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.

Front Line firmly believes that Shahidul Islam is been targeted in an attempt to prevent him from carrying out his legitimate activities in defence of human rights, in particular the land rights of the people in the Satkhira area. Front Line urges the Bangladeshi authorities to conduct an immediate, independent and prompt investigation into the allegations of torture suffered by Islam at the hands of members of the military.

Front Line also calls on the authorities to ensure that Shahidul Islam is given regular access to family, lawyers, consular visits and medical attention if necessary and take measures to ensure that all human rights defenders in Bangladesh, carrying out their legitimate work, are able to operate free of all restrictions and harassment.