DHAKA, Nov 28: Amnesty International expressed concern on Thursday for the safety of a British and an Italian journalist and two Bangladeshi aides arrested this week for alleged anti-state activities.

The London-based international rights group urged Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to ensure the four detainees “are not subjected to torture or ill-treatment”.

Zaiba Malik of Britain and Italian Bruno Sorrentino were arrested on Monday as they tried to leave Bangladesh for India after reporting a programme for Britain’s Channel 4 television.

Authorities at the border seized documents and films from the journalists that “intended to tarnish the image of Bangladesh,” police said.

The television reporters, working for independent production house Mentorn Midlands, were interrogated along with their interpreter on Wednesday for five hours, a Dhaka police official said.—AFP