Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that the Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police kidnapped a businessman and forced his family to pay ransom after torturing him while in incommunicado detention on 18 May. After being released from police custody he has received numerous death threats from police following his filing of a complaint with the Court. The police are trying to force him to withdraw the case. The man is now in hiding in order to save his life.
CASE DETAILS: (On the basis of interviews of the victim and witnesses, and documents received from relevant offices)
On 18 May 2010 at around 9pm four persons wearing plain clothes came to the office of the Zahir Dairy Farm located on the ground floor of a building owned by Mr. Md. Zahirul Haque Babul, a 55-year old businessman and owner of the Zahir Dairy Farm, at the South Manda area under the jurisdiction of the Sabuzbag police station. Mr. Babul was talking to some visitors, including Mr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Md. Bokhitiar Uddin Sagar, Md. Faisal Ahmed Zaman, Md. Amir Hossain Sabel, Md. Shamim, Md. Babul, Md. Moktar Hossain, Md. Joynal, Md. Rubel, Md. Akkas Mian and Md. Badal in his office room.
One of the four persons introduced himself as Police Sub-Inspector (SI) of the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mr. Golam Kibria. Mr. Kibria and his companions forcibly took Babul into a vehicle with registration number: Dhaka Metro-Tha-11-6067. The vehicle reached an open-air field of the AGB Colony, a public housing estate at Motijheel area, a few kilometers from South Manda. On the way Babul saw that the police vehicle was being followed all the way by another private car. While in the vehicle he was beaten with sticks and kicked.
After arriving at the AGB Colony Babul saw another plain clothed person came from the private car. The man was identified as Assistant Commissioner (AC) of the DB of the DMP, Mr. Motiur Rahman. SI Kibria demanded 2 million Taka (USD 29,000.00) from Babul, who refused to pay saying that it was unaffordable for him. SI Kibria then showed a box containing 67 Yaba tablets, a Burmese drug which has recently become available in Bangladesh. Babul was told that if the demanded amount is not paid the police would fabricate a drug trading case against him. The police said that they will produce him before the Court on the following morning in a drug smuggling case. When Babul again expressed his inability to pay the bribe the police officers blindfolded and handcuffed him. They took him in their vehicle to another open-air field adjacent to a public graveyard at Azimpur area. The police officers again punched and kicked him before attempting to remove Babul’s fingernails and toenails and to crush his penis with nose-pliers. The officers also pointed a pistol at his head and threatened to kill him on the pretext of a “crossfire”. Having been scared for his life by the police torture and ongoing death threats Babul agreed to pay the demanded ransom to save his life.
A police officer called Babul’s wife from his cell phone (number +880 1823 457336) and asked her to bring the money. They forced Babul to speak to his wife asking her to bring the money to the Moghbazar level crossing area of the city. Five relatives of Babul, including his nephew and son-in-law, Mr. Abul Kalam, brought BDT 100,000.00 (USD 1,450.00). The police took the money from Babul’s son-in-law taking him inside a police vehicle, which had registration number: Dhaka Metro-Tha-11-6067. The police officers later released Babul onto a street near the Ramna police station of the city of Dhaka at around 2am on 19 May on the condition that Babul withdrew money from his bank to pay the remaining BDT 400,000.00 (USD 5,800.00) by around 11am of the same date. The police forced Babul to sign blank pieces of paper before releasing him. An audiovisual interview of one of the witnesses can be viewed here:
At around 12:15pm, Babul’s wife, Mrs. Bilkis Begum received a call in her cell phone from number +8801711935880. The caller introduced himself as SI Kibria and demanded the remaining amount. Kibria asked Babul’s relatives to go immediately to the front gate of the DB Police Office at Minto Road to hand over the money to the police. They made several phone calls threatening Babul and his relatives to pay the money.
