Shahidul Islam a human rights defender and the Executive Director of Uttaran, a non-governmental organisation promoting the rights of landless people in the Satkhira area of Bangladesh has reportedly been tortured whilst in detention at the Uttaran training centre in the Tala Upazilla region of Bangladesh.
Shahidul Islam was taken to a joint forces interrogation cell on 27 January where he was tortured before he was transferred to the local Tala Police Station at approximately three o'clock. He is reportedly in poor physical condition and urgently in need of medical attention. On 28 January 2007, he was sentenced to one month's imprisonment under the Special Powers Act.
Front Line is deeply concerned about the current state of emergency and the suspension of civil rights declared in Bangladesh, which has serious implications for members of the public and in particular for human rights defenders. 
