(Hong Kong, November 14, 2012) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has filed a petition to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) yesterday, November 13, seeking the WGEID’s intervention in the case of disappearance of Mr. Mohammad Imam Hassan (Badal). Badal remains disappeared since the past eight months. His parents had met him at the headquarters of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-2 on March 16, 2012. The AHRC filed the petition on behalf of Badal’s father, Mr. Ruhul Amin.
The WGEID is mandated to assist the relatives of disappeared persons, to ascertain the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared person. For this purpose the WGEID receives and examines reports of disappearances submitted by the relatives of disappeared persons or human rights organisations acting on their behalf.
The AHRC earlier issued an Urgent Appeal on October 31, 2012, regarding the same case, which can be accessed at: www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAC-190-2012. The AHRC has also communicated the case to the authorities in Bangladesh including the Prime Minister seeking an intervention in the case.
In an interview with the AHRC, Amin said that the country’s ‘elite force’ has deliberately caused the disappearance of his son for mere material and corrupt concerns. He said, “[b]oth the kidnappers and the RAB demanded ransom for releasing my son! With my earning from selling bananas on the street, I cannot pay the ransom these people demand. Yet, I managed to pay Taka Forty-Thousand to the RAB, which is way beyond what I could afford. My family is suffering from unimaginable trouble and pain.” He asked, “[w]hat is the difference between the RAB and the terrorists?” He also said that Sub Inspector Mr. Raju of RAB-2 threatened him that if Amim were to disclose the disappearance of his son and the bribes the RAB demanded to anyone, his family would face “dire consequences” including the disappearance of Imam forever.
The Government of Bangladesh all those who are concerned about the people of Bangladesh and their fate should reflect upon Amin’s comparison of the RAB with the terrorists, which under the present circumstances in Bangladesh is true. Both these groups commit crimes with impunity. The dysfunctional justice institutions in the country, including the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh have done nothing to improve this despicable state of affairs.
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