Extra Judicial Killing

Spot Alamdanga: Involve RAB 6

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:16:47 PST

PBCP leader killed in Rab 'shootout'

Mokaddes Ali Malitha. Photo Source: Daily Amarddesh.

By Bangladesh Media; The Daily Star reports, a leader of the outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML) was killed in a “shootout” between a Rapid Action Battalion team and his cohorts in Alamdanga upazila of Chuadanga early yesterday. The deceased, Mokaddes Moka, 40, of Bhadua village in the upazila, was the regional commander of the party.

Referring to the RAB source Rab-6 Commander Hasanur Rahman Shanto, the Daily Stars Kushtia correspondent wrote "-While patrolling Jamjami village, a team of Rab-6 chased some PBCP members around 2:00am."RAB 6 Commander says "- The outlaws took refuge at a villager's house from where they opened fire on the elite force members. As the RAB men returned fire, a gunfight ensued. Moka was hit by bullets while his associates managed to flee. The bullet-hit Moka was taken to the local health complex where he was declared dead."

It could be mentioned that despite promises many times by the government to the different right groups, -"corssfire", "Shootout", "Encoounter" continues in Bangladesh.

Force Disappearance:

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:55:06 PST

By Bangladesh Media, Bangladesh Nationalist Party's Dhaka city word commissioner Chowdhury Alam was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion dated on June 25, 2010. Since then he is traceless. Dhaka City Corporation Mayor and BNP Dhaka chief Sadek Hossain Khoka demands whereabouts of Chowdhury Alam in a press conference.

This Time Police

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:30:04 PST

Two youths were killed in ‘crossfire’.

Liton (28) and Raja (27). Photo Source: Daily Amar Desh.

By Bangladesh Media, Two youths were killed in ‘crossfire’ with the law enforcers in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia district in Bangladesh on early Wednesday, the police claimed. The deceased are Hossain Raja, 27, son of Intaz Ali of Kazipur village in Meherpur, and Liton Hossain, 28, son of Fulchand Hossain of Tekala village in Kushtia. In a Month this is the second incident in Kustia which took place.

It could be mentioned that on October 23 of this year, another two young men were killed by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), in the same district of Bangladesh.

After the incident police said -They were members of an inter-district gang involved in various criminal activities mainly abduction.

Chokdar Abdul Halim, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) in Kushtia, said two Detective Branch police teams from Kushtia and Mirpur police stations raided Boropukuria field around 1:45am, where the gang members were holding a secret meeting.

ASP Halim said, "-Sensing their presence, the criminals opened fire and also hurled two bombs targeting the law enforcers, In self defense, the police team fired back, triggering an hour-long gunfight."

“We found two bodies lying on the spot after the gunfight ended,” the ASP said adding that police later identified the duo as Raja and Liton. "The remaining gang members managed to flee the scene."

The bodies were sent to Kushtia General Hospital morgue for autopsies.

It could be mentioned that the latest incidents took to 58 the number of people killed in such incidents of ‘crossfire,’ ‘gunfight’ or ‘encounter’ after January 1, 2011. Two hundred and eighty-eight people have so far fallen victim to extrajudicial killing by law enforcers since January 6, 2009 when the government assumed office with a commitment to put an end to such killings. Many disappeared with out any trace -just after the arrest by the plain cloths law enforcement agency members.

Spot Shirajgonj:

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 11:04:21 PDT

He was a member of Purbo Bangla Communist Party.

Khorshed Alam. Photo: Daily Amardesh

By Bangladesh Media; The Daily Star reports, a leader of an outlawed organisation was killed in a so-called 'gunfight' in Kamarkhand upazila of Sirajganj early yesterday. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) demanded he was killed because of gunfight between his accomplices and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

Rab said Khorshed Alam, 34, was a regional commander of Lal Pataka, a faction of extremist outfit Purbo Banglar Communist Party. He lived in Jatibari Rasulpur village of the same upazila.

Rab-12 director Lt Col ATM Anisuzzaman (BP, PSC) told The Daily Star that a team led by deputy assistant director Mafiz Uddin raided Char Tangrail village around 2:30am over information that a gang of miscreants were holding a secret meeting there.
Sensing trouble, Khorshed and his accomplices opened fire on them, prompting the elite force personnel to retaliate. Khorshed died on the spot while his cohorts managed to flee the scene, the Rab officer said.

A case was lodged in this connection.

Two more death!

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:49:22 PDT

Same story's repetition!

By Bangladesh Media, Two unidentified man were killed by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Kustia, a south western district in Bangladesh. Different media published different stories. While Rapid Action Battalion demanded that they were Hijackers.

The Daily Independent reports as the deceased were muggers. In its two line report says "Two unidentified muggers were killed in an encounter with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at Bhadalia in Sadar upazila early Sunday."

Daily Prothom Alo's online edition published the news then removed from its website with out any explanation. Later on it describes the deceased are Ziaur Rahaman 35 and Milon Ali 32 from Kustia.
While the daily Star reports as "Two alleged auto-rickshaw lifters were killed in a ‘shootout’ between their cohorts and Rapid Action Battalion members on the outskirts of Kushtia town early Sunday."

Referring to a source from RAB it says "the elite force members received information that a gang hijacked a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Gazipur and moved to the Kushtia-Khulna highway. Being informed by Gazipur Rab, members of Rab-12 went to Bhadalia and challenged an auto-rickshaw passing the highway. The three-wheelers plunged into a roadside ditch after being chased by the Rab men."

The report says commander of Rab-12 in Kushtia unit, Lt. Abdullah Al Mehedi said, "Five lifters went out of the auto-rickshaw and opened fire on the elite force members around 2:30am, forcing them to fire back that triggered a ‘gunfight’. Two of the gang was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot while the rest three managed to flee the scene, he said."

