Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the arbitrary arrest of a businessman named Muzibur Rahman from his house by the Detective Branch (DB) Police of Khulna district at Paikgachha town on 2 November 2006 (See further: UA-367-2006). According to the information we have received, on 16 November 2006 an investigation was conducted by a senior police officer who was responding to the AHRC complaint. The investigator publicly declared that the alleged harassment of the victim by the police was true and further stated that his office would immediately submit their report to the higher police authority. Although the AHRC welcomes this development, the findings of the investigation have still not been released and no action has been taken against the alleged perpetrators.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
On 16 November 2006, the Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) of Khulna Mr. Md. Jillur Rahman went to Paikgachcha to investigate the alleged harassment of Mr. Muzibur Rahman by the Detective Branch (DB) Police of Khulna district. During the investigation the police officer visited the house of Mr. Muzibur and talked to eye witnesses who also happened to be involved in the incident. The witnesses had been acting in part with DB Police Sub Inspector (SI) Mr. Gaharul Hasan who was the officer responsible for arresting and harassing Mr. Muzibur.
The Additional SP then produced a letter before the witnesses that showed he was asked to investigate the complaint by the SP of Khulna. The papers showed that the orders where sanctioned by the Office of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Police of the Khulna Range after they received a complaint from the AHRC. The investigator then asked the witnesses who had threatened and intimidated the victim to provide statements that were later meant to be entered as evidence to the Additional SP’s office in Khulna.
Subsequently on November 19 and again on November 30, a number of witnesses went to the office of the Additional SP to give their statements. After having recorded the statements, the investigating officer told the witnesses including Mr. Muzibur Rahman that the allegations of harassment were found to be true and would be reflected in a report submitted to the higher police authority. Despite this claim, there has been no updated information released by the Khulna Police Office regarding the investigation and no punitive action has been taken against the alleged perpetrators to date.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the relevant Bangladesh authorities listed below urging them to disclose the investigation report on the alleged intimidation of the victim by SI Hassan of the DB Police Office in Khulna and to take strong disciplinary action against him.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
BANGLADESH: Police investigate the alleged harassment of Muzibur Rahman by the DB police in Khulna
Name of the victim: Mr. Muzibur Rahman, aged 40, a businessman, living in a house at the Court Road in the Paikgachha town under the Paikgachha police station in Khulna
Alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Gaharul Hasan, Sub Inspector attached to the Detective Branch of the Khulna district police (prime suspect)
2. Mr. Shafikul Islam, former tenant of the victim, who has a land dispute with the victim
3. Five other policemen attached to the same DB Branch
4. Mr. Mahtab, Sub Inspector attached to the Paikgachha police station, Khulna
5. A constable of the Paikgachha police station
Date of the original incident: 2 November 2006
I am writing to draw your attention to the alleged arbitrary arrest, threats and intimidation of the businessman mentioned above by the Detective Branch (DB) Police and the Paikgachha police in Khulna district on 2 November 2006.
According to the information I have received, on November 16 the Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) of Khulna Mr. Md. Jillur Rahman went to Paikgachcha to investigate the alleged harassment of Mr. Muzibur Rahman by the Detective Branch (DB) Police of Khulna district with the order of the SP of Khulna. During the investigation the police officer visited the house of Mr. Muzibur and talked to eye witnesses who also happened to be involved in the incident. The witnesses had been acting in part with DB Police Sub Inspector (SI) Mr. Gaharul Hasan who was the officer responsible for arresting Mr. Muzibur.
I was also informed that on November 30 the investigation was completed by the Additional SP. However, the investigation report has not yet been published and no action has been taken against the alleged perpetrators including SI Mr. Gaharul Hasan to date.
While welcoming the development in this case, I request you to release the investigation report to the public regarding the concerned case. If the allegation is proven true, I urge you to take strong disciplinary and legal action against those responsible in accordance with the law. I further request that you take proper action to ensure that the security of the victim and his family be protect from further harassment and threats from SI Hassan or other police officers. The accused police officers including the SI Hassan should be suspended from their job while the investigation is on-going. I also urge you to ensure that the victim is adequately compensated.
Unless strict discipline and good order are not established within the police forces, such violations will be repeated and innocent people would suffer. Such reform can only begin with the enforcement of strict punishment against the alleged police officers committing the crimes.
I look forward to your urgent intervention in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Prof. Iajuddin Ahmed
President & Chief Adviser
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Bangabhaban, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 9568041, 7161501/A, 8311202/ 7161503/A
Fax: +880 2 9566242 or 9566593
2. Mr. Sayed J. R. Modassir Hossain
Chief Justice
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562792
Fax: +88-02-9565058
3. 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
4. Mr. Khoda Bokhs Chowdhury
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Bangladesh Police
Police Headquarters'
Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562054 or 7176451 or 7176677
Fax: +88-02-9563362 or 9563363
5. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)
Khulna Range
Office of the DIG of Khulna Range
Khulna
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-041-761823 (O)
Fax: +88-041-761300 (O)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
