Human rights today and extra judicial killings in Bangladesh
By Jahangir Alam Akash, ‘Now, it has been ‘raining’ in Bangladesh. It is not actual rain from natural. But it is raining of extra judicial killings in the name of ‘crossfire’ drama. This drama is staged by the state. And the main hero of this drama is RAB. Government and RAB haven’t obeyed the law and constitution as well as universal declaration of human rights regarding the extra judicial killings.’
An outlawed party leader was killed in 'crossfire' in Mahadevpur village under Mirpur upazila of Kushtia early on 9th September, 2009 raising the number of such deaths in the district to 17 in 14 days. On the other hand, Extremists have killed 22 people in four weeks in ten districts of Khulna division despite deaths of at least nine extremists in shootouts with law enforcers during the same period from August 1-27. Source: the daily Star, 10.9.2009.
Government Sources told, the deceased was identified as Anwar Hossain Kalu alias Kala Anu, 39, son of Amu Malitha of Gacherdia at Daulatpur upazila in the district. Anwar was a leader of Lal Pataka, a Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML) faction, and also a close associate of party's founder Ronny Biswas, who was killed in an 'encounter' last year, police said. Acting on a tip-off, Rab-12 members raided a house at Mahadevpur at about 3:40am where a gang of extremists, led by Anwar, was holding a meeting. Sensing the presence of law enforcers, the outlaws opened fire forcing them to fire back that triggered a gunfight. At one stage, the accomplices managed to flee the scene while the body of Anwar was found lying dead on the ground. RAB recovered one light gun, two bullets, five explosives and two sharp weapons from the spot. Later police rushed to the spot and recovered the body. Anwar was accused in six cases including three of murder, police said.
Previous report: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1106
Government should secure democracy rule of law press freedom and human rights
Can as a state or government is a killers or terrorists? But in Bangladesh is like this. From the year of 2004 has been continuously going on extra judicial killings by state there. Especially, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is the main state killers in the name of so-called ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounter’ or ‘gunfight’ in Bangladesh.
An accused operative of outlawed Gono Bahini was killed in ‘crossfire’ between Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the outlawed organisation at Durbachara in Kushtia Sadar upazila on 7th September, 2009. The dead was identified as Asraful Islam alias Asha Mondol, 40, son of Monabber Mondol of Durbachara. With this killing a total 681 ‘crossfire’ incidents took place in 10 districts in southwestern region since 2004. Of them, Kushtia is on the top of the list with 237 such cases. Sixteen ‘crossfire’ incidents took place in Kushtia in last 13 days. Source: the daily Star
Government sources said, according to the source, a RAB-12 team raided Durbachara village where some Gono Bahini men, led by Asha, were holding a meeting around 3:45am. Sensing Rab’s presence, the underground operatives opened fire, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate. After the outlaws fled the scene, Asha was found dead on the spot. The RAB members recovered a pipe gun and two bullets from there. Police said Asha, one of the top Gono Bahini cadres, was accused in seven cases including two for murder filed with Kushtia Sadar and Islamic University police stations.
On the other hand, Shafiqul Islam is a youth who was arrested by RAB from Haribhasha bazar in Panchagarh district on 1st September, 2009. But, his family still hasn’t found him, now where he staying. Source: the daily Sangbad.
We had a great hope that Bangladesh Awami League after taking the power they would stop the state killings. Because, the party chief now Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was given commitment to the nation openly before last general election about the stop of extra judicial killings. In spite of now we are seeing almost every day has been happening state killings.
We strongly say that, extra-judicial killings must stop. The Government must bring those involved in extra-judicial killings to justice. Because state killings totally the violation of constitution. These type of killings and torture are the barrier to establish of rule of law. Our last report on extra judicial killings ‘The Constitution & Court ruling, in spite of…!’ http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1104
In Bangladesh torture is very open to all during remand or detained. We demand to the government that, torture during remand and confined questioning must be stopped. An accused person must be questioned by the police in the presence of his lawyer. An independent and fair investigation must be carried out relating to the death of detained BDR members. The Bangladesh Government must take the necessary steps to bring of state killings or torture.
Accused of state torture and state killings never comes under trial. Not only that, never hadn’t investigate about the extra judicial killings and state torture. Please see our other report about extra judicial killings in Bangladesh ‘Extra judicial killings & Sheikh Hasina!’ http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1087
We hope, for safe the democracy, rule of law, human rights, and constitution government should stop all kinds of human rights violation, extra judicial killings, minority-indigenous oppression, women-children torture and journalist’s torture-repression. 9-9-2009
Previous report: The Constitution & Court ruling, in spite of…! http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1104
Another two more suspected criminals were killed by extra judicial killings in Bangladesh. Two suspected criminals were killed in separate ‘crossfire’ with the members of Rapid Action Battalion and police in Faridpur and Kushtia on 6th September, 2009.With these two the total 71 peoples were killed in the same way in the regime of present government. Source: the New Age, 7th September, 2009.
But Home minister Sahara Khatun told that, ‘no extra-judicial killing was taking place during the swoop.’ This type of statement has encouraged to the law enforcers for extra judicial killings. Being a home minister her statement totally unlawful, unconstitutional. Why the ‘Awami intellectuals’ can’t raise any voice against extra judicial killings? We urges to all patriotic journalists, writers, columnists, professors, humanists please to do something for human rights individually or organizationally.
Sources said, Of them, Tofazzal Hossain alias Tapu Khan, a local Juba League leader, was killed in a gunfight with the RAB personnel at Hatkrishnapur under the Sadarpur upazila in Faridpur while Abdul Hannan alias Hana, 45, regional leader of the now defunct Gano Bahini, died in a gun encounter with policemen at Anandanagar under Mirpur upazila in Kushtia. RAB sources said a team of the RAB-8 challenged a group of people who were moving suspiciously in the Hatkrishnapur bazar area at about 3:30am as a part of their increased vigilance following the rise in the robbery incidents in Sadarpur upazila recently.
The suspected group members sharply took shelter inside a nearby primary school and fired bullets on the RAB members forcing the lawmen to retaliate triggering a gun-battle for about half-an-hour. Later, the RAB personnel kept the school under their cordon till the dawn. The sources claimed, Sadarpur upazila nirbahi officer Khandaker Oliur Rahman and officer-in-charge of the local police station Naresh Karmaker arrived at the scene at dawn. In their presence, the law-enforcers with the help of locals found out the body of the group leader Tofazzal from the spot and they seized a revolver, a shutter gun, one pipe gun and some bullets from there. Tofazzal was an organising secretary of the Sadapur upazila unit of Awami Juba League, an associate organisation of the ruling Awami League, and hailing from village Jatrabari under Krishnapur union of the upazila.
The body was sent to the Faridpur Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy. Tofazzal was wanted by Sadarpur police in more than a dozen criminal cases, including two murders, police said. In another incident, a police team from the Mirpur police station in Kushtia on secret information about a clandestine meeting of the Gano Bahini operatives went to raid a place near a brickfield at Anandanagar in the upazila at about 2:30am. Sensing the presence of the police team, the underground group operatives opened fire on the lawmen forcing them to fired back that triggered a gunfight for several minutes. Their leader Hannan was killed on the spot during exchange of fires, police claimed. Later, the law enforcers recovered a pipe gun and five bullets from the scene. The killed Hannan was hailing from village Ambarhia at Mirpur upazila and he was wanted by police in half-a-dozen criminal cases, including three murders. With the two, the number of people killed by the law enforcers in ‘crossfire’ stood at 71, after the Awami League-led alliance government assumed office in January 6, 2009.
The latest killings also marked continuation of the extrajudicial killing by the lawmen during the AL regime despite the government repeatedly told countrymen that they would put an end to such killing. Different national and international rights groups are raising their voice against the extrajudicial killing.
What said the home minister?
Home minister Sahara Khatun has said that the ongoing crackdown on outlaws and extremists in the southwest is based on a list prepared by the law-enforcement agencies. “The law-enforcers are carrying out the clampdown as the extremists and terrorists regrouped in the south-western region,” the minister told reporters at the Secretariat. She claimed that no extra-judicial killing was taking place during the swoop. “Those who are getting killed are dying in gun battles with the police and RAB.” “Will the law-enforcers take bullets trying to detain the extremists?” she snapped at reporters. “The outlaws, terrorists and militants should be nabbed and they (the law enforcers) will take any measure for that,” the minister said.
Sources said, security has deteriorated in recent times in the region, which was a ‘death valley’ a few years back, with a number of murders taking place.
Eight people died in the alleged gunfights with police and RAB in last two weeks. Two people were killed on Sunday morning in Kushtia and Faridpur in so-called ‘gun battles’ with the police and RAB. Sahara hinted that another list was going to be prepared. “The people linked to the outlawed parties should be listed.” “They are changing their strategies. The law enforcers will have to change theirs as well,” the minister said. Human-rights NGO Odhikar said 19 people were killed in crossfire with RAB and police in August; most of them occurring in the southwestern region. Ten of the victims were activists of outlawed parties. The human-rights organisations have long been asking the government to stop the killings terming them extra judicial. RAB said as many as 577 people were killed in ‘crossfire’ in 472 incidents until Aug 31 since the formation of the elite force on March 26, 2004. The High Court on June 29 asked the government to explain why killing without trial in so-called crossfire or encounter will not be declared illegal, and why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who perpetrate such killings in custody and outside. The shooting incidents are commonly reported as ‘crossfire’ in the media, a term which has come to imply ’suspicious’ or extra-judicial killings. Most recently, controversy was sparked when two polytechnic students were killed in RAB ‘crossfire’ in the capital in early June.
Former state minister for home Tanjim Ahmed had said the RAB had launched a departmental investigation into the death of the two students.
According to rights group Odhikar, 322 people were killed during the last two years of the caretaker government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed in “crossfire”.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina herself announced in February that the extrajudicial killings perpetrated during the tenure of the military-installed interim government would be investigated. International and local rights groups, including Amnesty International, US-based Human Rights Watch, Transparency International, Bangladesh and Odhikar, over past decades have frequently expressed concern over the rate of extra-judicial killings in the country. HRW, in May, in a damning report, suggested ‘elite’ security forces such as Rapid Action Battalion and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) be disbanded. Source: BD News 24.com
NHRC dysfunctional as body not reconstituted
The National Human Rights Commission has virtually ceased to exist as the government is yet to reconstitute the quasi-judicial body in line with the National Human Rights Commission Act enacted by the parliament on July 14.
‘We are uncertain about how to deal with the commission activities. There is practically no commission as the seven-member body now has only the chairman and no members,’ the commission chairman, Justice Amirul Kabir Chowdhury, told. Source: the New Age, 7th September, 2009
Formed in November 2008 under the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance promulgated by the military-controlled interim government on December 23, 2007, the commission failed to create any impact on national life although a number of allegations on rights violation were lodged.
Shortage of manpower and logistics was blamed for the state of inertia at the time. The Awami League-led government enacted the new act on July 14, 2009 bringing about some major changes in the ordinance, especially in the process of appointment of commission members, lessening their age limit and increasing the number of commissioners to six with a provision of having a regular member and five others as volunteers.These changes frustrated the existing members.
One of the two permanent members has already crossed the age limit of 70 years in keeping with the amended law. The earlier age limit of a commission member was 72. Munira Khan, who is now over 70 years old, verbally informed the chairman of the commission that she did not qualify to remain a member of the commission in keeping with the new law, the chairman told. Munira said the government did not consult with the commission on the age limit when the new law was enacted.
‘Being informed, I thought it would not be ethical to be with the commission from the day President Zillur Rahman gave his consent to the law on July 14,’ she said. The other member, Niru Kumar Chakma, who was on lien from Dhaka University, has got back to his earlier job as professor of geography and environment in the university. In a letter to the chairman on July 15, Niru said he would not be able to serve as a commissioner as he returned to Dhaka University. The commission has now only one official to work as secretary to the commission and five other members on the staff deputed from the Access to Justice Project funded by the United Nations Development Programme. The commission needs a large number of members on the staff to run its activities across the country as prescribed in the law, the chairman said, adding the government must provide the commission with adequate staff, budget and logistics to run it independently. The commission has started tottering since it came into being during the fag end of the two-year tenure of the interim administration. Even about two months inside the enactment of the new law, the government is yet to initiate any process to reconstitute the commission with the appointment of six members. The law stipulates a seven-member selection committee should be formed headed by the parliament speaker to recommend names to the president for appointment of the commission chairman and members. He will be aided by the law and the home minister, the law commission chairman and the cabinet secretary. Two lawmakers one each from the treasury and opposition benches will also be members on the selection committee. The commission is now housed in a rented floor of a four-storey building at Lalmatia.
Extra judicial killings & Sheikh Hasina! http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1087
Dear Sheikh Hasina honorable Prime Minister of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh please says something about extra judicial killings and minority repression. It’s a great question of the country peoples that, why you shouldn’t take any action to stop inhumanity like minority torture and extra judicial killings? Dear Prime Minister, please remember your party election manifesto. We can remember very clearly that, your party and you had told to the nation before last general election that, ‘if we would go in power then we should stopped the extra judicial killings.’ But, now day by day has been increasing state killings. We want to believe that, being a Prime Minister you can’t give false statement or promised with the nation.
Minority torture and extra judicial killings are going on in Bangladesh! When will be stop and why government shouldn’t take action against the actors of minority and state torture? Every day, in Bangladesh has been killings, attempted to murder, torturing and other inhumanity. Is Bangladesh a democratic and civilized country? How could we say that it’s a civilized and democratic country? Without human rights, rule of law how we could say that Bangladesh is a democratic country?
A gang of criminals attacked three Hindu families at Dighalkandi Sahapara village in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi Monday (31-08-2009) night, injuring 12 people. Source: the daily Star. Police and locals said the hoodlums also looted five houses and shops during the attack in an attempt to grab land of those families. Of the injured, Profulla Chandra Saha, his wife Bijli Rani Saha and brother Bijoy Saha, Sukumar, Chand and Nomita were admitted to Puthia Health Complex in a critical condition.
Sources said around 30 criminals, believed to be BNP-Jamaat cadres, made the attack and damaged houses of vanpuller Bijoy, Sukumar and Uttam. They also looted the grocery shop of Sukumar and stitching shop of Uttam’s wife Nomita during the attack. Local sources said criminals of neighbouring Kacharipara village beat up two youths–Nayan and Sujon–at Sahapara on August 27, 2009. Following the incident, a total of 35 people of 10 Hindu families filed a general diary (GD) with the local police station expressing their insecurity. After filing of the GD, the gang attacked the three families on the night. The villagers alleged that the attackers hurled filthy abuses toward them during the attack for supporting Awami League (AL) during the last general election. Sources also said, criminals have been trying to grab the land of the Hindu families of Dighalkandi village for long.
