Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the police brutality on journalists at the Chittagong stadium on April 16. Following the incident, a departmental investigation was started on April 17 headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Crime & Recruitment). On April 19, a Bench of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh directed the government to form a judicial probe commission regarding the police brutality. The High Court Bench also questioned government authorities as to why disciplinary proceedings had not commenced against the alleged perpetrators. In response, on April 20, the government agreed to form a judicial probe commission to investigate into the incident. The Bangladesh government also agreed to form another committee to suggest for the arrangement of medical treatment for the injured journalists and compensation for the damage of cameras and other equipment.
On April 19, a Bench of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh issued a ruling on the government to explain why it should not form a judicial inquiry committee to probe the police attack on the journalists in Chittagong Divisional Stadium on April 16. The High Court Bench directed the secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the government, the Inspector General of Police, the Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong, the Commissioner of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) and the Deputy Commissioner (Port) of the CMP to respond to the Court within two weeks. The High Court Bench also asked the respondents why they should not be directed to take disciplinary action against the members of law enforcement agencies for abusing their power and torturing journalists. The High Court Bench directed the government to pay compensation to the wounded journalists.
In response to the ruling, the government of Bangladesh agreed to form a one-member judicial probe commission into the incident of the police brutality on the journalists. On 20 April 2006, the State Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Lutfozzaman Babar, announced in a press briefing that his ministry would request the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to assign a Session Judge to probe the police actions against the journalists. Following a meeting between the leaders of the Sangbadik-Sramik-Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SSKOP) and the ministries of Home, Sports and Information of the government, the minister condemned the incident and said that the commission will be asked to submit its report, which would identify the perpetrators and recommend for further legal initiatives, within 15 days. The judicial probe commission’s report will be published in the mass media the following day. The minister also announced that the government would form a seven-member committee headed by a Joint Secretary of the Information Ministry comprising of five journalist representatives to suggest treatment for the injured journalists and compensation after assessing the damage of cameras and other equipment, within 10 days.
Meanwhile, the police headquarters assigned Deputy Inspector General of Police (Crime & Recruitment), Mr. Aminul Islam, to inquire into this incident. He has since interviewed the injured journalists. Among the key perpetrators, the Deputy Commissioner (Port) of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police, Mr. Ali Akbar Khan, has not yet been suspended from his job despite the repeated demands by the injured journalists for him to be so.
The government has not yet arranged medical treatment for the 16 injured journalists.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the persons listed below and urge them to properly implement the promised judicial probe commission to investigate into this incident without delay. The alleged perpetrators should be suspended from their service while the investigation is going on and protection should be provided to the journalists. Please also urge the Bangladesh government to ensure appropriate compensation for the treatment of the victims and the damage to their equipment.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
BANGLADESH: Government agrees to form judicial probe commission into the police
brutality on journalists
Names of the victims:
1. Shah Shamsul Haque Tengku, photojournalist of the Daily Prothom Alo, Chittagong
2. Mahmudul Hassan Shamim, journalist of RTV, Chittagong
3. Saidur Rahmam Shamim, journalist of the Daily Jugantor, Chittagong
4. Saiduzzaman, journalist of the Daily Amar Desh, Chittagong
5. Zahurul Haque, photojournalist of the Daily Ajkal, Chittagong
6. Ravi Shangkar, photojournalist of the Daily Ajker Kagoj, Chittagong
7. Ruhul Amin Rana, journalist of the Weekly Jai Jai Din, Chittagong
8. Anurup Tito, photojournalist of the Daily Purbokone, Chittagong
9. Sajedul Alam Tuhin, cameraman of RTV, Chittagong
10. Avijit Vanik, journalist of the Khabarpatra, Chittagong
11. Uzzal Dhar, journalist of the Naya Diganta, Chittagong
12. Rajesh Chakravarti, journalist of the Daily Shamakal, Chittagong
13. Zahid Hossain, photojournalist of the Independent, Chittagong
14. Abu Raihan, journalist of BD News 24, Chittagong
15. Zafar Iqbal, journalist of the Daily Sangram, Chittagong
16. Monti, photographer of Grameen Phone
Names of the alleged perpetrators:
1. Ali Akbor Khan, Deputy of Commissioner (DC) of Police (Port Zone), the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP)
2. Anwar Sattar, traffic police sergeant, the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP)
3. Enamul Kabir, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Supply), the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP)
4. Around 25 policemen of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP)
Date of incident: 16 April 2006
Place of incident: Bir Sreshtha Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium, Chittagong
I am writing to express my deep concern over the negligence by the government regarding the police brutality of journalists in Chittagong during the second test cricket match between Bangladesh and Australia.
According to the information I have received, a Bench of the High Court Division issued a ruling upon some of the officials of the government to explain why the respondents, including the secretary of the Home Ministry, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police and the others, should not be investigated by a judicial probe commission. The High Court Bench also asked the respondents why disciplinary action should not be taken against them. The ruling also asked the government to compensate the injured journalists.
In response to this ruling, the government of Bangladesh agreed to form a one-member judicial probe commission to investigate the police brutality on the journalists. While I welcome the announcement by the government to form a committee to ensure appropriate medical treatment for the wounded journalists and compensation for their damaged camera equipment, I await to see the proper implementation of those assurances.
I am also aware that the police headquarters assigned a Deputy Inspector General of Police to investigate into the incident. However, I strongly question the impartiality of any investigation conducted by a police officer against the police.
I have learned that one of the key perpetrators, the Deputy Commissioner (Port) of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police, Mr. Ali Akbor Khan, has not yet been suspended from his service despite repeated requests by the wounded journalists and other professional bodies for him to be so. To ensure the safety of the journalists and any witnesses in this case, I trust Mr. Khan will be suspended from his duty without further delay.
I also urge the government of Bangladesh to form the promised judicial probe commission to conduct a fair and impartial investigation into this case. Along with suspending Mr. Khan I ask that protection be provided to the journalists and adequate compensation be given to them for the injuries and trauma they have suffered and the damage of the equipment done by the police. If it is found that the alleged perpetrators committed crimes against the victims, then they must be held accountable for their actions and if found guilty, indicted under the prevailing domestic laws of Bangladesh.
I look forward to your urgent intervention in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mrs. Begum Khaleda Zia
Prime Minister
The Government of the Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh
Office of the Prime Minister
Old Parliament House,
Tejgaon, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 8828160-79, 9888677
Fax: +880 2 8113244 or 3243 or 1015 or 1490
E-mail: pm@pmobd.org or psecretary@pmobd.org (to the Secretary)
2. Mr. Md. Lutfozzaman Babor MP
State Minister
The Ministry of Home Affairs
The 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. 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
4. Mr. A J Mohammad Ali
Attorney General of Bangladesh
Office of the Attorney General
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562868
Fax: +88-02-9561568
5. 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
6. Mr. Anwarul Karim
Joint Secretary (Police)
Ministry of Home Affairs
The Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-7164680 (O) or 8953012 (R)
Fax: +88-02-7171592
7. Mr. M A Mazedul Haque
Commissioner
Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP)
CMP Headquarter
Chittagong
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88 031 624100 (O)
Fax: +88 031 621565 (O)
8. Prof. Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
Attn: Mr. Safir Syed
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9230
Fax: +41 22 9179016 (general)
E-mail: ssyed@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