Having no affordable means of paying Babul and his relatives went to the Sabuzbag police station to lodge a complaint regarding the kidnapping and extortion of ransom by the DB police officers. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Sabuzbag police Mr. Asaduzzaman refused to register the complaint saying that “We cannot record a complaint against any police officer without permission from the DC (Deputy Commissioner of the relevant jurisdiction of the DMP)”. However, the police kept a copy of the complaint.
Meanwhile, the DB police officers, who were allegedly involved in kidnapping Babul, learned from the Sabuzbag police that Babul went to the station to register a complaint against them. They then repeatedly threatened Babul over the phone saying they would kill him in a “crossfire” if the demanded money not was paid and if there is any attempt to lodge any complaint on this regard.
On 21 May at 10:30pm, the DB Assistant Commissioner (AC) Mr. Motiur Rahman went to Babul’s house accompanied by Mr. Mosaraf Hossain Bahar, general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League’s Sabuzbag unit, Mr. Mohammed Lutfur Rahman, publicity secretary, and Mohammed Samidul Huq Goga, secretary of Manda union unit. The police officer and the ruling party politicians threatened to kill Babul if he complains about the incident. The AC took Babul’s picture with his mobile phone camera. The police officer also warned Babul’s relatives not to take the incident any further.
On 23 May, Babul went to the Chief Metropolitan Judicial Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka and filed a petition case (Complaint Registrar Case No. 2246/2010) under Sections 448, 307, 323, 365, 385, 386, 506 and 34 of the Penal Code 1860. The Magistrate ordered a judicial probe headed by a Metropolitan Magistrate, however, he did not issue any warrant of arrest against the alleged police officers. Later, it was revealed that Metropolitan Magistrate Ms. Shamima Parvin was assigned to conduct the judicial probe. The head of the one-member judicial probe committee Ms. Shamima Parvin issued a notice to the complainant and all the witnesses of the case, filed by Babul, to appear before the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court No.13 of Dhaka on 14 June to testify.
Since the complaint was registered with the Court the police officers have increased their death threats against Babul via mobile phones and through local leaders of the ruling political party. Due to these continuous death threats Babul has gone into hiding in an undisclosed location.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities below asking that they immediately intervene in this case and ensure that the case is credibly investigated by the judicial probe committee. Those found to have been involved in the kidnapping and subsequent torture and collection of ransom in this case must be prosecuted without delay. The families of the victims and the witnesses must be afforded adequate protection from any further harassment and threats from law enforcement agents.
Please note that the Asian Human Rights Commission has written a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteurs on Torture requesting his prompt intervention in this case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
BANGLADESH: Detective Branch Police forced businessman to pay ransom after kidnapping and torture- victim goes into hiding due to threats after filing complaint
Name of the victim: Mr. Md. Zahirul Haque Babul, aged 55, son of late Mr. Siddiqur Rahman, living in South Manda under the jurisdiction of the Sabuzbag police station in Dhaka Metropolitan city
Name of the alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Matiur Rahman, Assistant Commission (AC)
2. Mr. Golam Kibria, Sub-Inspector of Police
3. Four personnel of the police- all are attached to the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in Dhaka
4. Mr. Asaduzzaman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Sabuzbag police station of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in Dhaka
Date of kidnapping: 18 May 2010
Place of kidnapping: Zahir Dairy Farm (Victim’s business company) at South Manda under the jurisdiction of Sabuzbag police station in Dhaka Metropolitan City
I am writing to express my serious concern over the risk to the life of Mr. Md. Zahirul Haque Babul due to death threats from the police officers of the Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). The officers kidnapped Babul from his office at around 9pm on 18 May 2010 and forced his relatives to pay BDT 100,000.00 (USD 1450.00) ransom for his release from police custody. The police officers have continued to threaten him for filing a complaint, which Babul registered with the Chief Metropolitan Judicial Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka related to his kidnap and ransom. Babul has now gone into hiding to save his life from the threats of the police officers. I demand a credible investigation into this alleged kidnapping and extortion of ransom by the Detective Branch officers.
