It also filed charges against Mahmuda Begum, Rahman's mother, who had become the acting head of the newspaper in the absence of the editor. Syed Abdal Ahmed, an attorney and executive editor of the Amar Desh, said the Supreme Court's order from 2010 (?) was still in effect and prohibited the government from stopping the paper's publication. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said Amar Desh could resume printing from another site once it had an order from Dhaka's magistrate. Farhad Mazhar, a journalist and family friend, had seen marks on Rahman's body that appeared to be signs of torture while in police confinement. Rahman's wife filed a petition asserting the police had tortured Mahmudur Rahman during the seven-day remand period related to sedition charges. The Supreme Court indicated it would respond to the writ on 21 April 2013. During his detention, Rahman started a hunger strike on 15 April to demand continued publication of the paper and the dropping of charges against his mother and the 19 printers. In total, Rahman spent 13 days on remand. On 12 June, Mahmudur Rahman was remanded again for a further 3 days for the disturbances at 22 February protests that were alleged to be stirred up by Amar Desh reports. On 3 December, a court placed Rahman on a further six-day remand followed by confinement in jail. Reactions to arrest International human rights groups criticised the government's actions and called for the release of Rahman and the four bloggers. Protesting were Human Rights Watch, the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), which also asked the government to guarantee Rahman's security from torture; and the Asian Human Rights Commission. In addition, press organisations supported release of the publisher and bloggers, and urged the government to protect freedom of the press. They included International Federation of Journalists and the Committee to Protect Journalists. Bangladesh politicians and activists generally responded in terms of their affiliations. Concerns expressed included that the government was increasing tensions, and opposition leaders urged freedom of the press. Representatives of the Awami League and those who opposed Rahman repeated accusations against him. Nurul Kabir, editor of the competing daily, New Age, said, "I have serious disagreement with the editorial policy of Mahmudur Rahman and the most of the contents that his paper Amar Desh disseminates, but I have no doubt that the government has arrested