By IANS
Dhaka : A freelance scribe and cartoonist in Bangladesh has been arrested on charges of “hurting religious sentiments” through a cartoon published in a magazine, copies of which were confiscated after the government called it “a conspiracy to destabilise the country”.
Arifur Rahman was taken into custody for interrogation, media reports said Wednesday.
Also arrested were the editor of daily Prathom Alo and its magazine Alpin. The newspaper management issued a statement expressing regret and an undertaking that it would not carry any cartoon or writing by Rahman.
Entitled “Naam” (name), the cartoon reportedly ridiculed the Prophet by adding his name (Mohammad) before an animal, the government said.
The government’s action came after a delegation of Muslim clerics and leaders of Islami Oikya Jote (OIJ), a conglomerate of religious parties, met Information Advisor Mainul Hosain to protest against the cartoon.
“It is a conspiracy to destabilise the country. We are very concerned over the issue,” Mainul Hosain told reporters after the meeting.
The conspirators want to throw the country into a chaotic situation, he claimed. He asked everyone to remain alert against the plot so that the conspirators cannot be successful, New Age newspaper quoted him as saying.