Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that the police have beaten a number of political activists and demonstrators during a nationwide dawn-to-dusk strike and peaceful demonstration programme called by a 14 political opposition party alliance on January 22, 2006. One leading activist was also arrested and later released. Reports indicate that other activists, including women, were arrested and detained in different police stations across the nation, although no further information is currently available concerning their plight.
The alliance of 14 political opposition parties, led by the Bangladesh Awami League, called the country-wide dawn-to-dusk Hartal (strike) to protest against rising prices and calling for reforms to the Constitution, notably concerning the caretaker government and election systems.
Ms. Shamima Rahman, who is the president of Awami Jubo Mohila League (Youth Women League), a political wing of the mainstream opposition Bangladesh Awami League, based in the Tenjgaon Police Station units jurisdiction area, has stated that the police attacked a demonstration at around 2:45 pm. Some 30 to 40 female demonstrators were reportedly injured due to physical assaults by the police. Ms. Shamima Rahman herself reports having sustained considerable injuries to her hands, legs, back and waist. She alleges that the police beat other demonstrators and also used abusive language. The police arrested her, but she was released later on following an escalation to the demonstrations as a result of her arrest. She received medical treatment for her injuries at a private clinic at Dhanmondi in Dhaka and later at her home.
Ms. Maya Akter, who is the general secretary of the Awami Juba Mohila League in the Kafrul police station units jurisdiction area, alleges that she was also beaten by the police at around 12 noon while taking part in a procession in Dhanmondi. Male members of the police beat the women and used abusive language, allegedly without any provocation from the demonstrators. The police dragged her along the street while taking her to a police van. One of her wrists has reportedly been fractured as a result of the polices actions. She has been receiving medical treatment at home and continues to fear further police reprisals.
Another political activist, Mr. Nasir Uddin, who is a member of the Bangladesh Awami League in the Kafrul police station units jurisdiction area, alleges that he was beaten by the police in the Mohakahali area of Dhaka while taking part in a demonstration. The policemen reportedly beat him to the ground and continued beating him with sticks. He has reportedly sustained injuries all over his body.
Mr. Zahirul Haque Jillur, the president of the Awami League in the No. 39 Ward area, alleges that he was beaten by the police at the Nabisko bus stop in Dhaka during the strike. At around 10:30am, a former Member of the Parliament (MP), Mr. Dr. H B M Iqbal, who was leading a procession in the Nabisko area, was also beaten by the police. The police allegedly beat Mr. Iqbal to the ground and he was later admitted to Samarita Hospital at Panthapath with several injuries.
Mr. Karim Shikder, who is a leader of Jatio Samajtantrik Dal (JSD – National Communist Party), was also reportedly beaten by the police on the day preceding the strike, sustaining numerous injuries. The victims allege that other leaders and activists were also beaten by the police, including: Mr. Azizur Rahman, Mr. Abdul Mannan, Mr. Jalal and Mr. Sanowar Hossen.