Local sources told, “There were a number of Hindu families in the village. Most of them fled away to save their lives and some families are still living there bearing the brunt of adversity.” Shibesh Saha, a villager told, “We have nowhere to go. Where we go, the miscreants are trailing us. We are so scared that many of us cannot work.”
A case was filed with Puthia Police against 25 persons including Abul, Jahangir, Aiyub, Arif and Shahabuddin of Kacharipara village. But, administration hasn’t taken any action against the perpetrators, still. Extra judicial killings are very well known subject in Bangladesh. RAB and other law enforcing agencies have doing extra judicial killings by violating the constitution. But, the government as well as our judiciary hasn’t say anything regarding this human rights violation by state.
An accused ‘criminal’ sustained bullet injury in a ’shootout’ with Rapid Action Battalion in the capital city’s Motijheel yesterday (1-9-2009). Law enforcers told, Ismail Hossain Lalu alias Rocket Lalu, 34, of Jatrabari, is an accomplice of “Foreign” Kuddus, one of the top listed criminals in Motijheel area.
RAB says, when a patrol team of Rab-3 moved to arrest a gang of three to four criminals in front of Motijheel Ideal School and College, the criminals opened fire on them. As the Rab personnel retaliated, a gunfight ensued. Lalu was found lying at the spot bullet-hit in his left leg after the shootout. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Police arrested him but his accomplices managed to flee. A revolver and three bullets were recovered from the spot.
RAB sources said Lalu confessed his involvement in killing trader Anwar at the capital’s Shapla Chattar on September 27, 2008. Lalu was also involved in extortion and an accused in several cases including arms cases with Motijheel and Sabujbagh police stations.
On the other hand, three suspected criminals were killed in separate incidents of ’shootout’ in Khulna, Kushtia and Pabna on 5th September, 2009. Source: the daily Star, 6-9-2009. The deceased were identified as Arifur Alam Akkas, 45, a pirate active in the Sundarbans, Murad Hossain alias Bhola, 40, a leader of outlawed Gano Bahini, and Hasan Ali alias Hasan Kosai, 32, a cadre of Janajuddha.
Government side told, Police said Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel arrested Akkas, accused in a number of cases, from his Khalishpur residence in Khulna city on 4th September, 2009 at evening. As per his statement, Rab and police took him to an abandoned hospital at Hatiadanga village in Koira upazila to recover arms on the night. When the law-enforcers reached the village, the associates of Akkas opened fire on them triggering a gunfight. Akkas was caught in the line of fire while trying to flee and died on the spot, police said. They said two police and two RAB men were also injured during the gunfight. Two guns and six bullets were recovered from the spot.
In Kushtia, acting on a tip-off police raided Kaya Child Heaven School where a group of Gano Bahini men were holding a meeting at about 4:30am on 5th September, 2009 said same sources. Source told, Sensing the presence of police, the outlaws opened fire at them prompting them to fire back. At one stage, the outlaws managed to flee the scene. Police later found the body of Murad lying on the ground. Police recovered a shutter gun and two bullets from the spot. According to police, Murad was accused in 11 cases, including six for murder. In Police raided Shimulchhora area in Sadar upazila after receiving information that the outlaws of Janajuddha were holding a meeting there early on 5th September. As soon as they reached Shimulchhora around 2:00am, the outlaws started firing at the law enforcers forcing them to retaliate. Hasan, wanted in a number of cases, was killed during the gunfight, police said. He was also a convicted fugitive sentenced to 32 years’ imprisonment in a murder case, police added. In above information was served by government side. But, our blind media hasn’t investigated regarding so-called crossfire (extra judicial killings).
Our questions that, how were flew the accomplices of the said terrorist? Actually, RAB always is giving totally false statement to the press. And press also doesn’t investigate about extra judicial killings and the statement of RAB.
We strongly believe that, without real democracy, rule of law, good governance, how we could hope that the government does punish the real culprits and masterminds of minority torture as well as other human rights violation?
We are waiting eagerly for to see the execution of war criminals, killers of the father of the nation Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and killers of the four national leaders as well as we want to see that, the present government should established the constitution of 1972 and to stop the politics which are based on religious. 1-9-2009.
After the election the new Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, announced extrajudicial killings perpetrated during the tenure of the interim government would be investigated.
‘The Asian Legal Resource Centre press release about extra judicial killings: 2009-02-13’
Despite being a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) since 6 September 2000 and a member of the Human Rights Council, Bangladesh continues to be the scene of a large number of extra-judicial killings accompanied by total impunity. According to Article 2 and 6 of the ICCPR, the Bangladeshi authorities have the obligation to ensure the right to life of the country’s people and must provide prompt and effective remedies in cases where any violations takes place. Bangladesh also has the obligation to introduce legislation that is in conformity with the ICCPR, but continues to fail in this regard.
Article 32 of the Constitution of Bangladesh protects the people’s right to life and liberty, as fundamental rights. The provision reads:
“No person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty saves in accordance with law.”
Despite these rights being enshrined in the country’s supreme law, they are being violated on a scale that requires the attention of the Human Rights Council, which has to date, failed to address the situation of rights in Bangladesh. According to local human rights groups, during the last four years alone, there have been at least 1051 extra-judicial killings perpetrated by Bangladesh’s law-enforcement agencies, notably the Rapid Action Battalion, the police and the armed forces. In not a single one of these cases has the authorities allowed complaints to be lodged.
The ALRC recalls that there are provisions for the lodging of complaints with the police under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure-1898, which states that:
“Every information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence if given orally to an officer in charge of a police-station, shall be reduced to writing by him or under his direction, and be read over to the informant; and every such information, whether given in writing or reduced to writing as aforesaid, shall be signed by the person giving it, and the substance thereof shall be entered in a book to be kept by such officer in such form as the Government may prescribe in this behalf.”
However, when the police themselves, or other branches of law-enforcement, are the alleged perpetrators of abuses, such avenues for complaints are fully obstructed. This is the case in particular with the gravest abuses, notably extra-judicial killings.
Typically, regarding extra-judicial killings, the police at the first hurriedly register a complaint of unnatural death. Such complaints are registered under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure-1898 as an “accidental or suicidal death” instead of a “homicidal death.” The same provision also empowers an “Executive Magistrate” to inquire into the incident. In all cases, the law-enforcement agents and the magistrates conspire to disguise the extra-judicial killings, notably by branding them as “crossfire” or “encounter” killings.
In the rare case where complainants attempt to lodge complaints of extra-judicial killing by State-actors, the police not only refuse to record the complaint but also intimidate the complainants and even other members of their families. Furthermore, the authorities typically then engage in smear campaigns against the victims, labelling them as being suspects or accused persons in criminal cases, including fabricating charges and/or cases against such persons. Such fabrication is commonplace in Bangladesh, and includes serious crimes like robbery, murder and the possession of illegal weapons.
The ALRC has also documented cases that show that the police also threaten complainants with extra-judicial killings under the cover of “crossfire” incidents. The message is clear to anyone that dares to complain about extra-judicial killings by the authorities in Bangladesh: complain and be killed. This leads to the perpetrators of such grave human rights abuses being able to operate and re-offend in the knowledge that their crimes will be accompanied by total impunity. This situation gives rise to a climate of sever fear in the country, including for journalists, lawyers, doctors and human rights defenders that encounter such cases, as speaking out concerning these killings also results in reprisals.
For example, Mr. Jahangir Alam Akash, a journalist and human rights defender in the northern city of Rajshahi, publicised a number of televised reports highlighting the details of “crossfire” killings along with the inconsistencies of such claims by the Rapid Action Battalion over the last few years. On October 23, 2007, officers of the Rapid Action Battalion led by Major Rashidul Hassan Rashed, illegally arrested him from his home. Mr. Akash was arbitrarily detained and tortured in a Rapid Action Battalion camp in Rajshahi. He was implicated in three fabricated charges of extortion under the Emergency Power Rules-2007, and detained in the Rajshahi Central Jail, despite a High Court Bench having granted him bail in the case. Mr. Akash, after having been released on bail, has to regularly appear before the Magistrate’s Court, Sessions Court and the High Court Division to seek extensions to his bail grants and continues to receive regular threats from members of the law-enforcement agencies and their allies. He has lost his employment and is being financially crippled by legal costs. Ironically, Major Rashidul Hassan Rashed has been serving in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Ivory Coast since July 2008. Such an opportunity is treated as a prize in the Bangladeshi armed forces.
Given such experiences, which are examples of how the system works rather than aberrations, it is not surprising to find that persons have no faith in the justice system in Bangladesh. The authorities, however, claim that the lack of complaints means that there are no problems of illegal actions by the members of the law-enforcement agencies. Such “logic” is also used by the country’s representatives at the Human rights Council to deflect any criticism that may surface there.
The systematic protection of members of the authorities by the State has meant that not a single case of extra-judicial killing has yet been investigated by any competent authority, and therefore no prosecutions or punishments of the alleged perpetrators have taken place. Despite what the Constitution of Bangladesh states, in reality the authorities can and do get away with murder and function as if above the law. The ALRC recalls that Article 31 of the Constitution, reads:
“To enjoy the protection of the law, and to be treated in accordance with law, and only in accordance with law, is the inalienable right of every citizen, wherever he may be, and of every other person for the time being within Bangladesh, and in particular no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation or property of any person shall be taken except in accordance with law.”
However, the agencies that are responsible for such perpetrating over a thousand extra-judicial killings in the last four years and many more before, have been rewarded in various ways, notably the Rapid Action Battalion, which has received praise and awards, including the country’s Independence Day Award on March 23, 2006, for “outstanding performance in maintaining law and order.” In 2007, the government awarded 28 RAB officers with “Police Medals.” All of these officers have allegedly been involved in grave human rights abuses, including extra-judicial killings.
Such extra-judicial killings by the law-enforcement agencies have continued to take place after the current government took office on January 6, 2009, and can therefore not claim innocence concerning this grave problem. The new government must ensure that all such killings cease and that truly impartial and effective investigations are launched into these cases to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and that victims’ families receive adequate reparation.
This will require a functioning and effective, independent judiciary at all levels, which remains highly elusive at present. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh, as the guardian and interpreter of the Constitution, must act to address this situation. The Supreme Court’s High Court Division has inherent power to deal with issue of fundamental rights, according to Section 561A of the Code of Criminal Procedure-1898, which reads:
” Nothing in this Code shall be deemed to limit or affect the inherent power of the High Court Division to make such orders as may be necessary to give effect to any order under this Code, or to prevent abuse of the process of any Court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice.”
Moreover, Article 102 (1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh authorises the High Court Division to issue certain orders and directions:
” The High Court Division on the application of any person aggrieved, may give such directions or orders to any person or authority, including any person performing any function in connection with the affairs of the Republic, as may be appropriate for the enforcement of any the fundamental rights conferred by Part III of this Constitution.”
The government of Bangladesh continues to make utterances without substance before the international community. For example, a delegation of Bangladesh led by its Foreign Minister, Dr. Dipu Moni, made a typical speech during the Universal Periodic Review of the Bangladesh on February 3, 2009. The minister said that her country will bring the perpetrators to justice immediately; however, no details as to how this would be done were included, and no action has been witnessed since. The delegation did not mention what process will be applied to ensure justice aggrieved persons, and, given that the complaint mechanisms in place deny registration of complaints concerning serious human rights abuses by state actors, it remains clear that the government is only saying what it believes people want to hear during the UPR without actually having the intention to implement any of its promises.
The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) urges the Human Rights Council to pay particular attention to the situation of Bangladesh, notably concerning the prevalence of extra-judicial killings there. The government of Bangladesh must invite the Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial and Summary Executions to visit the country without delay. A standing invitation to all mandates of the Special Procedures should also be issued.
The nation requires thorough reforms of its criminal justice system. Effective and unhindered complaint mechanisms must be put in place and independent investigations of any and all allegations of human rights violations must be conducted. There should be an independent, permanent and accountable prosecutorial authority that remains beyond politicisation. Bangladesh must also create a fully independent judiciary, to replace the vehicle of injustice that exists in its stead at present. Without such actions there can be no hope of an end to the country’s pervasive culture of impunity.
A written statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) regarding extra judicial killings 2009-06-01
BANGLADESH: Extra-judicial killings, torture, violence against women, media freedoms and the lack of an independent judiciary. Bangladesh has been re-elected to the Human Rights Council for another term of three years in uncontested elections at the UN General Assembly on May 12. However, during its previous three year membership in the Council, which started in 2006, the situation of human rights degraded significantly in the country, notably as the result of a nearly two-year state of emergency in which many fundamental rights were suspended and violated on a large scale.
It is imperative for the new government, which came to power following elections on December 29, 2008, to take action to address past and ongoing violations through effective investigations and prosecutions. For such prosecutions to take place, the independence of the judiciary must now be ensured in practice, not simply in theory. Bangladesh must begin to cooperate in a meaningful and verifiable manner with the Council and its various mechanisms, notably its Special Procedures. In particular it must issue a standing invitation to all of the Council’s special procedures, and enable visits of all that have requests pending, without delay, giving priority to the Special Rapporteurs on extra-judicial killings, on the independence of judges and lawyers, on the freedom of expression and on torture. The government must also take concrete steps to fulfill the voluntary pledges that it has made prior to its recent elections to the Council.
The ALRC has documented grave and widespread human rights abuses, including ill-treatment, custodial torture, extra-judicial killings, restrictions on the freedoms of expression and the press have been accompanied by impunity for the perpetrators of violations. This is due to a lack of access to justice for victims of abuses, notably through the lack of independent avenues to make complaints and a lack of independence of the judiciary.
Implement pledge to halt extra-judicial killings: The Bangladesh Awami League won elections and assumed the power on January 6, 2009 with more than a two-thirds majority in parliament. In its election manifesto the Awami League promised that it will not allow extra-judicial killings. It also promised to uphold rule of law and human rights in the country. During the Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on February 3, 2009, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Dipu Moni, expressed her government’s “zero tolerance” policy with regard to extra-judicial killings. She also promised to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice. In reality, only three hours after the Foreign Minister’s pledge, Mr. Samsel Islam Robin was killed in a so-called “crossfire” incident by the Detective Branch of the Police in the Jhenaidah district of Bangladesh. Crossfire is often used to justify extra-judicial killings by the authorities. Reports indicate that there were 315 extrajudicial killings in 2006, 184 in 2007 and 149 in 2008. From January to May 2009, since the new government came to power, a further 20 such killings have been recorded, but no action is being taken concerning this most grave of human rights violations.
