiLeague, was violently disrupted at Taqwa Mosque in Dhanmondi, #Dhaka. According to reports, activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), gathered at the mosque after learning about the scheduled funeral. They intimidated and attacked mourners, accusing them of planning to organise a political procession. At least five attendees were reportedly assaulted. The incident unfolded in full view of the police officers at the scene, who not only failed to intervene to protect those under attack, but instead, detained the very individuals who had been assaulted. News: tbsnews.net/bangladesh/crime… Under the successive administrations of Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, funerals and last rites of leaders and members of the AL and its affiliated organisations have repeatedly been disrupted, often through violence and intimidation. There have also been multiple reported instances of political detainees being denied temporary release on parole to attend the funerals or burials of close family members. In some cases, detainees were reportedly only allowed to see their deceased loved ones at the prison gates for five minutes. In another similar incident as Roton’s, several mourners attending the funeral of senior AL leader Tofail Ahmed were assaulted at the same mosque and subsequently arrested. Under the Tarique-led government, even in death, political opponents and their families appear unable to escape persecution. The right to mourn and bury one's loved ones with dignity should never be contingent on political affiliation.Political differences cannot justify violence against mourners, interference with religious funeral rites, or the arbitrary detention of individuals attending a funeral. … @amnestysasia @PearsonElaine @volker_turk @Ginitastar @Irenekhan @meeganguly @CIVICUSalliance @KenRoth