On 29 April 2011 human rights defender and journalist Mr FMA Razzak was abducted and brutally attacked in Paikgachha, Bangladesh. He remains in a critical condition in hospital in Dhaka following a severe beating and torture. FMA Razzak is the President of the Human Rights Development Centre (HRDC) and editor of the Gonomichhil fortnightly newspaper. The HRDC is based in Paikgachha upazilla (sub-district) under Khulna district. Within his role as President of the HRDC, FMA Razzak works with victims of custodial torture, many of whom are facing fabricated charges brought by the law-enforcement officers who tortured them. Front Line issued an urgent appeal on 7 March 2011 in relation to a series of reported threats, intimidation and attacks against FMA Razzak. On 29 April 2011, at approximately 10.30pm, FMA Razzak was abducted from the Dhaka-bound bus terminal of Paikgachha along with his brother RM Bodiuzzama Bodiar and brother-in-law Mr Bakkar. It is reported that a group of around 20 men, armed with sticks, rods and sharp weapons and led by the brother of a Bangladesh Army Major, approached the three men and attacked them. The attackers pushed FMA Razzak's eyes with their fingers and with rods until they bled. They also pressed his testicles and beat him fracturing his hands and legs. The three men were then loaded into the back of a vehicle. Mr Bakkar was thrown from the vehicle and the two brothers were taken to a field adjacent to the Army Major's house. It is reported that the torture of the men continued there at the hands of up to thirty people. Screwdrivers were pressed into the eyes of FMA Razzak and he was beaten until he lost consciousness. The torturers reportedly suggested handing him over to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) instead of the police so that they could claim that he had been killed in crossfire. However, members of FMA Razzak's family led the police to the scene of the beatings. Upon their arrival, the police and eyewitnesses found FMA Razzak unconscious and the perpetrators continuing to beat his brother. The police made no arrests but brought the victims to the local public hospital in Paikgachha where FMA Razzak was initially proclaimed dead. Following a re-examination he was found to be alive and was then transferred to the Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH). When the ambulance arrived at KMCH the doctors said that they could not treat him, reportedly due to pressure put on them by the Army Major and his colleagues. Another ambulance then took him to the larger Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). FMA Razzak is currently in a private hospital where he remains in a critical condition. On 2 May he underwent an operation on the three major fractures on his leg. However, it is reported that as of yet he cannot see properly and it is feared that he may not be receiving the specialised medical treatment that he requires. The family of the aforementioned Army Major have been involved in a disagreement with FMA Razzak's family relating to an illegitimate land ownership claim. Whilst it is clear that there is a personal dispute between the two families, and despite a legal decision in favour of FMA Razzak's family, it has been reported that threats include that FMA Razzak will be killed in "crossfire", and family members have reported being harassed by members of the police. Previously in 2004 the local police misdirected the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) of the Khulna region to arrest FMA Razzak on falsified criminal accusations. National and international human rights organisations lobbied against the arrest and following investigations into the complaint by senior members of the RAB, FMA Razzak was found to be innocent and subsequently released without charge. In November 2008, he was falsely accused in an abduction case and was again detained without an arrest warrant and reportedly ill-treated in detention, before again being released without charge. The attacks on FMA Razzak and his family members seem to be directly related to his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights, in particular his work with victims of custodial torture. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of FMA Razzak and his family members.