BANGLADESH: Three people, including a schoolboy, killed and sixteen injured by police fire in Kustia district 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that three persons were killed by police fire in the Kustia district. The policemen were working under a Mobile Court led by a class one magistrate who was conducting an operation to seize ‘illegal’ sugar cane crushers from farmers. The firing by the police also left at least sixteen villagers injured who are now struggling to survive in hospitals without appropriate medical treatment. The families of the deceased persons have neither received compensation nor been assured that any will be forthcoming.

Meanwhile, the police are harassing citizens, including the sugar cane farmers following two cases having been filed with the Daulatpur police station. They are seeking men to arrest arbitrarily in connection with the clash with the police. The men have been therefore, forced to hide in order to escape arrest and harassment. The police are intimidating the women and children in their search for the males of each house.

The AHRC is calling upon you to write letters to the relevant authorities in Bangladesh, in particular the Inspector General of Police, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, urging them to take immediate disciplinary and legal action against the Magistrate and the errant policemen of Kustia district. The necessary reparations for the family of the victims must be met.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victims (killed):
1. Ratan (15), a student of class X, son of Mr. Bhogol Mondol, living in Bhurakapara village, Daulatpur police station under Kustia district
2. Azam (32), a farmer, son of Dabir Farazi, living in Bhurakapara village, Daulatpur police station under Kustia district
3. Mizanur Rahman (25), a farmer, son of Abtoar Ali Mondol, living in Gaserdiar village, Daulatpur police station under Kustia district
Name of the victims (injured):
1. Mizan Boyati (25)
2. Gias (18)
3. Kabil (35)
4. Kashem (38)
5. Amirul (22)
6. Abdul Kuddus (22)
7. Jesmin Akter (11), a schoolgirl, daughter of Jindar Ali, living in Gaserdiar village, Daulatpur police station under Kustia distirict
Name of the alleged perpetrators: Magistrate Mr. Abdul Aziz Mian and three platoon of policemen from Kustia district
Date of incident: 28 December 2005
Place of incident: Dakkhin Bhurukapara village, Daulatpur police station under Kustia district

Case details:

On 28 December 2005, at around 1.00pm a ‘Mobile Court’ led by a class one magistrate, Mr. Abdul Aziz Mian went to the Bhurukapara village under the Daulatpur police station in Kustia district to seize illegal sugar-cane crushing machines. The farmers and the villagers, however, would not allow the Mobile Court to seize the sugar-cane crushing machines for retaining their profit. When the court seized two machines, ignoring repeated requests from the farmers not to do so, they attacked the Mobile Court team, including the Magistrate and policemen, in an attempt to stop the seizure. Magistrate Mr. Abdul Aziz Mian, Sub Inspector of Police Mr. Nurul Islam and seven constables were injured when the villagers and farmers threw stones and brick bats at them. The magistrate then ordered the police to open fire on the agitated farmers. Three people, including a schoolboy, and at least 10 villagers were confirmed injured. Among the wounded were Jesmin Akter (11), Mizan Boyati (25), Gias (18), Kabil (35), Kashem (38), Amirul (22) and Abdul Kuddus (22) who were hospitalised and continue to receive treatment for their injuries. It has also been reported that ten other people, whose names are not yet confirmed, received bullet injuries.

Two cases have been filed so far regarding the incident. The Manager (Sugar-cane Collection) of the Kustia Sugar Mills, Mr. Habibur Rahman lodged a case with the Daulatpur police station against three hundred people from the two villages of Bhurukapara and Gaserdiar and identified thirteen persons in the First Information Report (FIR). A Chowkidar (member of Village Defense Party-VDP), Mr. Babar Ali also lodged a case against two hundred villagers with the same police station. In the two cases the villagers have been accused of killing people and rendering government staff to perform their official duties.

The victims and the villagers are now living in fear as a result of the two cases filed by the sugar mill official and the security guard who were directly guided by the police and other government officials. The men of the two villages have already left their homes to escape arbitrary arrest. The women and children are being repeatedly threatened and harassed to reveal the whereabouts of the men. It has been reported that three platoon of police have been deployed in the area to patrol the two villages. A one-member probe committee has been created by the government headed by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Kustia district, Mr. Sheikh Mizanur Rahman to investigate the incident and submit a report as early as possible.

Meanwhile, the wounded victims are struggling to obtain medical treatment due to financial hardship. The Deputy Commissioner of Kustia district asked the sugar mill’s authority to arrange treatment only for one victim, schoolgirl Jesmin Akter (11) who was admitted to the Kustia General Hospital after receiving serious bullet wounds. The rest of the victims have remained unattended to in hospital despite requiring urgent medical treatment. The families of the deceased persons have not yet received any compensation from the government authority.

The sugar-cane farmers have expressed concern for the frequent seizure operations the sugar mill’s authority has conducted. Describing in detail they allege that farmers have been forced to use homemade crushers due to low prices, mismanagement and corruption by the mill officials. The sugar mill’s authority pays irregularly, which causes manifold problems in the livelihood of the poor farmers who are forced to live in miserable conditions. The farmers use homemade power crushers, which are declared ‘illegal’ by the government.

The sugar mill’s authority has said that farmers living inside the zone of the mill are ordered by the government to sell their sugar canes to the mill authority for the sake of survival of the government owned industry. The loss of profits in the last couple of years has inspired the government owned mills to start seizing ‘illegal’ power crushers.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please send a letter immediately to the Inspector General of Police and the other persons listed below expressing your concern about the extra judicial killing of three persons urging them to take prompt action to investigating the conduct of the magistrate and the police and to ensure that justice is attained for the families of the victims.

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