The perpetrators include the police, the Rapid Action Battalion, the armed forces and other paramilitary forces. Not a single case has yet been investigated by any competent authority. Instead, the State Minister for Home Affairs, Mr. Tanjim Ahmad Sohel, who has authority over the law-enforcement agencies, stated to the press on 6 May that “. . . the government will not allow any kind of extra-judicial killings, but the law-enforcers have the right to self-defence as per the constitution . . .” The ALRC is concerned by the authorities continuing to provide blanket justifications for killings that, allied with the lack of investigations into such cases, engenders impunity and further abuses.
“Heart attacks” and “suicides” blamed for suspicious deaths in custody: Around 20 soldiers from the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), which staged a mutiny in late February 2009, have died in under suspicious circumstances in custody. Around 75 persons including 60 officers of the Bangladesh Army that held senior ranks in the BDR, were killed in the mutiny. The deaths in custody of the mutineers took place during interrogation either by the law-enforcement agencies or the armed forces or paramilitary forces. Despite there being evidence of serious injuries on the bodies, the authorities have claimed that the deaths have mainly resulted from “suicides” or “heart attacks.” No independent investigations have been allowed. In some, soldiers that survived the interrogation have shown the evidence of torture on their bodies to Magistrates when they have been brought to court. However, no action has been taken against any of the alleged perpetrators.
Criminalization of torture: Bangladesh has been a party to the Convention Against Torture for more than a decade. Despite its resultant obligation to criminalize torture at the domestic level, the authorities have thus far failed to do so. On 5 March 2009, a draft Bill on criminalization of torture and custodial deaths was tabled in the Parliament as a Private Member’s Bill. The Bill remains under review by the Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. The new government has more than a two-thirds majority in parliament and should therefore be able to pass such a Bill. However, the government has yet to clarify its position concerning the criminalization of torture.
Judicial independence: Although in theory the judiciary was separated from the executive branch in November 2007, it is still not able to function independently. Despite claims in the government’s pledges in advance of its bid for re-election to the Human Rights Council in 2009, that “Bangladesh recently completed the process of full separation of the judiciary from the executive,” in April 2009, the government amended the Code of Criminal Procedure-1898 to ensure that it has discretionary powers to enable officers of the executive to take control of criminal cases whenever the authorities deem fit. The authorities have created “executive magistrates” to carry out the implementation of governmental orders and “judicial magistrates” to deliver justice in the courts of law. According to the above amendment the government may empower any of its executive magistrates to take cognizance of any criminal case bypassing the original judiciary, which not only creates confusion within the criminal justice system but also undermines the judiciary. This evidently runs contrary to the claims made in the pledges and eliminates the independence of the judiciary in practice, notably concerning cases of human rights abuses alleged to have been committed by members of the authorities.
Moreover, the government has decided to withdraw “politically motivated fabricated cases” that have been pending trial. This process has created new opportunities for perpetrators of various crimes to go unpunished and will likely benefit the members and associates of the ruling political parties. Historically in Bangladesh, whichever political party comes to the power withdraws criminal cases against members of their party through executive orders involving the public prosecutors, who also belong to the ruling party. A large number of corruption and other criminal cases, including murder and violence against women, have been recommended to be withdrawn from the trial courts. This practice of providing impunity has significantly reduced the public’s faith in the country’s criminal justice system.
Freedom of expression: Bangladesh, in its 2009 pledges, claims to have “one of the most independent print and electronic media in the world.” However, the authorities forced some 160 local newspapers and a television news channel to close during the state of emergency. A significant number of journalists have been arbitrarily arrested and detained, received threats or been subjected to legal or physical attacks. According to Odhikar, in 2007: “35 journalists were injured, 13 arrested, 35 assaulted, 83 threatened and 13 sued. For example, a media practitioner was forced to sign an undertaking not to write any report without permission from the Bangladesh Rifles.” A request for a visit by the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression remains pending since 2003.
Examples of attacks on the press are plentiful. On 13 April, journalists were beaten by allies of a Member of Parliament at Gaforgaon in Mymensingh district. The incident happened after the legislator reacted to a media report and warned the journalists by saying “I am the MP . . . nothing can be written against me in the next five years. . .”
A journalist and editor of an English speaking national daily, Mr. Nurul Kabir’s private car was chased by unidentified motorbike rider-gunmen in Dhaka on 5 March 2009. Mr. Kabir has been critical of illegitimate and extra-constitutional practices by the country’s various governments, especially the emergency government. He also challenged the government’s decisions before the Supreme Court during the military-controlled regimes. However, the government has remained silent and has taken no action to investigate such incidents and pursue the alleged perpetrators of attacks against members of the press.
Violence against women: The rights of the women are vulnerable in Bangladesh. In the first four months of 2009 at least 112 women and girls have been raped in the country. In one case a woman from an ethnic minority group was gang raped by four policemen. Violence against women includes physical assault, sometimes resulting in death, of women for dowries and on the pretext of honour, by their in-laws. Assaults on domestic helpers who are mostly girls also take place in large numbers. In many such incidents the police do not record cases of violence against women and girls, including the incidents of rape, due to bribery by the alleged perpetrators.
The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) urges the Human Rights Council to take immediate steps to address the situation of human rights in Bangladesh. The Council should insist that the government enact a law criminalizing torture, in line with international laws and standards. The country should ensure the full independence of the judiciary in practice, inter alia, by revoking the April 2009 amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure-1898 that allows the executive to take control of criminal cases. Bangladesh should investigate all allegations of human rights abuses, notably arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, extra-judicial killings, violence against women and corruption, including those committed during the recent state of emergency; prosecute all those alleged to be responsible in fair trials; and provide adequate reparation to the victims and their families. The personal integrity and freedom to work of all journalists and human rights defenders must be guaranteed without any kind of hindrance.
An urgent action on extra judicial killings by Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti.
On 26 June 2009 an innocent Jumma youth was shot dead by the military forces of Shuvalong camp of 6 Bengal led by Major Jakir/Manjur in Shuvalong, 30 kms off the district town, under Barkal upazila in Rangamati district.
Description of Incident: Mr. Tarun Kusum Chakma (30), s/o Gunadhar Chakma was a permanent resident of Bhushanchara of Harina union under Barkal upazila (sub-district) in Rangamati district, but stayed at Moitreenagar under Rangamati municipality with his family. He was an innocent youth and used to earning by day labour or by collection of forest products for family survival. Couple of days ago, he went to Shuvalong area for earnings. It is mentionable that he was active supporter of PCJSS for implementation of the CHT Accord.
On 26 June Friday was a market day of Shuvalong Bazaar. Like other villagers, he also went to Shuvalong bazzar for marketing. However, a group of members of UPDF, an anti-accord terrorist organisation, with the help of Mintu Bikash Chakma (who is familiar as Bhumihin Mintu), caught Tarun Kusum Chakam while he got down Shuvalong Bazaar from a steamer at around 9.30 am. Then he was handed over to Shuvalong camp authority after heavily torture labeling him as miscreant. However, camp authority released him found nothing after interrogation.
Again, UPDF men tried to catch him when he reached at Bazaar after getting release from army custody. Having no alternative to safe his life, he tried to escape from UPDF attack and jumped over the lake (Kaptai Lake) near Shuvalong forest outpost. At that time, a group of army led by Major Manjur of 6 Bengal and a group of UPDF men ran after him by two separate boats when he was swimming for escaping. But the army shot him when he came to land near Dhanmia shrine. He sustained bullet injuries on his leg and scrotum. The military forces led by Major Manjur started to torture brutally. At a stage, the neck of Tarun Kasum was broken. There were several wounded on his body.
Army personnel arrested another Jumma youth named Elen Chakma from the spot. UPDF claimed him as member of the UPDF who went to spot to help army to catch so-called miscreants.
However, the army authority of Shuvalong camp make several fabricated news in order to conceal their misdeed which were published on several national and local dailies and aired on electronic media. The army firstly made propaganda that a dozen of armed miscreants led by Tarun Kusum Chakma proceeded toward Suvalong Bazar to commit sabotage activities. Being informed, army challenged them when the armed miscreants reached at the place near Dhanmia shrine at about 11.00 am. At one stage, the miscreants started fleeing the scene by firing gunshots at army. The army also retaliated by firing bullets, leaving Tarun Kusum Chakma dead on the spot.
The army made second story that clash between two rival groups took place near Shuvalong bazaar. Being informed, the army rushed there and recovered dead body of Tarun Kusum Chakma from the spot.
The army made another third story that the miscreants led by Tarun Kusum Chakma made armed attack on a group of regular patrolling party of the military forces when they (army) reached Dhanmia shrine. Even, army firstly named Tarun Kusum as Jagadish Chakma.
These stories were fully fabricated and motivated. The people who came to market witnessed that he was caught by UPDF men and handed over to army. Victim’s younger brother Palash Chakma said that he was not involved with any terrorist activity. He was fully innocent.
It is also worth mentioning that Elen Chakma, who was arrested during the incident, was claimed as member of the UPDF in a press release by Shantidev Chakma, chief of Rangamati district. Shantidev mentioned that Elen went there to help army to catch the victim and the army mistakenly arrested him. This statement of UPDF proved that UPDF men also involved with this heinous killing.
The dead body was brought in Rangamati sadar hospital for post mortem in the evening on 26 June. The dead body was handed over to victim’s elder sister and younger brother afternoon on 27 June.
Action Needed
This incident is a violation of inherent rights to life, which was ensured by the Constitution of Bangladesh and international legal instruments ratified by Bangladesh. However, military forces deployed in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) continued to be responsible for extra-judicial killings and for custodial killings since long time.
The CHT Accord signed between Government of Bangladesh and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) on 2 December 1997 stipulates for demilitarization of the CHT region. However, the army was entrusted responsibility to combat law and order situation by imposing de facto military rule ‘Operation Uttoron’ in 2001. Consequently, the military forces continue having the negative attitude toward CHT and indigenous Jumma people. The military forces are also against the withdrawal of temporary camps from CHT though CHT Accord provides to do the same. With this view, they once again has taken up the programme of operation in CHT and highlighting it in the news media widely so that they can thwart the government to have any camp withdrawn or closed down at this moment.
Though Awami League-led present grand alliance government assured in its election manifesto that it would implement the CHT Accord fully and stop extra-judicial killing in the country. However, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrest, frequently checking, conducting military operation through out the CHT, helping Bengali settlers in occupying indigenous Jumma people’s land and expansion of cluster villages of Bengali settlers by the military forces continued unabated in CHT. Killing of Tarun Kusum Chakma was a result of military atrocities in CHT.
With this backdrop, letter should be sent to Government of Bangladesh raising following demands-
(1) to conduct judicial inquiry of the extra-judicial killing of Tarun Kusum Chakma;
(2) To punish the military personnel responsible for the heinous killing including Major Manjur;
(3) To provide compensation to the family of the victim;
(4) To withdraw all temporary camps of army, Ansar, APBN and VDPs including de facto military rule ‘Operation Uttoron’ as per CHT Accord soon;
(5) To implement the CHT Accord in letter and spirit.
Violating the High Court order:
The Bangladesh High Court asked (June, 2009) the home ministry and security forces on Monday to stop extra-judicial killings of alleged criminals. Deaths of people detained for alleged criminal links are often reported across the country by security forces who say the prisoners were brought along to assist in purported raids and other action against gangs. The High Court had also asked the secretary of the home ministry and chiefs of police and the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) force to explain within the next four weeks why criminal proceedings should not be drawn against such killings.
Three human rights organizations jointly filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking an order declaring illegal the extra-judicial killings by the law enforcement agencies. Challenged
Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Karmojibi Nari (KN) filed the petition recently as public interest litigation.
They prayed to the court for directing the government to form an enquiry committee to probe all extra-judicial killings and place before the court a report on the killings.
The petition said at least 969 people were killed since 2004 in custody and in crossfire or encounter by law enforcement agencies.
The petitioners sought HC directives for the government to provide compensations to the family members of those killed in custody and in crossfire or encounter.
It was stated in the petition that law enforcement agencies resort to extra-judicial killings in the name of crossfire or encounter violating the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
It said such killings constitute blatant violation of fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 27, 31, 32 and 35(3) of the constitution and the United Nations (UN) universal declaration of human rights.
Petitioners’ counsel barrister Saifur Rashid told that Articles 27, 31, 32 and 35(3) of the constitution have guaranteed protection and security of all citizens.
The HC bench of justices Syed Mahmud Hossain and Quamrul Islam Siddiqui, which was due to hear the petition yesterday afternoon, fixed 3.00pm today for the hearing following a government prayer.
Additional Attorney General MK Rahman yesterday prayed to the court for deferment of the hearing to make necessary preparations.
Source: The daily Star
Please see our previous report about extra judicial killings: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1015
RAB and me: I am a Journalist, writer and human rights defender working in Journalism from 1989. Over the past 20 years, I have been writing against corruption and the abuse of power in my home country Bangladesh as well as in Rajshahi, a border town neighboring India. I have been working for the daily Sangbad, a nationwide distributed Bangladeshi newspaper and the Bengali language service of Deutsche Welle. In addition, I worked as spokesman for the “Task Force against Torture” and the “Bangladesh Institute for Human Rights (BIHR)” and was Secretary General of Rajshahi Union of Journalists (RUJ). Actually I am Editor of the Human Rights Today (www.humanrightstoday.info).
Because of my relentless and fearless commitment I have long been targeted and actively threatened by my own government as well as Islamic militant groups with political interest some persons.
In May, 2007, I filmed the unwarranted attack of a civilian and his family by members of a military elite unit. This document was transmitted by the sole and only independent Bangladeshi TV-Station, as part of an investigative report on extrajudicial executions, human rights violations, corruption, dubious military operations, terrorism and torture perpetrated by the « Elite Force Rapid Reaction Battalion (RAB-5 Rajshahi). The TV-station has since been shut down. By transmitting this report I had made RAB-5 Rajshahi his sworn enemy.
Following the transmission of my investigative report, I was interrogated several times. In October, 24, 2007 at 01.30am, I was arrested and kept in jail for 28 days under false accusations. During this time, my captors tied my hands together and hanged me for 15 hours at my arms from the ceiling, while at the same time I was beaten senselessly. Seriously injured and unable to move my feet, I was finally admitted to hospital. My torturers are CPC of RAB-5 Rajshahi, Major Rashidul Hasan and Major Humayun Kabir and others 15/20 RAB persons.
Even after my release I continued to be threatened. The existing Bangladeshi law was my sole instrument against summons by the police and unfounded accusations. Unimpressed by the consequences I was threatened with my published 4 books over the past 10 months: the books are « Extrajudicial killings and Revenge » (2009), « Militant Godfathers and other Issues » (2009) “From Udichi to Pilkhana” (2009 regarding counter terrorism and militancy) and « 15 hours in total darkness » (2008).
Dear PM Sheikh Hasina, please immediately should stopped the extra judicial killings and minority torture including all kinds of human rights violation for the greater interest of peoples, rule of law, democracy, good governance and for the human rights. Otherwise, how could you say that your government is a democratic and human rights friendly government?
