Britain seeks consular access to Shafik Rehman

The United Kingdom has sought consular access to detained senior journalist Shafik Rehman, a citizen of UK and also Bangladesh. British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire made the request in a letter written to Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, according to diplomatic sources. British High Commissioner to Dhaka Alison Blake had a courtesy meeting with Foreign Minister Ali yesterday at his office where the issue related to consular access for Rehman was discussed. The request has recently been made considering the humanitarian issue of the veteran journalist, who is also a UK citizen. “We have been providing support to Mr Rehman’s family and pressing for consular access since we were made aware of his arrest,” an official of the British High Commission in Dhaka said. “We are concerned that we have still not been granted access to Mr Rehman and have raised this at senior levels with the government of Bangladesh,” he said. However, officials in Dhaka said that generally in case of those enjoying dual citizenship, consular access is not granted. Rehman was arrested on April 16 in connection with a case related to abducting and planning to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

Britain seeks consular access to Shafik Rehman

The United Kingdom has sought consular access to detained senior journalist Shafik Rehman, a citizen of UK and also Bangladesh. British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire made the request in a letter written to Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, according to diplomatic sources. British High Commissioner to Dhaka Alison Blake had a courtesy meeting with Foreign Minister Ali yesterday at his office where the issue related to consular access for Rehman was discussed. The request has recently been made considering the humanitarian issue of the veteran journalist, who is also a UK citizen. We have been providing support to Mr Rehmans family and pressing for consular access since we were made aware of his arrest, an official of the British High Commission in Dhaka said. We are concerned that we have still not been granted access to Mr Rehman and have raised this at senior levels with the government of Bangladesh, he said. However, officials in Dhaka said that generally in case of those enjoying dual citizenship, consular access is not granted. Rehman was arrested on April 16 in connection with a case related to abducting and planning to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.