Bangladesh: Free Mehedi Hasan

Labour rights groups around the world are calling for the immediate release of Mehedi Hasan, a Bangladeshi field investigator for the US-based Workers Rights Consortium.

Hasan was arrested on January 24 by security forces as part of a crackdown on labour rights activists by the military-backed "caretaker" government. This is occurring in a context of severe government repression.

Since January last year the government has banned political and trade union activities. Both Bangladeshi and foreign labour rights advocates have been put under surveillance, interrogated and detained.

Hasan is being held in detention at a police station in Dhaka, where authorities have refused to let his family visit. There are serious concerns for his safety. Other labour rights activists are also at risk of arrest under the current "emergency" laws.

Please send an urgent messages to the Bangladesh authorities calling for his immediate and unconditional release. To send a letter of support, please visit <http://www.labourstart.org/campaigns/urgent>.

From GLW issue 738