Previous report: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1081
Nonstop state killings going on, haven’t right to life!
Actually in Bangladesh hasn’t right to life. Though, Bangladesh has signed the Universal Declaration of human rights by UN. Almost, every day State killers ‘Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)’ have been killings to the peoples, those who are the citizens of Bangladesh. Nonstop state killings has going on there.
Two siblings, allegedly illegal arms and drugs peddlers, were killed in a ’shootout’ at Vaturia in Jessore Sadar in Bangladesh on 3rd September, 2009. Source: the daily Star, 4th October, 2009. Killeds persons both are brother. The deceased were identified as Ahsan Kabir Hasan, 55, and his brother Mizanur Rahman Mizan, 45, sons of Tafsiruddin Biswas of Shankarpur village in the upazila. Please see our previous report about extra judicial killings: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1042
RAB told, RAB-6 recovered 12 firearms and 74 bullets from the spot while three members of RAB and two policemen were injured in the gunfight, said RAB-6 officials. Hasan and Mizan were arrested at Mirpur a in the capital on 2nd September, 2009. Please see our previous report about extra judicial killings: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1047
The battle took place when the law enforcers went to Jessore with the two brothers to recover firearms based on their confession. As soon as they reached the spot, the cohorts of the arrestees opened fire at the law enforcers forcing them to retaliate. Hasan and Mizan were caught in the line of fire while trying to flee. The brothers died on the spot, said the sources.
Sources said, Hasan was the chief of ‘Hasan syndicate’, which had been carrying out smuggling and arms and drugs peddling through the Indian border. The law enforcers, however, could arrest none of the cohorts. RAB and police sources said Hasan was accused in 22 cases, including eight of killing and three of robbery, while Mizan in 18 cases, including six murder cases. According to sources, of the cases filed against them, one was for four-murder. Please see our previous report about extra judicial killings: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1059
Sources said, the brothers were also accused in Udichi bomb-blast case. However, they were acquitted of the case as none dared to make statement against them. Hasan was ousted from the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal in 1988 for his involvement in robberies. Please see our previous report about extra judicial killings: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1039
Locals and police sources said, during the BNP-Jammat led four-party alliance government, the brothers continued smuggling, extortion and other criminal activities under the shelter of a local BNP minister. After the Awami League-led Grand Alliance government came to power, they took shelter under a powerful AL leader and were engaged in tender snatching in the city’s Mirpur.
We know, in Bangladesh corruption is top to bottom. There are no rules of law, good governance, accountability, clearness, actual democracy, equality. All the institutional system is collapsed. Not only that, poverty, discrimination and torture are common picture in Bangladesh. Without political support can’t grownup terrorism or terrorists. But, unfortunately the political influentials are always in dark those who are patronize to terrorism-terrorists.
So, we strongly believe that, extra judicial killings are not a solution to combat terrorism. Extra judicial killings are never being a sustainable solution for combat terrorism. For combat terrorism should practice democracy, to reduce corruption and all kinds of discrimination and poverty. As well as, should need system and institutional development. 4-9-2009.
Our question is that, why United Nation has silent about the extra judicial killings in Bangladesh? We urges to the international human rights community please to do something about right to life in Bangladesh. 10-9-2009
Editor of the Human Rights Today
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
www.humanrightstoday.info
www.youtube.com/user/jaakashbd
Skype: akashja.germany
The Human Rights Today is a web blog news portal about human rights, press freedom, peace, democracy, minority rights and for the people's those who have no voice. Jahangir Alam Akash Editor Euro Bangla & The Human Rights Today http://www.eurobangla.org/ editor.eurobangla@yahoo.de http://jaakash.wordpress.com/ http://youtube.com/user/jaakashbd
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Government should secure democracy rule of law press freedom and human rights
By Jahangir Alam Akash, Can as a state or government is a killers or terrorists? But in Bangladesh is like this. From the year of 2004 has been continuously going on extra judicial killings by state there. Especially, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is the main state killers in the name of so-called ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounter’ or ‘gunfight’ in Bangladesh.
An accused operative of outlawed Gono Bahini was killed in ‘crossfire’ between Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the outlawed organisation at Durbachara in Kushtia Sadar upazila on 7th September, 2009. The dead was identified as Asraful Islam alias Asha Mondol, 40, son of Monabber Mondol of Durbachara. With this killing a total 681 ‘crossfire’ incidents took place in 10 districts in southwestern region since 2004. Of them, Kushtia is on the top of the list with 237 such cases. Sixteen ‘crossfire’ incidents took place in Kushtia in last 13 days. Source: the daily Star
Government sources said, according to the source, a RAB-12 team raided Durbachara village where some Gono Bahini men, led by Asha, were holding a meeting around 3:45am. Sensing Rab’s presence, the underground operatives opened fire, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate. After the outlaws fled the scene, Asha was found dead on the spot. The RAB members recovered a pipe gun and two bullets from there. Police said Asha, one of the top Gono Bahini cadres, was accused in seven cases including two for murder filed with Kushtia Sadar and Islamic University police stations.
On the other hand, Shafiqul Islam is a youth who was arrested by RAB from Haribhasha bazar in Panchagarh district on 1st September, 2009. But, his family still hasn’t found him, now where he staying. Source: the daily Sangbad.
We had a great hope that Bangladesh Awami League after taking the power they would stop the state killings. Because, the party chief now Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was given commitment to the nation openly before last general election about the stop of extra judicial killings. In spite of now we are seeing almost every day has been happening state killings.
We strongly say that, extra-judicial killings must stop. The Government must bring those involved in extra-judicial killings to justice. Because state killings totally the violation of constitution. These type of killings and torture are the barrier to establish of rule of law. Our last report on extra judicial killings ‘The Constitution & Court ruling, in spite of…!’ http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1104
In Bangladesh torture is very open to all during remand or detained. We demand to the government that, torture during remand and confined questioning must be stopped. An accused person must be questioned by the police in the presence of his lawyer. An independent and fair investigation must be carried out relating to the death of detained BDR members. The Bangladesh Government must take the necessary steps to bring of state killings or torture.
Accused of state torture and state killings never comes under trial. Not only that, never hadn’t investigate about the extra judicial killings and state torture. Please see our other report about extra judicial killings in Bangladesh ‘Extra judicial killings & Sheikh Hasina!’ http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1087
We hope, for safe the democracy, rule of law, human rights, and constitution government should stop all kinds of human rights violation, extra judicial killings, minority-indigenous oppression, women-children torture and journalist’s torture-repression. 9-9-2009
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
www.humanrightstoday.info
www.youtube.com/user/jaakashbd
Sunday, September 6, 2009
The Constitution & Court ruling, in spite of…!
By Jahangir Alam Akash, Another two more suspected criminals were killed by extra judicial killings in Bangladesh. Two suspected criminals were killed in separate ‘crossfire’ with the members of Rapid Action Battalion and police in Faridpur and Kushtia on 6th September, 2009.With these two the total 71 peoples were killed in the same way in the regime of present government. Source: the New Age, 7th September, 2009.
But Home minister Sahara Khatun told that, ‘no extra-judicial killing was taking place during the swoop.’ This type of statement has encouraged to the law enforcers for extra judicial killings. Being a home minister her statement totally unlawful, unconstitutional. Why the ‘Awami intellectuals’ can’t raise any voice against extra judicial killings? We urges to all patriotic journalists, writers, columnists, professors, humanists please to do something for human rights individually or organizationally.
Sources said, Of them, Tofazzal Hossain alias Tapu Khan, a local Juba League leader, was killed in a gunfight with the RAB personnel at Hatkrishnapur under the Sadarpur upazila in Faridpur while Abdul Hannan alias Hana, 45, regional leader of the now defunct Gano Bahini, died in a gun encounter with policemen at Anandanagar under Mirpur upazila in Kushtia. RAB sources said a team of the RAB-8 challenged a group of people who were moving suspiciously in the Hatkrishnapur bazar area at about 3:30am as a part of their increased vigilance following the rise in the robbery incidents in Sadarpur upazila recently.
The suspected group members sharply took shelter inside a nearby primary school and fired bullets on the RAB members forcing the lawmen to retaliate triggering a gun-battle for about half-an-hour. Later, the RAB personnel kept the school under their cordon till the dawn. The sources claimed, Sadarpur upazila nirbahi officer Khandaker Oliur Rahman and officer-in-charge of the local police station Naresh Karmaker arrived at the scene at dawn. In their presence, the law-enforcers with the help of locals found out the body of the group leader Tofazzal from the spot and they seized a revolver, a shutter gun, one pipe gun and some bullets from there. Tofazzal was an organising secretary of the Sadapur upazila unit of Awami Juba League, an associate organisation of the ruling Awami League, and hailing from village Jatrabari under Krishnapur union of the upazila.
The body was sent to the Faridpur Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy. Tofazzal was wanted by Sadarpur police in more than a dozen criminal cases, including two murders, police said. In another incident, a police team from the Mirpur police station in Kushtia on secret information about a clandestine meeting of the Gano Bahini operatives went to raid a place near a brickfield at Anandanagar in the upazila at about 2:30am. Sensing the presence of the police team, the underground group operatives opened fire on the lawmen forcing them to fired back that triggered a gunfight for several minutes. Their leader Hannan was killed on the spot during exchange of fires, police claimed. Later, the law enforcers recovered a pipe gun and five bullets from the scene. The killed Hannan was hailing from village Ambarhia at Mirpur upazila and he was wanted by police in half-a-dozen criminal cases, including three murders. With the two, the number of people killed by the law enforcers in ‘crossfire’ stood at 71, after the Awami League-led alliance government assumed office in January 6, 2009.
The latest killings also marked continuation of the extrajudicial killing by the lawmen during the AL regime despite the government repeatedly told countrymen that they would put an end to such killing. Different national and international rights groups are raising their voice against the extrajudicial killing.
What said the home minister?
Home minister Sahara Khatun has said that the ongoing crackdown on outlaws and extremists in the southwest is based on a list prepared by the law-enforcement agencies. "The law-enforcers are carrying out the clampdown as the extremists and terrorists regrouped in the south-western region," the minister told reporters at the Secretariat. She claimed that no extra-judicial killing was taking place during the swoop. "Those who are getting killed are dying in gun battles with the police and RAB." "Will the law-enforcers take bullets trying to detain the extremists?" she snapped at reporters. "The outlaws, terrorists and militants should be nabbed and they (the law enforcers) will take any measure for that," the minister said.
Sources said, security has deteriorated in recent times in the region, which was a 'death valley' a few years back, with a number of murders taking place.
Eight people died in the alleged gunfights with police and RAB in last two weeks. Two people were killed on Sunday morning in Kushtia and Faridpur in so-called 'gun battles' with the police and RAB. Sahara hinted that another list was going to be prepared. "The people linked to the outlawed parties should be listed." "They are changing their strategies. The law enforcers will have to change theirs as well," the minister said. Human-rights NGO Odhikar said 19 people were killed in crossfire with RAB and police in August; most of them occurring in the southwestern region. Ten of the victims were activists of outlawed parties. The human-rights organisations have long been asking the government to stop the killings terming them extra judicial. RAB said as many as 577 people were killed in 'crossfire' in 472 incidents until Aug 31 since the formation of the elite force on March 26, 2004. The High Court on June 29 asked the government to explain why killing without trial in so-called crossfire or encounter will not be declared illegal, and why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who perpetrate such killings in custody and outside. The shooting incidents are commonly reported as 'crossfire' in the media, a term which has come to imply 'suspicious' or extra-judicial killings. Most recently, controversy was sparked when two polytechnic students were killed in RAB 'crossfire' in the capital in early June.
Former state minister for home Tanjim Ahmed had said the RAB had launched a departmental investigation into the death of the two students.
According to rights group Odhikar, 322 people were killed during the last two years of the caretaker government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed in "crossfire".
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina herself announced in February that the extrajudicial killings perpetrated during the tenure of the military-installed interim government would be investigated. International and local rights groups, including Amnesty International, US-based Human Rights Watch, Transparency International, Bangladesh and Odhikar, over past decades have frequently expressed concern over the rate of extra-judicial killings in the country. HRW, in May, in a damning report, suggested 'elite' security forces such as Rapid Action Battalion and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) be disbanded. Source: BD News 24.com
NHRC dysfunctional as body not reconstituted
The National Human Rights Commission has virtually ceased to exist as the government is yet to reconstitute the quasi-judicial body in line with the National Human Rights Commission Act enacted by the parliament on July 14.
‘We are uncertain about how to deal with the commission activities. There is practically no commission as the seven-member body now has only the chairman and no members,’ the commission chairman, Justice Amirul Kabir Chowdhury, told. Source: the New Age, 7th September, 2009
Formed in November 2008 under the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance promulgated by the military-controlled interim government on December 23, 2007, the commission failed to create any impact on national life although a number of allegations on rights violation were lodged.
Shortage of manpower and logistics was blamed for the state of inertia at the time. The Awami League-led government enacted the new act on July 14, 2009 bringing about some major changes in the ordinance, especially in the process of appointment of commission members, lessening their age limit and increasing the number of commissioners to six with a provision of having a regular member and five others as volunteers.These changes frustrated the existing members.
One of the two permanent members has already crossed the age limit of 70 years in keeping with the amended law. The earlier age limit of a commission member was 72. Munira Khan, who is now over 70 years old, verbally informed the chairman of the commission that she did not qualify to remain a member of the commission in keeping with the new law, the chairman told. Munira said the government did not consult with the commission on the age limit when the new law was enacted.
‘Being informed, I thought it would not be ethical to be with the commission from the day President Zillur Rahman gave his consent to the law on July 14,’ she said. The other member, Niru Kumar Chakma, who was on lien from Dhaka University, has got back to his earlier job as professor of geography and environment in the university. In a letter to the chairman on July 15, Niru said he would not be able to serve as a commissioner as he returned to Dhaka University. The commission has now only one official to work as secretary to the commission and five other members on the staff deputed from the Access to Justice Project funded by the United Nations Development Programme. The commission needs a large number of members on the staff to run its activities across the country as prescribed in the law, the chairman said, adding the government must provide the commission with adequate staff, budget and logistics to run it independently. The commission has started tottering since it came into being during the fag end of the two-year tenure of the interim administration. Even about two months inside the enactment of the new law, the government is yet to initiate any process to reconstitute the commission with the appointment of six members. The law stipulates a seven-member selection committee should be formed headed by the parliament speaker to recommend names to the president for appointment of the commission chairman and members. He will be aided by the law and the home minister, the law commission chairman and the cabinet secretary. Two lawmakers one each from the treasury and opposition benches will also be members on the selection committee. The commission is now housed in a rented floor of a four-storey building at Lalmatia.
