Dear __________,
BANGLADESH: Police investigation into the alleged torture of three men and one death by Army in Khulna continues
Name of victim (killed): Mr. Amanullah alias Aman, aged 40, son of the late Mr. Monir Uddin, the resident of Protapkathi village under the Paikgachha police station in Khulna district, Bangladesh
Name of victims (injured):
1. Mr. Abdul Gafur, aged 38, a shrimp businessman, the resident of Kazimusa village under the Paikgachha police station in Khulna district
2. Mr. Basu Dev, aged 32, the resident of Kazimusa village under the Paikgachha police station in Khulna district
Alleged perpetrators:
1. Major Mr. Mizanur Rahman, Commander of the Army Team deployed in Paikgachha, Khulna district
2. Mr. Tajul Islam, Warrant Officer attached to the Army Team deployed in Paikgachha
3. The personnel of the Bangladesh Army deployed in the Paikgachha police station in Khulna district
Date of incident: Arbitrarily arrested on 17 January 2007; Mr. Amanullah died of alleged torture on 18 January 2007
Place of arbitrary detention and torture: Paikgachha Army Camp in Khulna
I am writing to welcome the initiatives made by Bangladesh authorities for an investigation into the case of the alleged arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of three men by army personnel under the Paikgachha police station, Khulna district, Bangladesh. One of the three men died of the alleged torture within 27 hours after he was taken into army custody.?
I have learned that the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the Dakope Circle of the Khulna district, Mr. Shugen Chakma, has begun his investigation on 8 March 2007 regarding the alleged arbitrary arrest of Mr. Amanullah, Mr. Abul Gafur and Mr. Basu Dev, who were brutally tortured and detained in Army custody in Paikgachha.
I request you to ensure a fair and impartial investigation into the alleged violent cases to which I draw your attention. If it is found that the alleged perpetrators committed crimes against the three victims, they must be made accountable for their actions and be indicted under the domestic laws of Bangladesh. I also urge you to take action to provide effective protection to the families of the three victims from possible harassment and threats from the army or other law enforcement personnel during the investigation. The families must be adequately compensated. I urge you to publish the investigation report in public whenever it is submitted to the concerned authorities.
I also urge you to criminalize torture in your domestic law of Bangladesh. As a state party to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and as one of the member state of the UN Human Rights Council, the government of Bangladesh should maintain an environment that the human rights of its citizens are ensured not only under the principles of laws but in actual form.?
I look forward to your urgent intervention in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTER TO:
1. Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed
Chief Adviser
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Office of the Chief Advisor
Tejgaon, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 8828160-79, 9888677
Fax: +880 2 8113244 or 3243 or 1015 or 1490
2. Mr. Mohammad Ruhul Amin
Chief Justice
Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 9562792
Fax: +880 2 9565058
3. Barrister Mr. Fida M Kamal
Attorney General of Bangladesh
Office of the Attorney General
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 9562868
Fax: +880 2 9561568
4. Lt. General Moin U Ahmed
Chief of Army Staff
Bangladesh Army
Army Headquarters
Dhaka Cantonment
Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 9870011
Fax: +880 2 8754455
5. Mr. Noor Mohammad
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Bangladesh Police
Police Headquarters’
Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 9562054 or 7176451 or 7176677
Fax: +880 2 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)
8. 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 (ATTENTION: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
