Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that two persons, both local opposition political leaders, were arbitrarily arrested on suspicion, detained and tortured while in the custody of the Mohonpur police on 2 June 2006. Both victims received considerable injuries including one sustaining a broken hand as a result of the police brutality. Despite the seriousness of this case the authorities have not yet taken any action.
On 1 June 2006, a robbery occurred at midnight in the Mausumi Filling Station at the Rajshahi-Naogaon highway. On June 2, the owner of the filling station, Mr. Abdul Gaffar, lodged a case against unidentified persons with the Mohonpur police station. In the evening a police team led by Officer-in-Charge (OC), Mr. Ratan Krishna Nath, along with Sub Inspector (SI) Mr. Belal Hossain, called Mr. Darej Ali and Mr. Abul Kalam Azad. When Mr. Darej and Kalam went to the police station the police declared that they were being suspiciously arrested in connection with the robbery case. They were detained in police custody that night. The following morning the police produced them before the Magistrate’s Court in Rajshahi and returned them to remand for two days. During remand the police electrocuted them and beat them with sticks. As a result of the torture Kalam’s left hand was broken. Both the victims sustained considerable injuries.
The OC of the Mohonpur police station, Mr. Ratan Krishna Nath said that the police have to beat people during the interrogation as people do not confess without being beaten. It is also reported that the Second Officer of the police station, S I Mr. Rakib, admitted that there was no previous allegation of robbery against the two persons. He denied the allegation of torture despite the victims’ considerable injuries.
The authorities have not yet taken any action against the alleged perpetrators despite evidence of torture. It is common practice for innocent persons to be arrested by the police abusing section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code in order to harass people, extract illegal money and to follow the instructions of political leaders and senior police officials.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the persons listed below and urge them to ensure a fair and impartial investigation into this case. Please insist the Bangladesh Government to pay appropriate compensation to the victims. The security of the victims must be ensured.
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SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
BANGLADESH: Opposition political leaders arbitrarily arrested, detained and tortured by the Mohonpur police in Rajshahi district
Names of the victims:
1. Mr. Deraj Ali, son of the late Mr. Nader Ali Mandol, living in Kharail village, under the Mohonpour police station in Rajshahi district
2. Mr. Abul Kalam Azad (34), son of Mr. Afsar Ali Mandol, living in Mougachhi village, under the Mohonpur police station in Rajshahi district
Names of the alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Ratan Krishna Nath, Police Inspector and Officer-in- Charge (OC), Mohonpur police station, Rajshahi district
2. Mr. Belal Hossain, Sub Inspector (SI), Mohonpur police station, Rajshahi district
Place of incident: Mohonpur police station custody, Rajshahi district
Date of incident: 2 June 2006
I am writing to draw your attention to the arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of two persons, both of whom are local opposition political leaders, by personnel of the Mohonpur police in Rajshahi district.
According to the information I have received, on 1 June 2006, a robbery occurred at midnight at the Mausumi Filling Station on the Rajshahi-Naogaon highway. On June 2, the owner of the filling station, Mr. Abdul Gaffar, lodged a case against unidentified persons with the Mohonpur police station. That evening a police team led by Officer-in-Charge (OC), Mr. Ratan Krishna Nath, along with Sub Inspector (SI) Mr. Belal Hossain, called the victms, Mr. Darej Ali and Mr. Abul Kalam Azad. When Mr. Darej and Kalam went to the police station the police declared that they were being suspiciously arrested in connection with the robbery case. They were detained in police custody overnight. The following morning the police produced them before the Magistrate's Court in Rajshahi before returning them to remand for two days.
I have learned that during remand the police electrocuted the victims and beat them with sticks. As a result of the torture Kalam's left hand was broken. Both the victims sustained considerable injuries.
I am aware that the OC of the Mohonpur police station, Mr. Ratan Krishna Nath said that the
police have to beat people during interrogations, as they do not confess otherwise. I am also aware that the Second Officer of the police station, S I Mr. Rakib, admitted that there was no previous allegation of robbery against the victims. He denied the allegation of torture on the two persons despite the victims' considerable injuries.
Despite the gravity of the case the authorities have not yet taken any action against the alleged perpetrators. In light of this, I request that you ensure a fair and thorough investigation into the alleged conduct of the police. If it is found that the alleged perpetrators committed crimes against the victims, then they must be held accountable for their actions and if found guilty of crimes, indicted under the prevailing domestic laws of Bangladesh.
I trust your intervention will be forthcoming.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mrs. Begum Khaleda Zia
Prime Minister
The Government of the Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh
Office of the Prime Minister
Old Parliament House,
Tejgaon, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 8828160-79, 9888677
Fax: +880 2 8113244 or 3243 or 1015 or 1490
E-mail: pm@pmobd.org or psecretary@pmobd.org (to the Secretary)
2. Mr. Md. Lutfozzaman Babor MP
State Minister
The Ministry of Home Affairs
The Government of the Peoples¡¦ Republic of Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 7169069 (O) or 8359000 (R)
Fax: +880 2 7160405, +880 2 7164788
3. Mr. Sayed J. R. Modassir Hossain
The Chief Justice
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 9562792
Fax: +880 2 9565058
4. Mr. A J Mohammad Ali
Attorney General of Bangladesh
Office of the Attorney General
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 9562868
Fax: +880 2 9561568
5. Mr. Abdul Quayum
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Bangladesh Police
Police Headquarters
Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 9562054 or 7176451 or 7176677 (O), +880 2 8362552 or 8362553 (R)
Fax: +880 2 9563362 or 9563363
6. Mr. Dr. Baharul Alam BPM
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)
Rajshahi Range
Bangladesh Police
Office of the DIG of Rajshahi Range
Rajshahi
BANGLADESH
Tel: +88 0721 772309 (O)
Fax: +88 0721 775444 (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
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