Flashback: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1087
But Home minister Sahara Khatun told that, ‘no extra-judicial killing was taking place during the swoop.’ This type of statement has encouraged to the law enforcers for extra judicial killings. Being a home minister her statement totally unlawful, unconstitutional. Why the ‘Awami intellectuals’ can’t raise any voice against extra judicial killings? We urges to all patriotic journalists, writers, columnists, professors, humanists please to do something for human rights individually or organizationally.
Sources said, Of them, Tofazzal Hossain alias Tapu Khan, a local Juba League leader, was killed in a gunfight with the RAB personnel at Hatkrishnapur under the Sadarpur upazila in Faridpur while Abdul Hannan alias Hana, 45, regional leader of the now defunct Gano Bahini, died in a gun encounter with policemen at Anandanagar under Mirpur upazila in Kushtia. RAB sources said a team of the RAB-8 challenged a group of people who were moving suspiciously in the Hatkrishnapur bazar area at about 3:30am as a part of their increased vigilance following the rise in the robbery incidents in Sadarpur upazila recently.
The suspected group members sharply took shelter inside a nearby primary school and fired bullets on the RAB members forcing the lawmen to retaliate triggering a gun-battle for about half-an-hour. Later, the RAB personnel kept the school under their cordon till the dawn. The sources claimed, Sadarpur upazila nirbahi officer Khandaker Oliur Rahman and officer-in-charge of the local police station Naresh Karmaker arrived at the scene at dawn. In their presence, the law-enforcers with the help of locals found out the body of the group leader Tofazzal from the spot and they seized a revolver, a shutter gun, one pipe gun and some bullets from there. Tofazzal was an organising secretary of the Sadapur upazila unit of Awami Juba League, an associate organisation of the ruling Awami League, and hailing from village Jatrabari under Krishnapur union of the upazila.
The body was sent to the Faridpur Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy. Tofazzal was wanted by Sadarpur police in more than a dozen criminal cases, including two murders, police said. In another incident, a police team from the Mirpur police station in Kushtia on secret information about a clandestine meeting of the Gano Bahini operatives went to raid a place near a brickfield at Anandanagar in the upazila at about 2:30am. Sensing the presence of the police team, the underground group operatives opened fire on the lawmen forcing them to fired back that triggered a gunfight for several minutes. Their leader Hannan was killed on the spot during exchange of fires, police claimed. Later, the law enforcers recovered a pipe gun and five bullets from the scene. The killed Hannan was hailing from village Ambarhia at Mirpur upazila and he was wanted by police in half-a-dozen criminal cases, including three murders. With the two, the number of people killed by the law enforcers in ‘crossfire’ stood at 71, after the Awami League-led alliance government assumed office in January 6, 2009.
The latest killings also marked continuation of the extrajudicial killing by the lawmen during the AL regime despite the government repeatedly told countrymen that they would put an end to such killing. Different national and international rights groups are raising their voice against the extrajudicial killing.
What said the home minister?
Home minister Sahara Khatun has said that the ongoing crackdown on outlaws and extremists in the southwest is based on a list prepared by the law-enforcement agencies. "The law-enforcers are carrying out the clampdown as the extremists and terrorists regrouped in the south-western region," the minister told reporters at the Secretariat. She claimed that no extra-judicial killing was taking place during the swoop. "Those who are getting killed are dying in gun battles with the police and RAB." "Will the law-enforcers take bullets trying to detain the extremists?" she snapped at reporters. "The outlaws, terrorists and militants should be nabbed and they (the law enforcers) will take any measure for that," the minister said.
Sources said, security has deteriorated in recent times in the region, which was a 'death valley' a few years back, with a number of murders taking place.
Eight people died in the alleged gunfights with police and RAB in last two weeks. Two people were killed on Sunday morning in Kushtia and Faridpur in so-called 'gun battles' with the police and RAB. Sahara hinted that another list was going to be prepared. "The people linked to the outlawed parties should be listed." "They are changing their strategies. The law enforcers will have to change theirs as well," the minister said. Human-rights NGO Odhikar said 19 people were killed in crossfire with RAB and police in August; most of them occurring in the southwestern region. Ten of the victims were activists of outlawed parties. The human-rights organisations have long been asking the government to stop the killings terming them extra judicial. RAB said as many as 577 people were killed in 'crossfire' in 472 incidents until Aug 31 since the formation of the elite force on March 26, 2004. The High Court on June 29 asked the government to explain why killing without trial in so-called crossfire or encounter will not be declared illegal, and why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who perpetrate such killings in custody and outside. The shooting incidents are commonly reported as 'crossfire' in the media, a term which has come to imply 'suspicious' or extra-judicial killings. Most recently, controversy was sparked when two polytechnic students were killed in RAB 'crossfire' in the capital in early June.
Former state minister for home Tanjim Ahmed had said the RAB had launched a departmental investigation into the death of the two students.
According to rights group Odhikar, 322 people were killed during the last two years of the caretaker government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed in "crossfire".
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina herself announced in February that the extrajudicial killings perpetrated during the tenure of the military-installed interim government would be investigated. International and local rights groups, including Amnesty International, US-based Human Rights Watch, Transparency International, Bangladesh and Odhikar, over past decades have frequently expressed concern over the rate of extra-judicial killings in the country. HRW, in May, in a damning report, suggested 'elite' security forces such as Rapid Action Battalion and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) be disbanded. Source: BD News 24.com
NHRC dysfunctional as body not reconstituted
The National Human Rights Commission has virtually ceased to exist as the government is yet to reconstitute the quasi-judicial body in line with the National Human Rights Commission Act enacted by the parliament on July 14.
‘We are uncertain about how to deal with the commission activities. There is practically no commission as the seven-member body now has only the chairman and no members,’ the commission chairman, Justice Amirul Kabir Chowdhury, told. Source: the New Age, 7th September, 2009
Formed in November 2008 under the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance promulgated by the military-controlled interim government on December 23, 2007, the commission failed to create any impact on national life although a number of allegations on rights violation were lodged.
Shortage of manpower and logistics was blamed for the state of inertia at the time. The Awami League-led government enacted the new act on July 14, 2009 bringing about some major changes in the ordinance, especially in the process of appointment of commission members, lessening their age limit and increasing the number of commissioners to six with a provision of having a regular member and five others as volunteers.These changes frustrated the existing members.
One of the two permanent members has already crossed the age limit of 70 years in keeping with the amended law. The earlier age limit of a commission member was 72. Munira Khan, who is now over 70 years old, verbally informed the chairman of the commission that she did not qualify to remain a member of the commission in keeping with the new law, the chairman told. Munira said the government did not consult with the commission on the age limit when the new law was enacted.
‘Being informed, I thought it would not be ethical to be with the commission from the day President Zillur Rahman gave his consent to the law on July 14,’ she said. The other member, Niru Kumar Chakma, who was on lien from Dhaka University, has got back to his earlier job as professor of geography and environment in the university. In a letter to the chairman on July 15, Niru said he would not be able to serve as a commissioner as he returned to Dhaka University. The commission has now only one official to work as secretary to the commission and five other members on the staff deputed from the Access to Justice Project funded by the United Nations Development Programme. The commission needs a large number of members on the staff to run its activities across the country as prescribed in the law, the chairman said, adding the government must provide the commission with adequate staff, budget and logistics to run it independently. The commission has started tottering since it came into being during the fag end of the two-year tenure of the interim administration. Even about two months inside the enactment of the new law, the government is yet to initiate any process to reconstitute the commission with the appointment of six members. The law stipulates a seven-member selection committee should be formed headed by the parliament speaker to recommend names to the president for appointment of the commission chairman and members. He will be aided by the law and the home minister, the law commission chairman and the cabinet secretary. Two lawmakers one each from the treasury and opposition benches will also be members on the selection committee. The commission is now housed in a rented floor of a four-storey building at Lalmatia.
Flashback: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1087
Friday, September 4, 2009
Human rights should always impartial universal and equal for all
By Jahangir Alam Akash, Every day has happening minority torture in Bangladesh. Day by day has increasing the list of minority repression incidents here. When would be stop inhumanity on minority community we don’t know? We are very much worried about the minority oppression. ‘Minority friend government’ has now in power in Bangladesh. So, why still are doing struggle the minorities for their life, land, house and security?
Recently in Bangladesh was happened a gross human rights violation on Hindu minority. It was happened in northern part of Bangladesh. On 26th August, 2009 at noon some perpetrators with the help of Nazrul Islam, Magistrate and police entered into the premises of erstwhile communist leader Moni Krishna Sen situated at Mulatola Area of Rangpur town with a view to dispossess four Hindu families from the peaceful possession of their properties. Perpetrators with the help of police and Magistrate started throwing belongings, ulltencils of possessors, destroyed Durga structures situated thereon. But due to intervention and strong resistance of local people police and Magistrate could not disposes four Hindu families from there. Source: the daily Sangbad, 27th August, 2009.
Please see our previous report about minority repression: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1054
Sources said, The local people informed that at about 11.30am one hundred police along with some officers of Agrani Bank with the leadership of Nazrul Islam Executive Magistrate entered into the house of Late Moni Krishna Sen veteran communist leader and directed the inhabitants to leave and vacate the lands. In this opportunity some extortionists and hired goons came along with them, attacked temple, started destroying images of Durga Devi and other materials and looted belongings in front of executive Magistrate and police. As soon as the news of attack on temple thousands of people including women and children came forward and staged demonstration against illegal dispossession by the police and Magistrate. The executive Magistrate could not show any legal documents to anybody with regard to taking over. As a result of spontaneous demonstration, Magistrate and officers of Agrani Bank were confined into the house of Late Moni Krishna Sen. Please see our report about minority torture: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1065
Source told, police tried to control the situation and the magistrate any how took shelter of the police and rescued. Anguri Bala, Bhanu Rani and Laily Begum inhabitants of the lands alleged that some unknown hoodlums with the leadership of executive Magistrate directed them to leave their houses and in one stage they stated push them out from their possession, assaulted physically and looted belongings. Banamali Paul – President of Rangpur Puja Ujjapan Committee informed that some powerful land- grabbers manufactured some counterfeit documents and deeds for deception and to grab the land of erstwhile communist leader – Moni Krishna Sen. He also further stated that by those counterfeit documents they took loan from Agrani Bank but practically those lands were never transferred nor mortgaged. But ironically it was a drama to grab properties belonging to late Moni Krishna Sen. Mr. Paul also demanded exemplary punishment of the perpetrators responsible for demolition of Durga Devi and desecration of Hindu deities.
Please see our minority torture reports: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1068
http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1047
He also demanded quick justice and dismissal of executive magistrate Nazrul Islam. Dr.Mamun Convenor of “Moni Krishna Sen Memorial TEVAGA ANDOLAN Committee” expressed concern over the incident and demanded legal action against the perpetrators. Nazrul Islam Executive Magistrate informed that he went to disposes the illegal inhabitants with written permission from the competent authority with the help of police.
On the other hand, a minority College Student tortured as he attended death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman on 14thAugust, 2009 at Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj district in Bangladesh. Source: he daily Janakantha, 18th August, 2009. Sources said, BNP Activists tortured physically Sujan Mondal – a minority student of Murapara Degree College as the victim attended death Anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman on 14th August, 2009. It is learnt from the family members of the victim that while Sujan Mondal attended the function of death anniversary at village Tan Mushuri within Rupganj Upazila some hoodlums numbering 4/5 belong to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the leadership of Salam son of Rafique Meah enquired about why Sujan Mondal attended the function. On the spur of moment the hoodlums started beating Sujan indiscriminately with hock stick and bottle of Pepsi Cola and injured him seriously. They also tried to push broken bottle of Pepsi cola into his bally. Later he was taken to local Sahabashpur Hospital for admission with multiple injuries at Sahabazpur Hospital.
We think, know and broadly believe that, so-called institutionally educated intellectuals in Bangladesh are divided by our undemocratic and bad politics. In the same time our human rights leader-workers, journalists, professors, lawyers and other professionals are divided by political fascinations. When our nation came down in a bad situation, in spite of our politicians, political parties, professionals couldn’t unite. It’s a big tragedy for our nation.
‘If you like Bangladesh Awami League and if someone victimized by Awami League then you have don’t want to go with in favor of the said victim person’. Same situation comes when someone like BNP and someone victimized by BNP. In Bangladesh is a fact and true the above example. Though, in Bangladesh have some exceptionality. But, this type of people’s amount is not good.
So, for the protection of human rights and rule of law as well as democracy and peace should need to change our mind setup. And as human rights defender should have to do forget all kinds of political fascination for the greater interest of human rights and for as well as rights of minority. If you would have to say something for human rights then you should be impartial and should be universal for all. 4-9-2009.
Editor of the Human Rights Today
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
www.humanrifgtstoday.info
www.youtube.com/user/jaakashbd
Recently in Bangladesh was happened a gross human rights violation on Hindu minority. It was happened in northern part of Bangladesh. On 26th August, 2009 at noon some perpetrators with the help of Nazrul Islam, Magistrate and police entered into the premises of erstwhile communist leader Moni Krishna Sen situated at Mulatola Area of Rangpur town with a view to dispossess four Hindu families from the peaceful possession of their properties. Perpetrators with the help of police and Magistrate started throwing belongings, ulltencils of possessors, destroyed Durga structures situated thereon. But due to intervention and strong resistance of local people police and Magistrate could not disposes four Hindu families from there. Source: the daily Sangbad, 27th August, 2009.
Please see our previous report about minority repression: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1054
Sources said, The local people informed that at about 11.30am one hundred police along with some officers of Agrani Bank with the leadership of Nazrul Islam Executive Magistrate entered into the house of Late Moni Krishna Sen veteran communist leader and directed the inhabitants to leave and vacate the lands. In this opportunity some extortionists and hired goons came along with them, attacked temple, started destroying images of Durga Devi and other materials and looted belongings in front of executive Magistrate and police. As soon as the news of attack on temple thousands of people including women and children came forward and staged demonstration against illegal dispossession by the police and Magistrate. The executive Magistrate could not show any legal documents to anybody with regard to taking over. As a result of spontaneous demonstration, Magistrate and officers of Agrani Bank were confined into the house of Late Moni Krishna Sen. Please see our report about minority torture: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1065
Source told, police tried to control the situation and the magistrate any how took shelter of the police and rescued. Anguri Bala, Bhanu Rani and Laily Begum inhabitants of the lands alleged that some unknown hoodlums with the leadership of executive Magistrate directed them to leave their houses and in one stage they stated push them out from their possession, assaulted physically and looted belongings. Banamali Paul – President of Rangpur Puja Ujjapan Committee informed that some powerful land- grabbers manufactured some counterfeit documents and deeds for deception and to grab the land of erstwhile communist leader – Moni Krishna Sen. He also further stated that by those counterfeit documents they took loan from Agrani Bank but practically those lands were never transferred nor mortgaged. But ironically it was a drama to grab properties belonging to late Moni Krishna Sen. Mr. Paul also demanded exemplary punishment of the perpetrators responsible for demolition of Durga Devi and desecration of Hindu deities.
