:Adilur Rahman Khan

Khan studied law at the University of Dhaka.{{Cite web |title=Adilur Rahman Khan - Martin Ennals Award Adilur Rahman Khan |url=https://www.martinennalsaward.org/hrd/adilur-rahman-khan/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Martin Ennals Award |language=en-US}} He was part of the democratic movement against Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad. He earned his masters in law degrees from the University of Dhaka and Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Khan and several other members of civil society founded the human rights organisation Odhikar on 10 October 1994.{{Cite web |last=ANFREL |date=2019-10-09 |title=25 Years of Resilience: Statement from Odhikar on its 25th Anniversary |url=https://anfrel.org/25-years-of-resilience-statement-from-odhikar-on-its-25th-anniversary/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Human rights defenders in Bangladesh are at constant risk: An interview with Adilur Rahman Khan on Bangladeshi CSO Odhikar |url=https://www.civicus.org/index.php/media-resources/news/interviews/1174-human-rights-defenders-in-bangladesh-are-at-constant-risk-an-interview-with-adilur-rahman-khan-on-bangladeshi-cso-odhikar |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=civicus.org}}

Khan is a former Deputy Attorney General of Bangladesh.{{Cite news |title=DAG Adil resigns |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/2006/2007/05/14/d70514061983.htm |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star}} In December 2005, he represented the government of Bangladesh in a ruling where the High Court asked the government to explain its failure to protect the judiciary bomb attacks by Islamist militants.{{Cite news |title=HC Rule on Attacks on Courts, Judges |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/2005/12/01/d5120101011.htm |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star}} He resigned from the post on 14 May 2007.

In 2013, a case was filed against Khan for 'spreading confusion' about the death toll in the operation to remove Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, an Islamist exremist organization,{{Cite web |date=2022-02-16 |title=Hefazat-e-Islam and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Bangladesh |url=https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2022/02/16/hefazat-e-islam-and-the-rise-of-islamic-fundamentalism-in-bangladesh/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=East Asia Forum |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-06-26 |title=Opportunism catching up with Bangladesh's Awami League |url=https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/06/26/opportunism-catching-up-with-bangladeshs-awami-league/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=East Asia Forum |language=en}} leaders and activists during the 2013 Shapla Square protests in Dhaka.{{cite news |date=14 September 2023 |title=Odhikar's Adilur Rahman gets two-year jail |newspaper=Dhaka Tribune |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/325285/odhikar-activist-adilur-gets-two-year-jail}}{{cite news |date=14 September 2023 |title=Odhikar's Adilur, Elan sentenced to 2 years in jail |newspaper=The Business Standard |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/odhikars-adilur-elan-sentenced-2-years-jail-ict-case-700522}}{{Cite news |date=2013-08-17 |title=List of '61 deceased' sent to int'l watchdogs |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/list-of-61-deceased-sent-to-intl-watchdogs |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} On 10 August 2013, at 10:30 pm, Khan was detained by Detective Branch.{{Cite web |title=Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan still arbitrarily detained |url=https://www.omct.org/en/resources/urgent-interventions/mr-adilur-rahman-khan-still-arbitrarily-detained |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=OMCT |language=en}} He was detained under Section 54 of the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006 and denied division in jail.{{Cite news |date=2013-08-29 |title=Adilur Rahman still in prison! |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/adilur-rahman-still-in-prison |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} Canada called for his release through the High Commissioner in Dhaka Heather Cruden.{{Cite news |date=2013-08-15 |title=Canada for immediate release of Adilur |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/canada-for-immediate-release-of-adilur |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} Numerous human rights activists in Bangladesh called for his release.{{Cite news |date=2013-08-13 |title=Rights activists demand release of Adilur |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/rights-activists-demand-release-of-adilur |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} Dipu Moni, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, provided a briefing to diplomats in Bangladesh.{{Cite news |date=2013-08-20 |title=Diplomats not convinced |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/diplomats-not-convinced |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Zafar Ahmed of the High Court Division asked the government to provide division status in jail to Khan in September 2013.{{Cite news |date=2013-09-02 |title=Adilur to get division in jail |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/adilur-to-get-division-in-jail-hc |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} In October 2013, he was released from jail after securing bail from Justice Borhanuddin and Justice KM Kamrul Kader of the High Court Division.{{Cite news |date=2013-10-09 |title=Adilur gets 6-month bail |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/adilur-gets-6-month-bail |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2013-10-12 |title=Adilur freed on HC bail |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/adilur-freed-on-hc-bail |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} In January 2014, Khan and Odhikar's director ASM Nasiruddin Elan, were indicted in case filed over its report on the 2013 protests.{{Cite news |date=2014-01-09 |title=Odhikar secretary, director indicted |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/odhikar-secretary-director-indicted-6046 |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}