According to information I have received, four persons wearing plain clothes forcibly kidnapped Mr. Md. Zahirul Haque Babul, from his office at the South Manda area under the jurisdiction of the Sabuzbag police station. One of the four persons introduced himself as SI Mr. Golam Kibria of the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). Despite the protests by some visitors, including Mr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Md. Bokhitiar Uddin Sagar, Md. Faisal Ahmed Zaman, Md. Amir Hossain Sabel, Md. Shamim, Md. Babul, Md. Moktar Hossain, Md. Joynal, Md. Rubel, Md. Akkas Mian and Md. Badal, the police picked up Babul in a vehicle, which had registration number: Dhaka Metro-Tha-11-6067.
Babul was beaten with sticks and kicked once inside the vehicle. On the way he saw a private car was following the police vehicle. The vehicle went to an open-air field of the AGB Colony, a public housing estate at Motijheel area.
After arriving at the AGB Colony Babul saw another plain clothed person come from the private car. The man’s identity was later disclosed as Assistant Commissioner (AC) of the DB of the DMP Mr. Motiur Rahman. SI Kibria demanded 2 million Taka (USD 29,000.00) from Babul. Upon refusing to pay, saying that this amount was unaffordable, Kibria showed Babul a box and was told that it contained 67 Yaba tablets and that if the demanded amount is not paid the police would fabricate a drug trading case against him.
When Babul continuously expressed his inability to pay the bribe the police officers blindfolded and handcuffed him. They took him to another open-air field adjacent to a public graveyard at Azimpur area. Babul was kicked and punched by the officers. The police officers then attempted to remove Babul’s fingernails and toenails as well as crush his penis with nose-pliers. The police also pointed a pistol at his head and threatened to kill him in the pretext of a “crossfire” saying that his condition would be like those who were in their everlasting sleeps without a pillow. Having been scared for his life by the police torture and ongoing death threats Babul agreed to pay BDT 500,000.00 (USD 2,900.00) for the sake of saving his life that night.
Then, the police officer called Babul’s wife Mrs. Bilkis Begum’s cell phone from cell phone number +8801823 457336 and asked her to bring the due amount of money. They also forced Babul to speak to his wife telling her to bringing money at the Moghbazar level crossing area of the city. Five relatives of Babul, including his nephew and son-in-law brought BDT 100,000.00 (USD 1,450.00). The police took the money from Babul’s son-in-law Mr. Abul Kalam, taking him inside the police vehicle, which had a registration number: Dhaka Metro-Tha-11-6067. The police officers, later, released Babul from a street near the Ramna police station of the city of Dhaka at around 2AM on 19 May on condition that Babul will withdraw cash from his bank to pay the rest BDT 400,000.00 (USD 5,800.00) by around 11am of the same date. The police also forced Babul to sign blank pieces of paper before releasing him.
At around 12:15pm, Babul’s wife received a call on her cell phone from number +8801711935880. The caller introduced himself as SI Kibria and demanded the rest of the amount. Kibria allegedly made several phone calls asking Babul’s relatives to immediately go to the front gate of the DB Police Office at the Minto Road of the city to hand over the money to the police.
Having no affordable means of paying the demanded money Babul and his relatives went to the Sabuzbag police station to lodge a complaint regarding the kidnapping and extortion of ransom by the DB police officers. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Sabuzbag police Mr. Asaduzzaman refused to register the complaint by saying that “We cannot record a complaint against any police officer without permission from the DC (of the jurisdiction of the DMP)”. However, the police kept a copy of the complaint.
Meanwhile, the DB police officers, who were allegedly involved in kidnapping Babul, learned from the Sabuzbag police that Babul went to the police to register complaint against them. They then repeatedly threatened Babul saying they would kill him in a “crossfire” unless the demanded money was not paid and if there is any attempt to lodge any complaint against them.
On 21 May at 10:30pm, the DB Assistant Commissioner Motiur Rahman went to Babul’s house and threatened to kill him and took Babul’s photograph on his mobile phone camera. The police officer also warned Babul’s relatives not to take the incident any further.