Please see our minority torture reports: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1068
http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1047
He also demanded quick justice and dismissal of executive magistrate Nazrul Islam. Dr.Mamun Convenor of “Moni Krishna Sen Memorial TEVAGA ANDOLAN Committee” expressed concern over the incident and demanded legal action against the perpetrators. Nazrul Islam Executive Magistrate informed that he went to disposes the illegal inhabitants with written permission from the competent authority with the help of police.
On the other hand, a minority College Student tortured as he attended death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman on 14thAugust, 2009 at Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj district in Bangladesh. Source: he daily Janakantha, 18th August, 2009. Sources said, BNP Activists tortured physically Sujan Mondal – a minority student of Murapara Degree College as the victim attended death Anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman on 14th August, 2009. It is learnt from the family members of the victim that while Sujan Mondal attended the function of death anniversary at village Tan Mushuri within Rupganj Upazila some hoodlums numbering 4/5 belong to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the leadership of Salam son of Rafique Meah enquired about why Sujan Mondal attended the function. On the spur of moment the hoodlums started beating Sujan indiscriminately with hock stick and bottle of Pepsi Cola and injured him seriously. They also tried to push broken bottle of Pepsi cola into his bally. Later he was taken to local Sahabashpur Hospital for admission with multiple injuries at Sahabazpur Hospital.
We think, know and broadly believe that, so-called institutionally educated intellectuals in Bangladesh are divided by our undemocratic and bad politics. In the same time our human rights leader-workers, journalists, professors, lawyers and other professionals are divided by political fascinations. When our nation came down in a bad situation, in spite of our politicians, political parties, professionals couldn’t unite. It’s a big tragedy for our nation.
‘If you like Bangladesh Awami League and if someone victimized by Awami League then you have don’t want to go with in favor of the said victim person’. Same situation comes when someone like BNP and someone victimized by BNP. In Bangladesh is a fact and true the above example. Though, in Bangladesh have some exceptionality. But, this type of people’s amount is not good.
So, for the protection of human rights and rule of law as well as democracy and peace should need to change our mind setup. And as human rights defender should have to do forget all kinds of political fascination for the greater interest of human rights and for as well as rights of minority. If you would have to say something for human rights then you should be impartial and should be universal for all. 4-9-2009.
Editor of the Human Rights Today
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
www.humanrifgtstoday.info
www.youtube.com/user/jaakashbd
Bangabondhu Bangladesh: August 15 in 1975 is a black-chapter
http://www.humanrightstoday.info/By Jahangir Alam Akash: Bangabondhu, Bangladesh and our independence have very closed relation. Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had one of the great nationalizes leader in the world. Bangabondhu (http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=714) was the pioneer and architect of independent Bangladesh and its sovereignty. His political prudence, indomitable courage, eloquence and powerful leadership motivated the countrymen to join in the war of liberation.
Bangabondhu proclaimed independence on March 26 in 1971 and the people dived into nine months long bloody battle and achieved the long desired sweetest freedom, He also gave restless effort to represent an esteemed Bangalee nation on the world stage. His golden-etched name will remain in the history of Bangalees and Bangladesh forever. But our nation has been waiting from 34 years for justice his brutal murders.
August 15 in 1975 is a black-chapter in the history of Bangalee nation. Bangabondhu and his family members were ruthlessly murdered by anti liberation force and with the help of army member in this day. And the nation incurred an irretrievable loss. The nation is deeply shocked and full with grief for this shameful incident. Now, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangabondhu is the main target by killer’s group especially Islamic militant group.
The country today observes National Mourning Day on the 34th death anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabondhu, with a vow to implement the longstanding High Court verdict in the case in connection with his murder. The day is a public holiday. The government chalked out nationwide programmes to observe the day at the state level. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (she is a daughter of Bangabondhu), will visit her father's grave at Tungipara under Gopalgonj district today. Along with ruling Awami League (AL), different political parties, and student and socio-cultural organizations also planned programmes to mourn the killings of Bangabondhu and most of his family members on this day in 1975. Three separate attacks on this day 34 years ago left 24 people killed. Bangabandhu's two daughters -- Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana -- could escape the bloodbath as they were abroad at the time. The victims also including wife of Bangabondhu Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and nine-year-old Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Parveen Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni and his wife Begum Arju Moni, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, 13-year-old Baby Serniabat, Serniabat's son Arif and four-year-old grandson Babu, three guests, Bangabondhu's four domestic helps, and his security chief Col Jamil Uddin Ahmed.
Bangabondhu united the Bangalees to throw off the shackles of Pakistani oppression and steered them towards independence. His stirring speech on March 7, 1971, before a crowd of lakhs ready to stake everything for freedom, left an indelible imprint on the nation's memory. For 21 long years, his killers had been immune from prosecution due to the Indemnity Ordinance, which was finally repealed in 1996, paving the way for trials of the killers. A murder case was filed on October 2, 1996. In November 1998, a trial court awarded death penalty to 15 former army officers for killing Bangabondhu and his family members. The High Court (HC) upheld the death sentences of 12. Five of the condemned -- dismissed army personnel Lt Col Syed Farooq-ur Rahman, Lt Col Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Lt Col Muhiuddin Ahmed, Maj AKM Mahiuddin Ahmed, and Maj Bazlul Huda -- are behind bars while six are hiding abroad. Another condemned Aziz Pasha died. The five condemned convicts filed separate appeals with the Appellate Division of Supreme Court in the last week of October 2007 against their death sentences pronounced by the HC.Law Minister Shafique Ahmed recently told journalists that hearings of the appeals will start soon as there is no shortage of judges in the Supreme Court now. The condemned six still at large are Shariful Haque Dalim, AKM Mahiuddin, Rashed Chowdhury, Nur Chowdhury, Abdul Mazed, and Moslemuddin.
In the daily Star published a special report on 15 August of 1975. The report says. Islamic radicalism, menacing the nation for years now, was something India and the United States learnt to dread soon after the assassination of Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Documents lately declassified by the US Office of the Historian show the apprehension had its roots in the perception that Bangabondhu's killers--all military officers--were “pro-US, anti-Soviet Union, Islamic, and less pro-Indian than the past leadership”.
The August 15 bloodbath in 1975 left Mujib and most of his family butchered and his party in total disarray. It led to the assumption that Pakistan would regain its sway on the nation it sought to subdue only a few years back. In the context of the cold war dynamics, India and the US were also concerned that China, which recognized Bangladesh only after August 1975, might help radical communist elements thrive in the delta sliding into militocracy. All these worries were reflected in a conversation between the then US secretary of state Henry Kissinger and Indian external minister YB Chavan.
The US Office of the Historian, which is responsible for preparation and publication of the official historical documentary record of American foreign policy, has transcript of the conversation that took place at the US Department of State on October 6, 1975. There, the discussion related to the developments in Bangladesh goes like this:
YB Chavan: The new president [Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed] has sent us assurances that he was standing by the same policy but we are concerned, in particular, whether the new government will take an extreme Islamic posture. This would create problems for the minority in Bangladesh. If the Hindus again feel insecure, there might be a new wave of refugees. Kissinger: Is there a large minority group in Bangladesh? Chavan: About 15%. It is a major factor. So far the new government (after Mujib killing) has given assurances it would follow the same policy as Mujib, but we are naturally worried about the influence of Pakistan on Bangladesh. Kissinger: What is your impression? Chavan: They have just announced diplomatic relations. This is a good thing. Even under Mujib we recommended this. We never wanted an exclusive relationship with Bangladesh. Our worry is only this: That they might try to give a different connotation to the situation by giving an Islamic twist to things. Also the Chinese recognized [Bangladesh] only after the coup. Frankly, we are worried. There are radical communist elements in Bangladesh which the Chinese might try to help. Here we hope the US and India will have a common approach.
After a while, Kissinger asked his Indian counterpart, “What is the tendency of the [Bangladesh] military? Is it anti-Indian?" Chavan replied, "Frankly, there is some anti-Indian tendency, I am sorry to say." At this point, Kewal Singh, the then secretary of Indian external affairs ministry, chipped in, "Some people hostile to Mujib were brought back. We don't want to give the impression we are concerned but pro-Islamic and pro-radical groups have some strength."
Chavan and Kissinger met the following day as well and talked about Bangladesh. Almost immediately they got down to serious talking about political ramifications of the August 15 coup d'état. Yet again, the Indian minister said, "We are worried about Bangladesh. Radical movements are already there. If Pakistan and China converse their efforts, this could pose a problem. This would be a new factor in South Asia which needs assessment." The secretary of state said, "Previously, the Chinese were opposed to Bangladesh. They were not among Mujib's admirers." As he asked if India had any advance indication of the coup, his opposite number replied, "None."
Kissinger then observed, "People are always complaining that we don't know about things in advance…They should realize that any coup that succeeds must have fooled someone. Mujib just couldn't have imagined that anyone would organize a coup against him. As I understand it, your relations with Bangladesh are now good. What you are concerned about is a future possibility.”
TN Kaul, the then Indian ambassador to the US, added, "The danger is Pan Islamism." At one point, Kissinger said, "The real worry would be if countries with resources like Saudi Arabia get radical leaders. Then there would be trouble." Kaul said, "One reason why we banned the Jamaat Islami and RSS is that these parties were getting money from the outside." The Kissinger-Chavan meeting gives an impression that none of the two countries had prior knowledge of the military takeover.
But the US state department's documents suggest quite the contrary. They show that like India, the US had gathered that something sinister was brewing, and it had even informed Bangabondhu about it. Minutes of a staff meeting headed by Kissinger after August 15, show that the US was well aware of the plot. There, Kissinger was heard enquiring Alfred Atherton Jr., assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern and South Asian affairs in 1974-1978, about the assassination. Atherton said the US had lots of indications in March that some quarters were scheming to kill Mujib. Kissinger asked, "Didn't we tell him [Mujib] about it?" The assistant secretary of state said, "We told him at the time." As his boss pressed to know if Bangabondhu was told who it was going to be, Atherton answered, "I will have to check whether we gave him the names." At that point, Hyland of Bureau of Intelligence and Research said, "We were a little imprecise on that."
Referring to the US alerting Bangabondhu to the danger of an attack on him, Atherton said, "He [Mujib] brushed it off, scoffed at it, and said nobody would do a thing like that to him." Kissinger remarked, "He was one of the world's prize fools." Talking about the coup leaders, Atherton said, "They are military officers, middle and senior officers, who are generally considered less pro-Indian than the past leadership; pro-US, anti-Soviet." The secretary of state responded, "Absolutely inevitable." And Atherton went on, "Islamic. They have changed the name to the Islamic Republic” Kissinger said, "That they would be pro-US was not inevitable. In fact, I would have thought at some turn of the wheel they were going to become pro-Chinese, and anti-Indian I firmly expected. I always knew India would rue the day that they made Bangladesh independent. I predicted that since '71."
Major Dalim, one of the on-the-run convicted killers of Bangabondhu, in a radio announcement soon after the killings declared the country would now be named "Islamic Republic of Bangladesh". The declaration which eventually did not materialise was a complete contrast to the secular ideals that stirred Bangalees to fight for independence from "Islamic Republic of Pakistan" in 1971.
Though the republic's name was spared a change, its constitution soon lost secular character. The original charter saw secularism dropped as one of its four fundamental principles. It also had 'Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim' in the preamble.
Even more alarming was the scrapping of the ban on religion-based political parties. During the rule of Ziaur Rahman, five parties including Jamaat-e-Islami, which collaborated with the Pakistani occupation forces and committed genocide and numerous atrocities during the Liberation War, were allowed to be in politics again. The government of independent Bangladesh in its first decision banned these parties that always oppose the nation's independence and thrive on communal disturbances. In the early 80s, the country's second military ruler HM Ershad introduced Islam as state religion, dealing a death blow to secularism.
The rise of Islamist militancy, once a fear, is a reality now, 34 years after the August 15 carnage. During the BNP-Jamaat-led rule in 2001-2006, Islamist outfits spread tentacles across the country thanks to patronage from some influential leaders of the ruling alliance. Though the BNP government woke up to the dangers of militancy towards the end of its tenure, it was too little too late. Now the task lies with Awami League-led grand alliance that came to power on promises that include the one to root out militancy. And at the centre stage in the combat against militancy is Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who herself had been the target of several attacks.
Now the peoples of Bangladesh have don’t want to bother any late to execute the killers of Bangabondhu. In the same time we want to see immediately the constitution of 1972 which was made after our independence. We want to see to our loving country Bangladesh as an actual democratic country, there will have rule of law, good governance, enough food for our poor peoples, nutrition for all children’s, there have no discrimination. Source: the daily Star & BD News24.com
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www.humanrightstoday.info
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Thursday, September 3, 2009
Nonstop state killings going on, haven’t right to life!
Nonstop state killings going on, haven’t right to life!
By Jahangir Alam Akash, Actually in Bangladesh hasn’t right to life. Though, Bangladesh has signed the Universal Declaration of human rights by UN. Almost, every day State killers ‘Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)’ have been killings to the peoples, those who are the citizens of Bangladesh. Nonstop state killings has going on there.
Two siblings, allegedly illegal arms and drugs peddlers, were killed in a 'shootout' at Vaturia in Jessore Sadar in Bangladesh on 3rd September, 2009. Source: the daily Star, 4th October, 2009. Killeds persons both are brother. The deceased were identified as Ahsan Kabir Hasan, 55, and his brother Mizanur Rahman Mizan, 45, sons of Tafsiruddin Biswas of Shankarpur village in the upazila. Please see our previous report about extra judicial killings: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1042
RAB told, RAB-6 recovered 12 firearms and 74 bullets from the spot while three members of RAB and two policemen were injured in the gunfight, said RAB-6 officials. Hasan and Mizan were arrested at Mirpur a in the capital on 2nd September, 2009. Please see our previous report about extra judicial killings: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1047
The battle took place when the law enforcers went to Jessore with the two brothers to recover firearms based on their confession. As soon as they reached the spot, the cohorts of the arrestees opened fire at the law enforcers forcing them to retaliate. Hasan and Mizan were caught in the line of fire while trying to flee. The brothers died on the spot, said the sources.