In 2014 he won the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, created to honour individuals around the world who have shown great courage and have made a significant contribution to human rights in their country. The same year, he also won the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, an award that recognises "individuals, groups or institutions in Korea and abroad that have contributed in promoting and advancing human rights, democracy and peace through their work."{{cite web |url=http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?TM18MF=03020000 |title=Gwangju Prize for Human Rights |author= |date= |publisher=May 18 Memorial Foundation |accessdate=24 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603040007/http://www.518.org/eng/html/main.html?TM18MF=03020000 |archive-date=3 June 2011 |url-status=dead }} Also in 2014, he was a finalist for the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders.{{cite web |title=ADILUR RAHMAN KHAN 2014 FINALIST |url=https://www.martinennalsaward.org/hrd/adilur-rahman-khan/ |website=martinennalsaward.org |publisher=Martin Ennals Awards |access-date=10 January 2023}}

Khan was detained in Kuala Lumpur International Airport by Malaysian Immigration in July 2017.{{Cite news |date=2017-07-20 |title=Odhikar secretary Adilur detained at Malaysian airport |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/adilur-rahman-khan-bangladesh-human-rights-organisation-odhikar-secretary-detained-malaysian-airport-1436059 |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} He was deported back to Bangladesh the next day.{{Cite news |date=2017-07-22 |title=Reason behind detention still unknown: Adilur |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/country/bangladesh-human-rights-organisation-odhikar-secretary-adilur-rahman-still-unknown-about-reasons-behind-detention-bangladeshis-being-harassed-at-kuala-lumpur-airport-malaysia-1437100 |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}

In September 2023, Khan and Nasiruddin Elan were sentenced to two years in prison and fined 10,000 taka by the Cyber Tribunal of Dhaka in a case filed over inflating the death toll from the 2013 Shapla Square protests and government action to remove the protestors.{{Cite news |date=2023-09-15 |title=Bangladesh jails activists for 2013 report on security force killings |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66816560 |access-date=2023-10-09}}{{Cite news |date=2023-09-15 |title=Imprisonment of Top Rights Activists in Bangladesh Triggers Global Outrage |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/imprisonment-of-top-rights-activists-in-bangladesh-triggers-global-outrage-/7270927.html |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=VOA |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2023-09-14 |title=Odhikar secretary, director jailed for two years |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/odhikar-secretary-director-jailed-two-years-3418626 |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} France and Germany expressed regret over the verdict.{{Cite news |date=2023-09-16 |title=France, Germany express regret over jailing of Adilur, Elan |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/france-germany-express-regret-over-jailing-adilur-elan-3420126 |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Ainjibi Forum, a lawyers body aligned with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, protested the verdict.{{Cite news |date=2023-09-17 |title=Pro-BNP lawyers protest 'instructed' verdict against Odhikar officials |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/rights/news/pro-bnp-lawyers-protest-instructed-verdict-against-odhikar-officials-3421256 |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} Shortly before heading to court for the verdict, Adilur Rahman Khan told Netra News that he believed they should have been acquitted, emphasizing that their work was solely for the cause of human rights and justice. He stated that even if imprisoned, they would continue their human rights efforts upon release. Khan explained that Odhikar initially withheld the names of victims out of concern for their families' safety, as they feared retaliation from the authorities. He underscored that Odhikar's role was not only to investigate and document but also to protect the victims and their families. {{Cite web |date=2023-09-14 |title=Adilur Rahman Khan: "Whatever we have done has been done for the cause of human rights and justice" |url=https://netra.news/2023/adilur-rahman-khan-whatever-we-have-done-has-been-done-for-the-cause-of-human-rights-and-the-cause-of-justice/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Netra News — নেত্র নিউজ |language=en}}

• Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (2014){{Cite news |title=Adilur gets Franco-German prize for human rights |date=7 December 2017 |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/29931/adilur-gets-franco-german-prize-for-human-rights |work=New Age}}
• Gwangju Prize for Human Rights (2014)
• International Bar Association (IBA) Human Rights Award{{Cite news |date=2014-10-25 |title=Adilur gets IBA int'l human rights award |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/adilur-gets-iba-int-l-human-rights-award-47337 |access-date=2023-10-09 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}
• Martin Ennals Award Finalist 2014.
• Franco-German Human Rights Prize-2017{{Cite news |title=Adilur gets Franco-German prize for human rights |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/29931/adilur-gets-franco-german-prize-for-human-rights |access-date=2023-10-19 |work=New Age |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award laureates}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Adilur}}

Category:1952 births

Category:Living people

Category:University of Dhaka alumni

Category:Bangladeshi human rights activists

Category:Bangladeshi lawyers

Category:Bangladeshi activists

Category:Yunus interim government advisors