However, the police have denied the allegations related to the beating of opposition political activists during the strike. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Tejgaon police station, Mr. Kamrul Islam, denied the allegations when contacted by a fact-finding team. The Assistant Commissioner (AC) of the Tejgaon Zone of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Mr. Taherul Islam Chowdhury, told a fact-finding team that the allegations of beatings by the police are politically motivated. The evidence suggests otherwise.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send letters to the Inspector General of Police and other persons listed below expressing your concerns about the arbitrary arrest and beating of political activists and demonstrators by the police in Bangladesh. The concerned government agencies must be urged to initiate thorough and impartial investigations into these events. All persons being detained arbitrarily as a result of these events must be released immediately in the absence of valid legal charges against them. The perpetrators must be brought to justice and adequate reparation must be provided to the victims.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Mr. _______________,
BANGLADESH: opposition political activists beaten and arrested by the police during demonstrations and a country-wide strike
Name of the victims:
1. Shamima Rahman, president of Awami Jubo Mohila League (Youth Women League),
a political wing of the mainstream opposition Bangladesh Awami League party, in Tenjgaon
Police Station units jurisdiction, Dhaka
2. Maya Akter, general secretary Awami Juba Mohila League in the Kafrul police station units jurisdiction, Dhaka
3. Nasir Uddin, a member of the Bangladesh Awami League in the Kafrul police station units jurisdiction
4. Zahirul Haque Jillur, the president of the Awami League in the No. 39 Ward area
5. Karim Sikdar, a member of the central committee of the Jatio Samajtantrik Dal (JSD)
6. Azizur Rahman, president of Awami League of 20 No. Ward
7. Abdul Mannan, General Secretary of Shramik (labor) League in No. 19 Ward
8. Jalal, Member of the Shramik League in the Gulshan Police Station jurisdiction
9. Sanowar Hossen, General Secretary Shramik Leagues Gulshan local branch
10. Many other activists of the opposition 14 Party Alliance in Bangladesh
Name of the alleged perpetrators: members of the police from different police stations across the country
Date of incident: January 22, 2006
I am writing to you in order to voice my concerns regarding allegations of beatings and arbitrary arrests of demonstrators and political activists by members of the police in Bangladesh during a strike programme on January 22, 2006.
According to the information that I have received, the Alliance of 14 opposition political parties declared a nationwide dawn-to-dusk Hartal (strike) programme on January 22, 2006, to protest against rising prices and calling for reforms to the Constitution, notably concerning the caretaker government and election systems. The police have reportedly physically assaulted demonstrators and political activists and arbitrarily arrested a number of them in order to repress the movement.
Among the victims, Ms. Shamima Rahman was beaten by the police at Tejgaon area, while she was taking part in a procession. She was arrested and put in a police van, but released later on following increased pressure by the demonstrators. She has received considerable injuries due to the beating by the police and is under treatment at her home.
Another victim, Maya Akter was beaten by the police in the Dhanmondi area at around 12 noon on the same day, during a demonstrating. One of her wrists has reportedly been fractured as a result of the polices action, which included dragging her along the ground while taking her to a police van. The male policemen used abusive language to the women demonstrators, including Maya. She has been receiving medical treatment at home.
In another case, Mr. Zahirul Haque Jillur was beaten by the police at the Nabisko bus stop area in Dhaka during a procession. Former Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Dr. H B M Iqbal, was also beaten by the police in the same area while leading a procession. I have also been informed that Nasir Uddin was also beaten by the police in the Mohakhali area in Dhaka city during a procession.
I am aware that the victims are activists of the opposition political parties. They are not receiving appropriate medical treatment for the injuries they have suffered.
In light of this, I urge you to commence an impartial and thorough investigation into these alleged incidents of beating and ill-treatment without delay. If it is found that the alleged perpetrators have committed offences against the victims, appropriate charges must be filed against them and they should be tried with all speed. The victims should be provided with adequate reparation for the sufferings that they have endured.
I urge the Government of Bangladesh to enact domestic legislation declaring torture a crime. I am aware that the Bangladeshi government has acceded to the provisions of the U.N. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), but has thus far failed to enact laws in full conformity with the Convention.
I look forward to your urgent intervention in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND LETTER TO:
1. Mr. Abdul Quayum
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Bangladesh Police
Police Headquarters
Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562054, 7176451, 7176677, 8362552 or 8362553
Fax: +88-02-9563362, 9563363
2. Mr. S M Mizanur Rahman
Commissioner
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)
The DMP Headquarters
1, Shaheed Captain Monsur Ali Road
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-8322746, 8316248, 8855922
Fax: +88-02-8322746
3. 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, 8359000
Fax: + 88-02-7160405, 7164788
4. 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, 8953012
Fax: +88-02-7171592
5. 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
6. Mr. Syed J. R. Mudassir Husain
The Chief Justice
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562792
Fax: +88-02-9565058
7. 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
8. Ms. Veronica Birga
Special Rapporteur on Elimination of violence against women
CC: Rachel Rico (rrico@ohchr.org)
c/o Ms Lucinda Ohanlon
Room 3-042
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9615
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
Email: rrico@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
