Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wrote to you about a rape case happened in Khulna district, the victim has faced continuous threats from the alleged perpetrator due to the deliberate inaction of the Paikgachha police (To learn more details, please refer to our original appeals: UP-221-2006; UA-306-2006). We have now updated the information regarding this case. An investigation team of two officers from the National Security Intelligence (NSI) started investigation following the Urgent Appeals of the AHRC. They interviewed the victim, clinicians, local police officers, lawyers and witnesses, including the alleged perpetrators and their allies. The AHRC urges all of our friends to write to the Bangladesh government, and urge them to release the investigation report to the public and prosecute the alleged perpetrators if the allegations are proved.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
On 18 March 2007, two officers from the National Security Intelligence (NSI) agency, Mr. Abul Bashar and Mr. Gazi, went to Paikgachha upazilla to investigate the alleged rape case of Mrs. Anita Rani Mondol. As Mrs. Anita’s husband Mr. Jamini Mondol and other male members of the family were not at home, she did not talk much about the latest situation of her case to the NSI team. The two investigators then asked Anita to go to their office in Khulna along with her husband and other witnesses.
It was reported that the NSI investigators inquired about the case from the Paikgachha police, hospital officials, lawyers, clinicians, and Mr. S M A Mazed, the Chairman of the Sonadana Union Council, who has allegedly assisted the alleged perpetrators since the rape case happened. The alleged perpetrators led by Mr. Panchanon Mondol had already met the two officers in the Khulna office of the NSI.
On 25 March 2007, Mrs. Anita, her husband and a few witnesses also visited the NSI Office in the Khulna city and gave their statements to the team.
Local sources also reported that the NSI investigating team mentioned the AHRC’s intervention which urged government authorities to investigate the alleged distortion of investigation report regarding the case.
However, the victim and witnesses of the case are concerned that none of the alleged perpetrators has yet been prosecuted. It was also alleged that the allies of Mr. Panchanon Mandol (the main suspect) have been intimidating Mrs. Anita’s family continuously to force her to withdraw the case.
The victim and witnesses also worry that the investigation report may not be published in public and the Bangladesh government may not take action against the alleged perpetrators. It is a general belief of the local people in Bangladesh that investigations are “eye washed” steps by the government, and authorities never publish reports nor prosecuted the alleged perpetrators.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the relevant Bangladesh authorities listed below and urge them to publish the investigation report as soon as possible and take strong action to prosecute and punish the alleged perpetrators. Please also send your letters to the relevant UN agencies listed below.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
BANGLADESH: Intelligence wing investigates into the rape case in Khulna
Name of the victim: Mrs. Anita Rani Mandol, wife of Mr. Jamini Mondol, resides in Khaliar Chak village under the Paikgachha police station in Khulna district, Bangladesh
Name of the alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Panchanan Mondol (main suspect/rapist), son of the late Mr. Jitendra Nath Mondol
2. Mr. Krishnapado Mondol, alleged perpetrator 1’s brother
3. Mr. Shivpado Mondol, son of Mr. Patiram Mondol, a relative of the alleged perpetrator 1
4. Mr. Bhola Nath Mondol, son of Mr. Patiram Mondol, a relative of the alleged perpetrator 1
5. Mr. Bipul Mondol, alleged perpetrator 1’s son
(All the above five men live in Khaliar Chak village under the Paikgachha police station in Khulna district)
6. Mr. Mohshin Uddin, Sub Inspector of Police attached to the Paikgachha police station in Khulna district. He is the Investigating Officer (IO) of the concerned case
Date of the original incident: 23 July 2006
Place of original incidence: The victim’s house in Khaliar Chak village under the Paikgachha police station in Khulna district
I am pleased to learn that the Government of Bangladesh has assigned its National Security Intelligence (NSI) agency to investigate the rape case of Mrs. Anita Rani Mandol on 18 & 25 March 2007.
However, I am concerned that none of the alleged perpetrators has yet been prosecuted. I am also informed that the allies of Mr. Panchanon Mandol (the main suspect) have been intimidating Mrs. Anita’s family continuously to force her to withdraw the case. The local authorities should help to stop such intimidation immediately, and ensure the security of the victim, her family and witnesses will be ensured without delay.
I expect that the investigation to be open and impartial to identify the negligence and corruption of the Paikgachha police. The investigation report should be published in public as soon as possible and strong action should be taken to prosecute and punish the alleged perpetrators. Disciplinary action should also be taken against the Investigating Officer of the case at the Paikgachha police station for his alleged misconduct of the investigation and corruption.
I also request you to ensure adequate compensation is provided to the victim, who sustained serious social stigma and injuries due to the alleged rape and malpractices of the police.
I look forward to your urgent and effective intervention in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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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
2. Barrister Moinul Hossain
Adviser
Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-7160627 (O)
Fax: +88-02-7168557 (O)
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. 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
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)
6. Ms. Yakin Erturk
Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women
c/o Ms Vernonica Birga
Room 3-042
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9615
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
