[RE: UP-013-2006: BANGLADESH: Three persons tortured by the Chapainawabganj police; UA-041-2006: BANGLADESH: Eight people killed and at least one hundred injured by police fire in Chapainawabganj district; UA-013-2006: BANGLADESH: Two people killed and thirty-five injured by police fire in Chapainawabganj district]
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UP-016-2006: BANGLADESH: Three detained and tortured leaders have been released from prison in Chapainawabganj
BANGLADESH: Arbitrary arrest; Torture; Harassment; Deprivation of medical treatment; Rule of law
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wrote to you on 10 (UA-013-2006), 27 (UA-041-2006) and 31 January 2006 (UP-013-2006) detailing the killing of ten people and injuries to approximately 200 others following the police opening fire on a group of demonstrators on two different occasions in Chapainawabganj district, Bangladesh. The demonstrators had initially been demonstrating outside of the rural electrification centre demanding regular, uninterrupted electricity supply and a reduction of the consumption rate. During that demonstrating eight people were killed. In a subsequent demonstration, where the protestors were demanding for the release of three leaders of the Palli Biddut Subscribers Development Association, who were detained following the first demonstration, a further two people were killed. The three leaders were tortured by the police while in custody of the Shibganj police and in the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) and sustained considerable injuries.
The AHRC has now learned that the three leaders, along with six others, who were also detained in connection with the same case, have been granted bail from the Magistrates Court and were released from Chapainawabganj jail on 31 January 2006. The government, however, has not yet arranged proper medical treatment for the victims.
The AHRC has also learned that a Member of Parliament (MP) of the local constituency, Mr. Shahjahan Mian, who initially influenced the magistrate not to grant bail to the victims, has now signed the bail bonds. While this is welcomed news, it does not excuse his interference with the judiciary in the first instance. His actions therefore, still require investigation.
The AHRC is also aware that the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Shibganj police station, Mr. Shahabuddin Khalifa, has been withdrawn from his duty at the police station. But, he has not been punished exemplarily and his associates identities remain unknown. All of the perpetrators therefore, have gone unpunished despite the availability of evidence against the police of beating women, children and the elderly, and molesting girls during raids on nearby houses.
The AHRC is calling upon you to write letters to the relevant authorities in Bangladesh, in particular the Inspector General of Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs, urging them to take immediate legal action against those police responsible for the torture of the three men. An investigation must also be conducted into the action of the police during the demonstrations, and charges must be laid against those deemed to have committed crimes.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send letters immediately to the Inspector General of Police and the other persons listed below expressing your concern about this incident urging them to take prompt action to investigate the conduct of the police and to ensure that justice is attained for the victims.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ______________,
BANGLADESH: Three detained and tortured leaders have been released from prison in Chapainawabganj
I am writing to bring to your attention the release of the three leaders of the Palli Biddut Samiti Subscribers Development Association, who were arbitrary arrested, detained and tortured by the police of Chapainawabganj district in Bangladesh.
According to the information I have received, the police reportedly arrested the three leaders on 22 January 2006 following an incident involving the killing of two people and the wounding of at least 35 others by police fire at Kansat on January 4, when the consumers of the Palli Biddut Kendra (Rural Electrification Centre) at Kanshat under the Shibganj police station in Chapainawabganj district were facing extreme financial losses as a result of irregular and insufficient electricity supply, despite paying a high rate for the consumption. Following the arrest of the three leaders, the villagers of Shobganj police station conducted road blockades at Kansat Bazar area under Chapainawabganj district on the morning of 23 January 2006. The police fired on the demonstrators, killing eight people and injuring more than 100. The three leaders were blind folded during their arrest and their hands were tied together with rope. They were then tortured by the police in the Shibganj police station and in the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) before being detained.
I have now been informed that the three arrested persons, along with six others who were detained regarding the same case, have now been granted bail and released from jail. I welcome this initiative by the concerned authority. However, I am greatly concerned that the authorities have not yet arranged proper medical treatment for the injuries the victims have sustained.
I have also been informed that the Member of Parliament (MP) of the local constituency, Mr. Shahjahan Mian, who influenced the Magistrates not to grant bail to the three persons, has now signed the bail bonds on behalf of the victims. While I welcome this effort on the part of Mr. Mian, I would still ask that an investigation be conducted into his initial involvement in this case and the allegation that he interfered in the independence of the judiciary. As a politician, Mr. Mian should be aware that such interference is unethical and indeed illegal.
I am aware that the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Shibganj police station, Mr. Shahabuddin Khalifa, has been withdrawn from his duty at the police station. He has not, however, been punished exemplarily and his associates identities remain unknown. All of the perpetrators therefore, have gone unpunished despite the availability of evidence against the police of beating women, children and the elderly, and molesting girls during raids on the houses.
In light of this, I request that you ensure a fair and thorough investigation into the alleged conduct of the police. If it is found that the alleged perpetrators committed crimes against the victims, then they must be made accountable for their actions and if found guilty of arbitrary arrest, detention and torture, indicted under the prevailing domestic laws of Bangladesh. During the investigation of the police protection must be afforded to the victims. An investigation should be conducted into the MPs actions.
Such action by the police and politicians is taking place more and more frequently in many parts of Bangladesh. This reflects the lack of commitment and training many police officers have in terms of handling people without the need to resort to drastic and violent measures. It also demonstrates the excessive powers politicians wield and abuse and the corruption that is evident in the system.
Therefore, I urge government officials in Bangladesh to consider reforming their current law enforcement system by introducing better training programmes for the police and other government officers and to make them more accountable for the abuses they have committed against ordinary citizens of Bangladesh. I also urge all politicians to uphold the rule of law and to encourage and support all law enforcers in the country to do likewise.
I look forward to your urgent intervention in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Abdul Quayum
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Bangladesh Police
Police Headquarters
Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562054 or 7176451 or 7176677 (O), +88-02-8362552 or 8362553 (R)
Fax: +88-02-9563362 or 9563363
2. Mr. Md. Lutfozzaman Babor MP
State Minister
The Ministry of Home Affairs
Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-7169069 (O) or 8359000 (R)
Fax: +88-02-7160405, +88-02-7164788
3. Mr. Anwarul Karim
Joint Secretary (Police)
Ministry of Home Affairs
Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-7164680 (O) or 8953012 (R)
Fax: +88-02-7171592
4. Mr. A J Mohammad Ali
The Attorney General of Bangladesh
The Office of the Attorney General
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562868
Fax: +88-02-9561568
5. Mr. Sayed J. R. Modassir Hossain
The Chief Justice
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562792
Fax: +88-02-9565058
6. Mr. Dr. Baharul Islam BPM
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)
Rajshahi Range
Office of the DIG of Rajshahi Range
Rajshahi
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-0721-772309 (O)
Fax: +88-0721-775444 (O)
7. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Attn: Lydie Ventre
Room 3-016, c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9155
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (general)
Email: lventre@ohchr.org
8. Prof. Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
Attn: Mr.Sarir Syed
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel:+41 22 917 9230
Fax:+41 22 9179016 (general)
E-mail: ssyed@ohchr.org
9. Ms Leila Zerrougui
Chairperson
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
c/o Miguel de la Lama
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTENTION: Working Group on Arbitrary Detention)
Email: mdelalama@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
