Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that the government authorities have started an investigation into the case of two torture victims, Mr. Muzibur Rahman and Mr. Waheduzzaman, who were arbitrarily arrested, detained and tortured by the army in Khulna district (For original urgent appeals, see: UP-019-2007; UP-015-2007; UP-011-2007; UA-367-2006; UP-232-2006). Over a two day inquiry, the investigating officers of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) interviewed the victims, medical doctors, lawyers and eye-witnesses. The AHRC is now urging all of our friends to please write to the Bangladesh government so that they publicly publish the investigative and punish the alleged perpetrators.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
On 7 March 2007, two officers of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) agency went to Paikgachha upazilla in order to investigate the alleged torture case of Mr. Muzibur Rahman and Mr. Waheduzzaman. Although the two officers have not disclosed their true identities, one referred to himself as Mr. Abul Bashar while the other officer identified himself as Mr. Gazi of the NSI. The investigating team went to Mr. Waheds house in Malot village which is under the Paikgachha police station. They also talked to medical doctors from the Paikgachha Upazilla Health Complex, eyewitnesses, lawyers and the local police.
As Mr. Muzibur was away from home, the NSI team informed his family to meet with the investigators in their office at Khalishpur in Khulna city. The two member team left Paikgachha on the afternoon of March 8. It has been learned that Mr. Muzibur then went and met the investigators in their Khalishpur office as soon as he received the message. Local sources also reported that the NSI investigating team mentioned the AHRCs intervention which urged government authorities to investigate the alleged torture.
The victims and local activists are concerned that the publication will not be publicly published and that they will not be able to take action against the alleged perpetrators. It is a general belief Bangladesh that investigations are eye washed steps by the government and that authorities never publish reports nor punish the alleged perpetrators.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the relevant Bangladesh authorities listed below and urge them to publicly publish the investigation report as soon as it is completed. Please also urge the Bangladesh government to take strong action against the alleged perpetrators.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
BANGLADESH: Intelligence wing investigating into torture case
Name of the victims:
1. Mr. Muzibur Rahman, aged 40, a businessman, son of Mr. Munsop Sana, living in a house at the Court Road in the Paikgachha town under the Paikgachha police station in Khulna
2. Mr. Waheduzzaman, aged 36, a businessman, son of Mr. Nazmul Morol, living in Manot village under the Paikgachha police station in Khulna district
Alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Mizanur Rahman, Major of the Bangladesh Army deployed as the Commander of the team at Paikgachha of the Khulna district
2. Mr. Tajul Islam, Warrant Officer of the Bangladesh Army deployed as the Commander of the team at Paikgachha of the Khulna district
3. Personnel of the Bangladesh Army deployed as the Commander of the team at Paikgachha of the Khulna district
4. Mr. Shafikul Islam, former tenant of the victim, who has a land dispute with Mr. Muzibur Rahman (the victim No. 1)
Date of the recent incident: 7-8 March 2007
Place of recent incident: Paikgachha town and the NSI office in the city of Khulna district
I am pleased to hear that the Government of Bangladesh has assigned its National Security Intelligence (NSI) agency to investigate the case of torture on two victims, namely Mr. Muzibur Rahman and Mr. Waheduzzaman which occurred on March 7 and 8 March 2007.
I expect that the investigation will be impartial and fair without any bias, and will be published in public. I also request that you ensure adequate medical treatment is provided to the victims, who sustained serious injuries due to alleged torture.
I further urge that you take strong disciplinary and legal actions against those responsible.
I look forward to your urgent and effective intervention in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
—————
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed
Chief Adviser
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Office of the Chief Advisor
Tejgaon, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88 02 8828160-79, 9888677
Fax: +88 02 8113244 or 3243 or 1015 or 1490
E-mail: pm@pmobd.org or psecretary@pmobd.org (to the Secretary)
2. Mr. Mohammad Ruhul Amin
Chief Justice
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562792
Fax: +88-02-9565058
3. Mr. Fida M Kamal
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. Lt. General Moeen U Ahmed
Chief of Army Staff
Bangladesh Army
Army Headquarters
Dhaka Cantonment
Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 9870011
Fax: +880 2 8754455
5. Mr. Nur Mohammad
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
6. Professor 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 (ATTENTION: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR TORTURE)
7. Ms. Leila Zerrougui
Working Group on arbitrary detention
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTENTION: WORKING GROUP ARBITRARY DETENTION)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
