Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that the Turag police forcefully invaded a disputed land, and the house located on it, despite a court order requesting them not to do so. The owner of the land, Lata Rahman, had previously sought the order following a dispute over the land with another party. The order affirmed that the land was to remain in Latas possession. However, on 7 January 2006, the police, along with ten other persons, ignored the court and took possession of the land. In the process, they damaged a concrete boundary wall and stole 12 pillars.
Following the incident, the police refused to lodge a complaint by Lata. However, she was able to later file a case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrates (CMM) Court in Dhaka against the police and their associates.
In light of this case, the AHRC is calling upon you to write letters to the relevant authorities in Bangladesh, in particular the Inspector General of Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs, urging them to take immediate disciplinary and legal action against the errant policemen of the Turag police station. The necessary reparation for the victim must also be met.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
…………………………………
DETAILED INFORMATION:
Name of the victim: Lata Rahman, a housewife, living in Bounia village under the Turag police station in Dhaka City
Name of the alleged perpetrators:
1. Nure Alam, Officer-in-Charge (OC), Turag police station of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Station (DMP)
2. Hasan Hafizur Rahman, Sub Inspector, attached to the Turag police station of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)
3. Nazrul Haq
4. Lina Shahnewaz Parvin
5. Tayab Ali
6. Hassan Reza Khan
7. Masuda Khanam
8. Jakir Hossain
9. Zarina Begum
10. Shahmsuddin
11. Islam Uddin
12. Meaz Uddin
(All living in the jurisdiction of the Turag police station in Dhaka)
Date of incident: 7 January 2006
Place of incident: The house of the victim in Bounia village under the Turag police station in Dhaka
On 18 January 2006, Mrs. Lata Rahman, who is the inhabitant and owner of land at Bounia under the Turag police station in the Dhaka city, filed a case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM)s Court in Dhaka alleging illegal invasion and damages against the Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mr. Nure Alam and Sub Inspector (S I), Mr. Hasan Hafizur Rahman of the Turag police station along with ten others. The incident took place on 7 January 2006 in Bounia village.
According to the prosecution, Lata Rahman and two other persons have been in possession of the 1.06 acres of land for a long time. But the alleged perpetrators, including Mr. Nazrul Haq and Ms. Lina made a forged power of attorney to take over the land last year. Lata then filed a criminal case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrates (CMM) Court against Nazrul and Lina in this regard. At the hearing, the court directed both parties to maintain the status quo on the land. On 7 January 2006, at around 9.00pm, Nazrul and Lina, with the assistance of the OC and the SI of the Turag police, along with other eight persons, forcefully took possession of the land. Lata also alleged that the perpetrators violated the order of the Court by breaking the concrete boundary wall surrounding the land and stealing 12 pillars.
It has been alleged that when Lata went to the Turag police to file a case in this regard, the OC and the SI used abusive words against her and threatened to implicate her in criminal cases. Moreover, the police and those who invaded the land have made arrangements to build houses on it.
Lata filed a case against the alleged perpetrators with the Metropolitan Magistrates Court in Dhaka on 19 December 2005.
The Magistrate, Mr. Syed Mujibul Haq ordered the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the North Zone of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to investigate into the case after recording the statement of the complaint during the hearing in court.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send letters immediately to the Inspector General of Police and the other persons listed below expressing your concern about the illegal invasion, damage to property, intimidation and refusal to record the case. Please ask them to take prompt action in investigating the conduct of the police and to ensure that justice is attained for the victim.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Mr. _______________,
BANGLADESH: Turag police invade property on violation of court order
Name of the victim: Lata Rahman, a housewife, living in Bounia village under the Turag police station in Dhaka City
Name of the alleged perpetrators:
1. Nure Alam, Officer-in-Charge (OC), Turag police station of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Station (DMP)
2. Hasan Hafizur Rahman, Sub Inspector, attached to the Turag police station of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)
3. Nazrul Haq
4. Lina Shahnewaz Parvin
5. Tayab Ali
6. Hassan Reza Khan
7. Masuda Khanam
8. Jakir Hossain
9. Zarina Begum
10. Shahmsuddin
11. Islam Uddin
12. Meaz Uddin
(All living in the jurisdiction of the Turag police station in Dhaka)
Date and time of incident: 7 January 2006, 7.00am.
Place of incident: The house of the victim at Bounia village under the Turag police station in Dhaka
I am writing to bring to your attention a recent case I have learned about involving a woman whose property was invaded and damaged by the Officer-in-Charge and Sub Inspector of the Turag police station. According to the information I have received, the police, along with ten other persons, invaded the land destroying the concrete boundary wall of the house. Earlier, a Court had imposed an injunction following a dispute between two groups over the land, which was in the possession of Lata Rahman and two other persons. The police, however, chose to ignore this court order. Along with damaging the property, 12 pillars were also stolen.
I have also learned that the police intimidated the woman and refused to record her complaint when she went to the police station to lodge a case regarding this incident.
In light of this, I request that you order a prompt and thorough investigation into the alleged conduct of the police. If it is found that the alleged perpetrators committed crimes against the victim, then they must be made accountable for their actions. If they are found guilty of trespassing, damage to property and intimidation of the victim, then they must be indicted under the prevailing domestic laws of Bangladesh. What is more, if the theft of the pillars is found to be true then the Turag Police must be charged and forced to compensate the victim for the losses she has suffered. During the investigation of the police, protection must be afforded to the victim.
Such action by the police is a matter of deep concern. It would appear that many of Bangladeshs police personnel are involved in the violation of laws rather than upholding the laws of the country. This reflects the lack of commitment as well as lack of respect for the citizens of the country and the excessive powers the police wield and abuse.
I therefore urge you and other government officials in Bangladesh to consider reforming your current law enforcement system by introducing better training programmes for your police officers and to make them more accountable for the abuses they commit against ordinary citizens of Bangladesh.
I look forward to your urgent intervention in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
---------------
PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Abdul Quayum
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Bangladesh Police
Police Headquarters
Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562054, 7176451, 7176677, 8362552 or 8362553
Fax: +88-02-9563362, 9563363
2. Mr. SM Mizanur Rahman
Commissioner
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)
The DMP Headquarters
1, Shaheed Captain Monsur Ali Road
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-8322746, 8316248, 8855922
Fax: +88-02-8322746
3. Mr. Md. Lutfozzaman Babor
State Minister
The Ministry of Home Affairs
Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-7169069, 8359000
Fax: + 88-02-7160405, 7164788
4. Mr. Anwarul Karim
Joint Secretary (Police)
Ministry of Home Affairs
Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-7164680, 8953012
Fax: +88-02-7171592
5. Mr. A. J. Mohammad Ali
The Attorney General of Bangladesh
The Office of the Attorney General
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562868
Fax: +88-02-9561568
6. Mr. Syed J. R. Mudassir Husain
The Chief Justice
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562792
Fax: +88-02-9565058
7. Mr. Miloon Kothari
UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing
Att: Ms. Cecilia Moller
Room 4-066/010
UNOG-OHCHR, CH-1211, Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9265
Fax: +41 22 917 9010
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
