Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission has been informed that police assaulted a number of political activists and other demonstrators during a nationwide dawn-to-dusk strike and demonstration programme called by the 14 political opposition party alliance on 20 April 2006. Reports indicate that the police tortured some of the political activists, including women on the day of Hartal (Strike). Reports also indicate that some of the political activists were arrested by the police on the day before Hartal. The alliance of 14 political opposition parties, led by the Bangladesh Awami league, called the countrywide dawn-to-dusk Hartal to protest against the killing of 20 people by the police when they were demonstrating for the rural electrification in Chapianawabganj district.
The Alliance of the 14 political parties of Bangladesh called a dawn-to-dusk Hartal on 20 April 2006 protesting against the death of 20 people at Kansat under Shibganj police station of Chapainawabganj district (please see UA-013-2006; UA-041-2006; UP-013-2006; UP-020-2006, UP-025-2006 and UP-036-2006). A number of protestors were beaten by the police of Dhaka Metropolitan police (DMP) during the demonstration. Among them, Ms. Nazma Hossain Ratna, who is the Joint Secretary of Awami Jubo Mohila League (Youth Women League), a political wing of the mainstream opposition Bangladesh Awami League, based in Dhaka Sadar Police Station unit’s jurisdiction, has stated that the police attacked the demonstration at around 2:15pm. During the attack several female demonstrators were injured by the Police. Ms. Nazma herself reports having sustained considerable injuries to her knee joint, back and waist. She alleges that the police beat other demonstrators and also used abusive language. She was arrested and put in a police van, but released later following pressure by the demonstrators. She received medical treatment for her injuries at a private clinic in Dhaka and later at her home.
Shumi Aktar, who is the Joint Secretary of the Awami Juba Mohila League in the Demra Police Station unit’s jurisdiction, alleges that she was also beaten by the police while taking part in a procession at Rashel Square in Dhanmondi at around 11:00am. She reported that when police beat her she fell to the ground. She suffered injuries to her hand, back and waist.
Another political activist Mr. Mohoshin Hossain, who is a member of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), alleges that he was beaten by police in Mirpur Road while taking part in a demonstration. The policemen reportedly beat him to the ground and continued beating him with sticks. He reportedly sustained injuries to his hand, legs, back and waist.
Mr. Rafiqul Islam Raza, who is a leader of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), alleges that the police in the front of the JSD office beat him. He suffered injuries to his hands and legs.
The police, however, have denied the allegations related to the beatings of the opposition political activists during the strike. The Officer-in-Charge of the Danmondi police station and Mirpur police station denied the allegations when contacted by a fact-finding team.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send letters to the Inspector General of police and the other persons listed below expressing your concerns about the arbitrary arrest and beating of political activists and other demonstrators by the police of Bangladesh. The concerned government agencies must be urged to initiate thorough and impartial investigations into these events. All persons being detained arbitrarily as a result of these events must be released immediately in the absence of valid legal charges against them. The perpetrators must be brought to justice and adequate reparation must be provided to the victims.
Suggested letter:
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SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ______________,
BANGLADESH: Protestors beaten by the police in Dhaka
Names of the victims:
1. Ms. Nazma Hossain Ratna, Join Secretary of Awami Jubo Mohila League (Youth Women League) a political wing of the mainstream opposition Bangladesh Awami League, based in South in Dhaka Sadar Police Station unit's jurisdiction area, Dhaka
2. Somi Aktar, Join Secretary of the Awami Jubo Mohila League in the Demra Police Station unit's jurisdiction area, Dhaka
3. Mr. Mohoshin Hossain, member of Jasod, Dhaka
4. Mr. Rafiqul Islam Raza, leader of Jasod, Dhaka.
Name of alleged perpetrators: Members of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police attached to different police stations in Dhaka
Date of incident: 20 April 2006
I am writing to you in order to draw your attention to allegations of beatings and the arbitrary arrest of demonstrators and political activists by members of the police in Dhaka during a strike programme on 20 April 2006.
According to the information that I have received, the Alliance of 14 opposition political parties declared a nationwide dawn-to-dusk Hartal (strike) programme on April 20, to protest against the killing of 20 people by police when they demonstrated for rural electrification in Chapianawabganj district. The police reportedly physically assaulted demonstrators and political activists and arbitrarily arrested a number of them in order to repress the movement.
Among the victims, the police at Danmondi area beat Nazma Hossain Ratna, while she was taking part in a procession. She was arrested and put in a police van, but later released following pressure by the demonstrators. She received considerable injuries due to the beating by the police and is under treatment at her home.
Another victim, Shumi Aktar was beaten by the police in the Rashal Square in Dhanmondi area at around 11:00am on the same day, during a demonstration. She reported that when the police beat her she fell to the ground. She suffered injuries to her hand, back and waist. She has been receiving medical treatment at home. During the same incident male policemen used abusive language towards the women demonstrators.
In another case, Mr. Mohoshin Hossain was beaten by police in Mirpur Road while taking part in a demonstration. The policemen reportedly beat him to the ground and continued beating him with sticks. He reportedly sustained injuries to his hand, legs, back and waist.
I am aware that currently the victims are not receiving appropriate medical treatment for the injuries they have suffered.
In light of this, I urge you to commence an impartial and thorough investigation into these alleged incidents of beating and ill treatment without delay. If it is found that the alleged perpetrators have committed offences against the victims, appropriate charges must be filed against them and they should be brought before a court of law. All measures should be taken to ensure that the trial is speedy. The victims should be provided with adequate reparation for the physical and mental sufferings that they have endured.
I urge the Government of Bangladesh to enact domestic legislation declaring torture a crime. I am aware that the Bangladeshi government has acceded to the provisions of the U.N. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), but has thus far failed to enact laws in full conformity with the Convention.
I look forward to your urgent intervention in this matter
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Sayed 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
2. 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
3. Mr. Md. Lutfozzaman Babor MP
State Minister
The Ministry of Home Affairs
Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-7169069 (O)/ +88-02-8359000 (R)
Fax: +88-02-7160405/ +88-02-7164788 (O)
4. Mr. Abdul Quayum
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Bangladesh Police
Police Headquarters
Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-9562054(O)/ +88-02-7176451/ +88-02-7176677
Fax: +88-02-9563362 (O)/ +88-02-9563363
5. 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 (O)/ +88-02- 8316248
Fax: +88-02-8322746 (O)
6. Mr. Anwarul Karim
Joint Seceretary (Police)
Ministry of Home Affairs
Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88-02-7164680 (O)/ +88-02-8953012 (R)
Fax: +88-02-7171592 (O)
7. Prof. 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 (general)
E-mail: ssyed@ohchr.org
8. 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 on Violence against Women)
Email: lohanlon@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