On 23 May, Babul filed a petition case (Complaint Registrar Case No. 2246/2010) under Sections 448, 307, 323, 365, 385, 386, 506 and 34 of the Penal Code1860 with the Chief Metropolitan Judicial Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka. The Magistrate ordered a judicial probe headed by a Metropolitan Magistrate, however, he did not issue any warrant of arrest against the alleged police officers after hearing the petition case. Later, it has been revealed that Metropolitan Magistrate Ms. Shamima Parvin was assigned to conduct the judicial probe. The head of the one-member judicial probe committee Ms. Shamima Parvin issued a notice to the complainant and the witnesses of the case, filed by Babul, to appear before the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court No.13 of Dhaka on 14 June to testify for the complaint.
I am informed that since the complaint was registered with the Court the police officers have increased their death threats against Babul via mobile phone and through the local leaders of the ruling political party. Due to continuous death threats Babul has gone into hiding in an undisclosed place.
In light of the above information, I urge you to initiate a credible judicial probe immediately into the alleged kidnapping and subsequent extortion of ransom by the DB police officers. The alleged perpetrators deserve prosecution for the crimes they have committed by abusing their police power. The authorities have a constitutional, as well as international obligation, and a fundamental responsibility to protect the right to liberty and security of a citizen. That right and protection must be afforded with Mr. Babul, his family and the witnesses of the case. Any further harm or harassment of the victims by the police or their agents should not go unpunished.
Bangladesh’s policing system appears rotten and highly abusive as its criminal justice system is dysfunctional. The system fails to protect the basic universal human rights of its citizens. The whole criminal justice system, including the policing, complaint mechanism, criminal investigation, prosecution and administration of justice require thorough reform immediately.
I call on you to punish the perpetrators, protect the victim and initiate the required reforms. I will watch with close interest and urge your prompt action in this case.
Yours sincerely,
—————
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mrs. Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Office of the Prime Minister
Tejgaon, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 811 3244 / 3243 / 1015 / 1490
Tel: +880 2 882 816 079 / 988 8677
E-mail: pm@pmo.gov.bd or ps1topm@pmo.gov.bd or psecy@pmo.gov.bd
2. Mr. Mohammad Rezaul Karim
Chief Justice
Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 956 5058 /+880 2 7161344
Tel: +880 2 956 2792/+880 2 956 2792
E-mail: chief@bdcom.com or supremec@bdcom.com
3. Barrister Shafique Ahmed
Minister
Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 7160627/ +880 2 7160627 (O)
Fax: +880 2 7168557 (O)
Email: info@minlaw.gov.bd
4. Ms. Sahara Khatun MP
Minister
Ministry of Home Affairs
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 7169069/ +880 2 7169069 (O)
Fax: +880 2 7160405, 880 2 7164788 (O)
E-mail: minister@mha.gov.bd
5. Mr. Mahbubey Alam
Attorney General of Bangladesh
Office of the Attorney General
Supreme Court Annex Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 956 1568
Tel: +880 2 956 2868/ +880 2 956 2868
6. Justice Amirul Kabir Chowdhury
Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
6/3 Lalmatia, Block-D
Dhaka-1207
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 9137740 +880 2 9137740
Fax: +880 2 9137743
E-mail: nhrc.bd@gmail.com
7. Mr. Nur Mohammad
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Bangladesh Police
Police Headquarters’
Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 956 3362 / 956 3363
Tel: +880 2 956 2054 +880 2 956 2054 / 717 6451 / 717 6677
E-mail: ig@police.gov.bd
8. A K M Shahidul Hoque
Commissioner
Dhaka Metropolitan Police
DMP Headquarter
36, Shahid Captain Monsur Ali Road
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 8322746
Tel: +880 2 9331555 +880 2 9331555 /+88-02-8322746 +88-02-8322746
Mobile: +8801711538313
E-mail: complain@dmp.gov.bd / emergency@dmp.gov.bd / commissioner@dmp.gov.bd
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