Sources said, Hasan was the chief of 'Hasan syndicate', which had been carrying out smuggling and arms and drugs peddling through the Indian border. The law enforcers, however, could arrest none of the cohorts. RAB and police sources said Hasan was accused in 22 cases, including eight of killing and three of robbery, while Mizan in 18 cases, including six murder cases. According to sources, of the cases filed against them, one was for four-murder. Please see our previous report about extra judicial killings: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1059
Sources said, the brothers were also accused in Udichi bomb-blast case. However, they were acquitted of the case as none dared to make statement against them. Hasan was ousted from the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal in 1988 for his involvement in robberies. Please see our previous report about extra judicial killings: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1039
Locals and police sources said, during the BNP-Jammat led four-party alliance government, the brothers continued smuggling, extortion and other criminal activities under the shelter of a local BNP minister. After the Awami League-led Grand Alliance government came to power, they took shelter under a powerful AL leader and were engaged in tender snatching in the city's Mirpur.
We know, in Bangladesh corruption is top to bottom. There are no rules of law, good governance, accountability, clearness, actual democracy, equality. All the institutional system is collapsed. Not only that, poverty, discrimination and torture are common picture in Bangladesh. Without political support can’t grownup terrorism or terrorists. But, unfortunately the political influentials are always in dark those who are patronize to terrorism-terrorists.
So, we strongly believe that, extra judicial killings are not a solution to combat terrorism. Extra judicial killings are never being a sustainable solution for combat terrorism. For combat terrorism should practice democracy, to reduce corruption and all kinds of discrimination and poverty. As well as, should need system and institutional development. 4-9-2009.
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
www.humanrifgtstoday.info
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Mutineer’s trial: which one lawful army rule or general law?
Mutineer’s trial: which one lawful army rule or general law?
By Jahangir Alam Akash, Who were the masterminds of so-called BDR mutiny nation couldn’t know. When would be clear about mutiny we don’t have no idea. Because, in Bangladesh after every incident from government side says, ‘we would find out the culprits and they should be punished’. But, after some day’s masterminds of the said incident goes to more dark. It’s a culture of Bangladesh. And the killers, criminals are always getting impunity.
On 25-26th February, 2009 at Pilkhana BDR headquarters some of BDR members were revolt and during that time they were mass killings to the meritorious army, looting their money, gold and other wealth’s, mass raped to army officers wife, daughter. By so-called mutineers killed at least 74 persons including 58 meritorious army officers. It was a gross human rights violation after the brutal killings of the father of the nation Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Bangladesh.
In spite of we want to do hope that, present government would disclose all the information behind the BDR mutiny to the nation. We believe that only for this, government has been doing something.
Bangladehis newspapers writes (4-9-2009) that, seven of the 10 amice curiae have given opinions against trying BDR personnel accused of different offences committed during the February 25-26 mutiny at the BDR headquarters under the army act. Advocate AF Hassan Ariff and advocate AFM Mesbahuddin were the last to tell the Supreme Court on 3rd September, 2009 that it is not possible to try these offences under the Army Act 1952. Earlier, advocate TH Khan, barrister M Amir-Ul Islam, Dr Kamal Hossain, advocate Mahmudul Islam and barrister Ajmalul Hossain reasoned that the trial of BDR mutineers is not possible under the military law since the BDR personnel are not guided by the law.
Sources said, two amici curiae (friends of court) barrister Rafique-Ul Huq and advocate Khandaker Mahbubuddin Ahmed--had said the mutiny can be tried under the military law by issuing notifications. Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, other amicus curiae in the hearing on presidential reference on the mode of the trial--said the reference is "premature" and suggested that the Supreme Court return it to the government.
Mr, T.H. Khan, Rafique-Ul Huq and Hassan Ariff also opposed the government move to send the reference to the Appellate Division through the president. The government itself can resolve the matter, they said during their submissions. The 11-member full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin, yesterday concluded the hearing on the reference after six days of deliberations by 10 amici curiae. Hassan Ariff told on 3rd September, 2009, the bench that the fundamental rights of the BDR personnel are not ensured under the military law. The provisions of the Army Act 1952 cannot be applied to the BDR personnel involved in the mutiny even through notifications to give the act retrospective effect, he said.
Same sources told, Mesbahuddin told the court that the offenders in the BDR mutiny can be tried at special tribunal under the existing laws. The facts behind the mutiny cannot be unearthed if the matter is not dealt with in the court, he said. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, however, told the court that the offences committed at the Pilkhana BDR headquarters can be tried under the army act by giving it retrospective effect through a notification. He later told newsmen that the Supreme Court will now send its opinion to the president on the reference. The Supreme Court appointed the 10 senior lawyers as amici curiae on August 19 for hearing their opinions on the presidential reference on whether the offences committed during the BDR mutiny can be tried under the military law.
We want to see fair trial about the real and accused mutineer. We know that, some BDR members already died after torture during the detention. Whole nation are waiting for see the justice regarding BDR mutiny. We also want to see the enquiry report about BDR mutiny and killings. 04-09-२००९
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
www.humanrifgtstoday.info
www.youtube.com/user/jaakashbd
By Jahangir Alam Akash, Who were the masterminds of so-called BDR mutiny nation couldn’t know. When would be clear about mutiny we don’t have no idea. Because, in Bangladesh after every incident from government side says, ‘we would find out the culprits and they should be punished’. But, after some day’s masterminds of the said incident goes to more dark. It’s a culture of Bangladesh. And the killers, criminals are always getting impunity.
On 25-26th February, 2009 at Pilkhana BDR headquarters some of BDR members were revolt and during that time they were mass killings to the meritorious army, looting their money, gold and other wealth’s, mass raped to army officers wife, daughter. By so-called mutineers killed at least 74 persons including 58 meritorious army officers. It was a gross human rights violation after the brutal killings of the father of the nation Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Bangladesh.
In spite of we want to do hope that, present government would disclose all the information behind the BDR mutiny to the nation. We believe that only for this, government has been doing something.
Bangladehis newspapers writes (4-9-2009) that, seven of the 10 amice curiae have given opinions against trying BDR personnel accused of different offences committed during the February 25-26 mutiny at the BDR headquarters under the army act. Advocate AF Hassan Ariff and advocate AFM Mesbahuddin were the last to tell the Supreme Court on 3rd September, 2009 that it is not possible to try these offences under the Army Act 1952. Earlier, advocate TH Khan, barrister M Amir-Ul Islam, Dr Kamal Hossain, advocate Mahmudul Islam and barrister Ajmalul Hossain reasoned that the trial of BDR mutineers is not possible under the military law since the BDR personnel are not guided by the law.
Sources said, two amici curiae (friends of court) barrister Rafique-Ul Huq and advocate Khandaker Mahbubuddin Ahmed--had said the mutiny can be tried under the military law by issuing notifications. Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, other amicus curiae in the hearing on presidential reference on the mode of the trial--said the reference is "premature" and suggested that the Supreme Court return it to the government.
Mr, T.H. Khan, Rafique-Ul Huq and Hassan Ariff also opposed the government move to send the reference to the Appellate Division through the president. The government itself can resolve the matter, they said during their submissions. The 11-member full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin, yesterday concluded the hearing on the reference after six days of deliberations by 10 amici curiae. Hassan Ariff told on 3rd September, 2009, the bench that the fundamental rights of the BDR personnel are not ensured under the military law. The provisions of the Army Act 1952 cannot be applied to the BDR personnel involved in the mutiny even through notifications to give the act retrospective effect, he said.
Same sources told, Mesbahuddin told the court that the offenders in the BDR mutiny can be tried at special tribunal under the existing laws. The facts behind the mutiny cannot be unearthed if the matter is not dealt with in the court, he said. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, however, told the court that the offences committed at the Pilkhana BDR headquarters can be tried under the army act by giving it retrospective effect through a notification. He later told newsmen that the Supreme Court will now send its opinion to the president on the reference. The Supreme Court appointed the 10 senior lawyers as amici curiae on August 19 for hearing their opinions on the presidential reference on whether the offences committed during the BDR mutiny can be tried under the military law.
We want to see fair trial about the real and accused mutineer. We know that, some BDR members already died after torture during the detention. Whole nation are waiting for see the justice regarding BDR mutiny. We also want to see the enquiry report about BDR mutiny and killings. 04-09-२००९
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
www.humanrifgtstoday.info
www.youtube.com/user/jaakashbd
After raped cut her hair, because she is a Hindu women!
By Jahangir Alam Akash, Women and children’s are very vulnerable situation in Bangladesh. Generally, women and children’s torture-rape and killings are another common practice here. Various type of torture has been happening on women and children’s.Especially, minority means Hindu, Christian, Indigenous, Buddhist women-children’s are most vulnerable position. Another gross human rights violation was happened on a Hindu minority woman in Bangladesh. They are always in fearing for their life and security.The Local Influential boycotted & cut the hair of Hindu-Dalit raped victim because Muslim perpetrator raped her at Kaonia Upazila of Rangpur District in Bangladesh. Source: the daily Sangbad, 1 September, 2009 (through Adv.Rabindra Ghosh, President-Bangladesh Minority Watch). Please see our previous report: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1015Sources said, Ms.Sabita Rani (25) a raped destitute Hindu-Dalit woman prayed for punishment of rapist- Jewel Kha and as a result the powerful social leaders cut her hair and boycotted herself and her family members. The leaders also threatened her mother and younger brother for dire consequence if she continues to stay at the village. This peculiar incident occurred at village Nilam Kharida Sadar Taluk within Kaonia Upazila of Rangpur district in Bangladesh.Police and the local people informed perpetrator- Jewel Kha (30) son of Kalu Kha of village- Kharida Sadra of said Upazila used to harass sexually Ms.Sabita Rani (25) wife of Subash Chandra occasionally. On 19thAugust, 2009, Jewel Kha at night entered into her house as she was alone there and raped her. On the next day also Jewel Kha took her away within BRAC School and raped her again without her will while the victim was coming towards her home after her work.The victim first of all informed her old mother and thereafter her mother informed the matter to some Hindu social leaders – namely a) Prafullah, b) Chitta, Chandan, Shymol and Monolova. The social leaders rather cut hair of the raped-victim giving no legal justice to her and ostracized. They also intimidated and threatened raped-victim to leave village if she disagree with their proposal. In this connection a case has been filed (Case No.15 dated 26.08.2009 under section 9(1) of Nari-O-Shishu Nirjatan Ain, 2003) against Jewel Kha with Kawnia police station. But, police didn’t arrest perpetrator. Md. Rafiul Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Kaonia police station informed that as the religion permits if any Dalit Hindu is raped by Muslim perpetrator the raped will be outcaste and subject to atonement.In Bangladesh has no rule of law, so the perpetrators are always getting impunity from the state. Really, we are very sorry as a Banglee that we can’t give security to our minority peoples. Actually in Bangladesh, most of the peoples are not secure.Not only that, now is Bangladesh an Islamic country as constitution. Though, Bangladesh has got independence after nine months struggled with the real secularism. And after independence we were got a secular constitution in 1972 leded by our father of the nation Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.Bangabondhu was killed (15 August, 1975) by army with his most of the family members except his two daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehena. After his killings the military rulers has broken our main constitution of 1972. Then they made to Bangladesh as an Islamic country. They have put Islam to our constitution. It was our black spot on 15 August, 1975. Still we are struggling for a secular Bangladesh.We believe that, without actual democracy, rule of law, good governance we can’t to develop or positive change to our system like judiciary, administrative, politics as well as we never to go to light. 2-9-2009
Journalists attacked by government party men
Journalist’s repression is going on in Bangladesh। After Maymensingh and Rajshahi now were happened journalist repressions in Chuadanga. Chattra League and Jubo League cadres (a part of ruling party Bangladesh Awami League) were ransacked and burnt to the office and business centre of journalists.Local journalists were published reports against local Member of Parliament (MP) and Mayor on 28th August, 2009. MP Solaiman Huq Zoarder and his brother Mayor Riazul Islam are closed with ruling party. So that, their supporters were angry with journalists those who were wrote reports against MP and Mayor. Source: the daily Prothom-Alo.On 1st September supporters of MP and Mayor were brought out a procession in the city of Chuadanga. The agitators were burnt some copies of Prothom-Alo and Amardesh at Shahid Hasan point. And then they were set fire to the business center of Dalim Hossen. Dalim is a local correspondent of the daily Amardesh. After receiving information the firemen came in the spot and they were control fire. In the same time ruling party cadres were ransacked the office of Razib Hasans. Journalist Razib is the correspondent of the daily Janakantha. Later at night they were attacked to the house of journalist Dalim. Please see our previous report: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=993Another journalist tortured by ruling party men in BangladeshAnother journalist Saidur Rahman Nazu was tortured by a ruling party leader at Puthia under Rajshahi district in Bangladesh on 17th August, 2009. He was admitted to the local health complex. But, after continuously threatening he was flew from the local hospital. And now he is in the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). Still the perpetrator has giving threat to him. In this situation, Mr. Nazu has feared about his security. Journalist Nazu is working for news agency of News Network of Bangladesh (NNB). And he is well known journalist in Rajshahi region.Sources said that, journalist Saidur Rahman Nazu was attacked by the leader of Abdul Malek and his associates. Mr. Malek is the general secretary of ruling party Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) Puthia municipality unit. Journalist Nazu was came at Puthia bazaar on 17th August, 2009 at morning. In that time Mr. Makek and his associates were attacked on Nazu. They were kicking, slapping and beating to him. So, he was severely injured. Local peoples took him to the Puthia health complex hurray. The perpetrator took mobile set and important documents from Nazu.After happened this incident local journalists asked to Mr. Malek about the event. Then he told that, ‘Nazu is a bloody man. On Sunday (16th August) he asked to our member of parliament (MP) Abdul Oadud Dara about so-called four lac taka bribe taken from someone. For this, we were beaten him. Again we beat him. Because still his punish has not enough. We heard that he has been admitted in the hospital. We go to hospital.’ Local MP Mr. Dara said to the journalists, ‘journalist tortured is not wise decisions. I will take serious action against the perpetrators.’ But, Mr. Dara were took Mr. Malek with his car and gone from the spot.Not only that, after that some supporters of local MP were came to the local Puthia health complex led by Awlad. Mr. Awlad is the general secretary of ruling party youth front Jubo League Puthia unit. They tried to taken journalist Nazu and go outside from hospital for several times. For security reson Nazu was flew from the local hospital and admitted in the RMCH.Rajshahi Union of Journalists (RUJ) president Hasan Millat and general secretary Shiblee Noman only gave their condemn and wants to punish the perpetrator about the said tortured incident. But, we think that this is not enough from RUJ as a journalist community organization or a trade union. Although we understand that, the perpetrator is belong with ruling party and the RUJ leaders also believe with same party. So, how could they take big programme? If the perpetrator was belong with opposition then the RUJ leaders will take big demonstration. See more information about journalists killings-tortured in Bangladesh: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=827When I was the general secretary of RUJ I was totally illegally victimized by state as well as some corrupted political leaders including Awami League. In that time also the RUJ leaders were nothing to do about press freedom. So, please visit and see the problem of press freedom in Bangladesh: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=931Today I was searched in internet the newspapers of Bangladesh. But, I didn’t found the news about tortured of journalist Nazu. It is very unfortunate for press freedom.As a professional journalist I urge that, please come and unit for our press freedom and should forget your political fascination. Otherwise, every day will hamper the press freedom. We demand to the present government, please should arrest and punish the perpetrator those who were involved with journalist’s killings and torturing.In mention, last 16 years 24 journalists were killed by terrorists. But, the killers and masterminds of the journalist’s killings are getting impunity. Without rule of law and actual democracy we can’t hope for justice.
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
www.humanrightstoday.info
http://www.youtube.com/user/jaakashbd
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
www.humanrightstoday.info
http://www.youtube.com/user/jaakashbd
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Is Bangladesh a civilized country?
By Jahangir Alam Akash, Minority torture and extra judicial killings are going on in Bangladesh! When will be stop and why government shouldn’t take action against the actors of minority and state torture? Every day, in Bangladesh has been killings, attempted to murder, torturing and other inhumanity. Bangladesh is a democratic and civilized country? How could we say that it’s a civilized and democratic country? Without human rights, rule of law how we could say that Bangladesh is a democratic country?
A gang of criminals attacked three Hindu families at Dighalkandi Sahapara village in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi Monday (31-08-2009) night, injuring 12 people. Source: the daily Star. Police and locals said the hoodlums also looted five houses and shops during the attack in an attempt to grab land of those families. Of the injured, Profulla Chandra Saha, his wife Bijli Rani Saha and brother Bijoy Saha, Sukumar, Chand and Nomita were admitted to Puthia Health Complex in a critical condition.
Sources said around 30 criminals, believed to be BNP-Jamaat cadres, made the attack and damaged houses of vanpuller Bijoy, Sukumar and Uttam. They also looted the grocery shop of Sukumar and stitching shop of Uttam's wife Nomita during the attack. Local sources said criminals of neighbouring Kacharipara village beat up two youths--Nayan and Sujon--at Sahapara on August 27, 2009. Following the incident, a total of 35 people of 10 Hindu families filed a general diary (GD) with the local police station expressing their insecurity. After filing of the GD, the gang attacked the three families on the night. The villagers alleged that the attackers hurled filthy abuses toward them during the attack for supporting Awami League (AL) during the last general election. Sources also said, criminals have been trying to grab the land of the Hindu families of Dighalkandi village for long.
Local sources told, “There were a number of Hindu families in the village. Most of them fled away to save their lives and some families are still living there bearing the brunt of adversity." Shibesh Saha, a villager told, “We have nowhere to go. Where we go, the miscreants are trailing us. We are so scared that many of us cannot work.”
A case was filed with Puthia Police against 25 persons including Abul, Jahangir, Aiyub, Arif and Shahabuddin of Kacharipara village. But, administration hasn’t taken any action against the perpetrators, still. Please see our previous report about minority oppression: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1054
RAB & extra judicial killings!
Extra judicial killings are very well known subject in Bangladesh. RAB and other law enforcing agencies have doing extra judicial killings by violating the constitution. But, the government as well as our judiciary hasn’t say anything regarding this human rights violation by state.
An accused ‘criminal’ sustained bullet injury in a 'shootout' with Rapid Action Battalion in the capital city's Motijheel yesterday (1-9-2009). Law enforcers told, Ismail Hossain Lalu alias Rocket Lalu, 34, of Jatrabari, is an accomplice of "Foreign" Kuddus, one of the top listed criminals in Motijheel area.
RAB says, when a patrol team of Rab-3 moved to arrest a gang of three to four criminals in front of Motijheel Ideal School and College, the criminals opened fire on them. As the Rab personnel retaliated, a gunfight ensued. Lalu was found lying at the spot bullet-hit in his left leg after the shootout. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Police arrested him but his accomplices managed to flee. A revolver and three bullets were recovered from the spot.
RAB sources said Lalu confessed his involvement in killing trader Anwar at the capital's Shapla Chattar on September 27, 2008. Lalu was also involved in extortion and an accused in several cases including arms cases with Motijheel and Sabujbagh police stations.
Our questions that, how were flew the accomplices of the said terrorist? Actually, RAB always is giving totally false statement to the press. And press also doesn’t investigate about extra judicial killings and the statement of RAB.
Please see our previous report about state torture or extra judicial killings: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1039
We strongly believe that, without real democracy, rule of law, good governance, how we could hope that the government does punish the real culprits and masterminds of minority torture as well as other human rights violation?
We are waiting eagerly for to see the execution of war criminals, killers of the father of the nation Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and killers of the four national leaders as well as we want to see that, the present government should established the constitution of 1972 and to stop the politics which are based on religious. 1-9-2009
Editor, the Human Rights Today
http://www.humanrightstoday.info/
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
A gang of criminals attacked three Hindu families at Dighalkandi Sahapara village in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi Monday (31-08-2009) night, injuring 12 people. Source: the daily Star. Police and locals said the hoodlums also looted five houses and shops during the attack in an attempt to grab land of those families. Of the injured, Profulla Chandra Saha, his wife Bijli Rani Saha and brother Bijoy Saha, Sukumar, Chand and Nomita were admitted to Puthia Health Complex in a critical condition.
Sources said around 30 criminals, believed to be BNP-Jamaat cadres, made the attack and damaged houses of vanpuller Bijoy, Sukumar and Uttam. They also looted the grocery shop of Sukumar and stitching shop of Uttam's wife Nomita during the attack. Local sources said criminals of neighbouring Kacharipara village beat up two youths--Nayan and Sujon--at Sahapara on August 27, 2009. Following the incident, a total of 35 people of 10 Hindu families filed a general diary (GD) with the local police station expressing their insecurity. After filing of the GD, the gang attacked the three families on the night. The villagers alleged that the attackers hurled filthy abuses toward them during the attack for supporting Awami League (AL) during the last general election. Sources also said, criminals have been trying to grab the land of the Hindu families of Dighalkandi village for long.
Local sources told, “There were a number of Hindu families in the village. Most of them fled away to save their lives and some families are still living there bearing the brunt of adversity." Shibesh Saha, a villager told, “We have nowhere to go. Where we go, the miscreants are trailing us. We are so scared that many of us cannot work.”
A case was filed with Puthia Police against 25 persons including Abul, Jahangir, Aiyub, Arif and Shahabuddin of Kacharipara village. But, administration hasn’t taken any action against the perpetrators, still. Please see our previous report about minority oppression: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1054
RAB & extra judicial killings!
Extra judicial killings are very well known subject in Bangladesh. RAB and other law enforcing agencies have doing extra judicial killings by violating the constitution. But, the government as well as our judiciary hasn’t say anything regarding this human rights violation by state.
An accused ‘criminal’ sustained bullet injury in a 'shootout' with Rapid Action Battalion in the capital city's Motijheel yesterday (1-9-2009). Law enforcers told, Ismail Hossain Lalu alias Rocket Lalu, 34, of Jatrabari, is an accomplice of "Foreign" Kuddus, one of the top listed criminals in Motijheel area.
RAB says, when a patrol team of Rab-3 moved to arrest a gang of three to four criminals in front of Motijheel Ideal School and College, the criminals opened fire on them. As the Rab personnel retaliated, a gunfight ensued. Lalu was found lying at the spot bullet-hit in his left leg after the shootout. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Police arrested him but his accomplices managed to flee. A revolver and three bullets were recovered from the spot.
RAB sources said Lalu confessed his involvement in killing trader Anwar at the capital's Shapla Chattar on September 27, 2008. Lalu was also involved in extortion and an accused in several cases including arms cases with Motijheel and Sabujbagh police stations.
Our questions that, how were flew the accomplices of the said terrorist? Actually, RAB always is giving totally false statement to the press. And press also doesn’t investigate about extra judicial killings and the statement of RAB.
Please see our previous report about state torture or extra judicial killings: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1039
We strongly believe that, without real democracy, rule of law, good governance, how we could hope that the government does punish the real culprits and masterminds of minority torture as well as other human rights violation?
We are waiting eagerly for to see the execution of war criminals, killers of the father of the nation Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and killers of the four national leaders as well as we want to see that, the present government should established the constitution of 1972 and to stop the politics which are based on religious. 1-9-2009
Editor, the Human Rights Today
http://www.humanrightstoday.info/
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
After raped cut her hair, because she is a Hindu women!
By Jahangir Alam Akash, Women and children’s are very vulnerable situation in Bangladesh. Generally, women and children’s torture-rape and killings are another common practice here. Various type of torture has been happening on women and children’s.
Especially, minority means Hindu, Christian, Indigenous, Buddhist women-children’s are most vulnerable position. Another gross human rights violation was happened on a Hindu minority woman in Bangladesh. They are always in fearing for their life and security.
The Local Influential boycotted & cut the hair of Hindu-Dalit raped victim because Muslim perpetrator raped her at Kaonia Upazila of Rangpur District in Bangladesh. Source: the daily Sangbad, 1 September, 2009 (through Adv.Rabindra Ghosh, President-Bangladesh Minority Watch). Please see our previous report: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1015
Sources said, Ms.Sabita Rani (25) a raped destitute Hindu-Dalit woman prayed for punishment of rapist- Jewel Kha and as a result the powerful social leaders cut her hair and boycotted herself and her family members. The leaders also threatened her mother and younger brother for dire consequence if she continues to stay at the village. This peculiar incident occurred at village Nilam Kharida Sadar Taluk within Kaonia Upazila of Rangpur district in Bangladesh.
Police and the local people informed perpetrator- Jewel Kha (30) son of Kalu Kha of village- Kharida Sadra of said Upazila used to harass sexually Ms.Sabita Rani (25) wife of Subash Chandra occasionally. On 19thAugust, 2009, Jewel Kha at night entered into her house as she was alone there and raped her. On the next day also Jewel Kha took her away within BRAC School and raped her again without her will while the victim was coming towards her home after her work.
The victim first of all informed her old mother and thereafter her mother informed the matter to some Hindu social leaders – namely a) Prafullah, b) Chitta, Chandan, Shymol and Monolova. The social leaders rather cut hair of the raped-victim giving no legal justice to her and ostracized. They also intimidated and threatened raped-victim to leave village if she disagree with their proposal. In this connection a case has been filed (Case No.15 dated 26.08.2009 under section 9(1) of Nari-O-Shishu Nirjatan Ain, 2003) against Jewel Kha with Kawnia police station. But, police didn’t arrest perpetrator. Md. Rafiul Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Kaonia police station informed that as the religion permits if any Dalit Hindu is raped by Muslim perpetrator the raped will be outcaste and subject to atonement.
In Bangladesh has no rule of law, so the perpetrators are always getting impunity from the state. Really, we are very sorry as a Banglee that we can’t give security to our minority peoples. Actually in Bangladesh, most of the peoples are not secure.
Not only that, now is Bangladesh an Islamic country as constitution. Though, Bangladesh has got independence after nine months struggled with the real secularism. And after independence we were got a secular constitution in 1972 leded by our father of the nation Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bangabondhu was killed (15 August, 1975) by army with his most of the family members except his two daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehena. After his killings the military rulers has broken our main constitution of 1972. Then they made to Bangladesh as an Islamic country. They have put Islam to our constitution. It was our black spot on 15 August, 1975. Still we are struggling for a secular Bangladesh.
We believe that, without actual democracy, rule of law, good governance we can’t to develop or positive change to our system like judiciary, administrative, politics as well as we never to go to light. 2-9-2009
Editor, the Human Rights Today
http://www.humanrightstoday.info/
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
Especially, minority means Hindu, Christian, Indigenous, Buddhist women-children’s are most vulnerable position. Another gross human rights violation was happened on a Hindu minority woman in Bangladesh. They are always in fearing for their life and security.
The Local Influential boycotted & cut the hair of Hindu-Dalit raped victim because Muslim perpetrator raped her at Kaonia Upazila of Rangpur District in Bangladesh. Source: the daily Sangbad, 1 September, 2009 (through Adv.Rabindra Ghosh, President-Bangladesh Minority Watch). Please see our previous report: http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=1015
Sources said, Ms.Sabita Rani (25) a raped destitute Hindu-Dalit woman prayed for punishment of rapist- Jewel Kha and as a result the powerful social leaders cut her hair and boycotted herself and her family members. The leaders also threatened her mother and younger brother for dire consequence if she continues to stay at the village. This peculiar incident occurred at village Nilam Kharida Sadar Taluk within Kaonia Upazila of Rangpur district in Bangladesh.
Police and the local people informed perpetrator- Jewel Kha (30) son of Kalu Kha of village- Kharida Sadra of said Upazila used to harass sexually Ms.Sabita Rani (25) wife of Subash Chandra occasionally. On 19thAugust, 2009, Jewel Kha at night entered into her house as she was alone there and raped her. On the next day also Jewel Kha took her away within BRAC School and raped her again without her will while the victim was coming towards her home after her work.
The victim first of all informed her old mother and thereafter her mother informed the matter to some Hindu social leaders – namely a) Prafullah, b) Chitta, Chandan, Shymol and Monolova. The social leaders rather cut hair of the raped-victim giving no legal justice to her and ostracized. They also intimidated and threatened raped-victim to leave village if she disagree with their proposal. In this connection a case has been filed (Case No.15 dated 26.08.2009 under section 9(1) of Nari-O-Shishu Nirjatan Ain, 2003) against Jewel Kha with Kawnia police station. But, police didn’t arrest perpetrator. Md. Rafiul Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Kaonia police station informed that as the religion permits if any Dalit Hindu is raped by Muslim perpetrator the raped will be outcaste and subject to atonement.
In Bangladesh has no rule of law, so the perpetrators are always getting impunity from the state. Really, we are very sorry as a Banglee that we can’t give security to our minority peoples. Actually in Bangladesh, most of the peoples are not secure.
Not only that, now is Bangladesh an Islamic country as constitution. Though, Bangladesh has got independence after nine months struggled with the real secularism. And after independence we were got a secular constitution in 1972 leded by our father of the nation Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bangabondhu was killed (15 August, 1975) by army with his most of the family members except his two daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehena. After his killings the military rulers has broken our main constitution of 1972. Then they made to Bangladesh as an Islamic country. They have put Islam to our constitution. It was our black spot on 15 August, 1975. Still we are struggling for a secular Bangladesh.
We believe that, without actual democracy, rule of law, good governance we can’t to develop or positive change to our system like judiciary, administrative, politics as well as we never to go to light. 2-9-2009
Editor, the Human Rights Today
http://www.humanrightstoday.info/
jahangiralamakash@gmail.com
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Jahangir Alam Akash-Editor of Euro Bangla
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- Jahangir Alam Akash-Editor Euro Bangla
- Germany
- Jahangir Alam Akash Editor Euro Bangla http://www.eurobangla.org/ editor.eurobangla@yahoo.de http://youtube.com/user/jaakashbd