One more Killed.

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:18:46 PDT

A man was killed by RAB and alleged as criminal.

Photo: Daily Amar Desh

By Bangladesh Media; The daily star reports about a man was killed by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Referring to its Correspondent from Khagrachhari it reports that an alleged criminal was killed in a 'shootout' between his accomplices and members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) at Laksmichhari of Khagrachhari district early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Sumati Ranjan Chakma, 24, of Kayang Ghat in Mohalchhari upazila.

Refferring to Rab sources it wrote, acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB raided a house at Jurgachhari village where Sumati along with his 10 to 12 accomplices gathered to plan some criminal activities. Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the criminals opened fire on the elite force, prompting them to fire back that triggered a gunfight, said Lt Col Zulfikar, commanding officer of Rab-7.

After an hour-long gunfight, the bullet-hit body of Sumati was found lying on the ground while all of his accomplices except Laksmi Ranjan Chakma, 18, managed to flee the spot, he said. Laksmi was taken into Rab custody. He will be handed over to police after filing of a case, Lt Col Zulfikar added.

At least 35 rounds of bullet were traded during the gunfight.

The Daily star reports RAB members recovered three rifles, one AK 47, two pistols, 42 bullets, some sharp knives from the house. Kamrul Hassan, officer-in-charge of Laksmichhari Police Station, confirmed the incident saying that police recovered the dead body and sent it to Khagrachhari Adhunik Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

More 4 person were killed:

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:27:38 PDT

This time they are called as "Pirates".

By Anwar Hossain, This time they are called as pirates of Sundarban. Referring to Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) source, a national daily newspaper reports that four "pirates" were killed in a “gunfight” with Rapid Action Battalion in the Sundarbans under Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat yesterday.

The deceased, aged between 30 and 40, were members of Raju Bahini, a gang of local pirates, said Major Sabbir Osmani of Rab-8. Three of the four pirates were identified as Rawshan, Nati Kamrul and Belayet.

A team of Rab-8 on three trawlers were patrolling the area around 11:00am when they noticed suspicious movements of another trawler on the Bhoirav river near Dhanichabari of the upazila, said Lt Col Monirul Haque, commanding officer of Rab-8, who led the operation.

The Rab team challenged the trawler. Within sometime, passengers from that trawler fired on the law enforcers, prompting them to fire back. At one stage of the firing, the pirates entered a canal of the Sundarbans forest, anchored their trawler and fled. Later, the RAB members recovered four bullet-ridden bodies from deep into the forest.

Amnesty International Report:

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:44:44 PDT

Amnesty International express its deep concern about

Extra Judicial Killing in Bangladesh.

By Bangladesh Media; Human Rights organization Amnesty International expressed its concern in a report published in its own web page yesterday. The report says, "Bangladesh authorities must honour their pledge to stop extrajudicial executions by a special police force accused of involvement in hundreds of killings".

Introducing the situation of extra judicial killings in Bangladesh in a small introduction Amnesty International says "Crimes unseen: Extrajudicial executions in Bangladesh also documents how the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) justify these killings as accidental or as a result of officers acting in self-defense, although in reality many victims are killed following their arrest."

“Hardly a week goes by in Bangladesh without someone being shot by RAB with the authorities saying they were killed or injured in ‘crossfire’ or a ‘gun-fight’. However the authorities choose to describe such incidents, the fact remains that they are suspected unlawful killings,” said Abbas Faiz, Amnesty International’s Bangladesh Researcher.

The RAB has been implicated in the killing of at least 700 people since its inception in 2004. Any investigations that have been carried out into those killed have either been handled by RAB or by a government-appointed judicial body but the details of their methodology or findings have remained secret. They have never resulted in judicial prosecution. RAB has consistently denied responsibility for unlawful killings and the authorities have accepted RAB claims.

“It is appalling that virtually all alleged instances of illegal RAB killings have gone unchallenged or unpunished. There can be no justice if the force is the chief investigator of its own wrong-doings. Such investigations cannot be impartial. There is nothing to stop the RAB from destroying the evidence and engineering the outcome,” said Abbas Faiz.

Former detainees also told Amnesty International how they were routinely tortured in custody, suffering beatings, food and sleep deprivation, and electric shocks.

At least 200 alleged RAB killings have occurred since January 2009 when the current Awami League government came to power, despite the Prime Minister’s pledge to end extrajudicial executions and claims by the authorities that no extrajudicial executions were carried out in the country in this period.

In addition, at least 30 people have been killed in other police operations since early 2010, with the police also portraying them as deaths in “shoot-outs” or “gun-fights”.

“By failing to take proper judicial action against RAB, successive Bangladeshi governments have effectively endorsed the force’s claims and conduct and given it carte blanche to act with impunity. All we have seen from the current government are broken promises or worse, outright denial,” said Abbas Faiz.

In many cases the investigations blamed the victims, calling them criminals and portraying their deaths as justified even though available public evidence refuted that.

“The Bangladesh authorities must act now and take concrete steps to protect people from the alleged unlawful killings by their security forces .The government must ensure independent and impartial investigations into all suspected cases of extrajudicial executions and bring those responsible to justice.”

Bangladesh’s police and RAB continue to receive a wide range of military and police equipment from overseas, including from Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey and USA. In addition, diplomatic cables from the US Embassy in Dhaka, obtained and released by Wikileaks in December 2010 alleged that UK police had been training RAB officers.

Amnesty International calls upon these countries to refrain from supplying arms to Bangladesh that will be used by RAB and other security forces to commit extrajudicial executions and other human rights violations. Any country that knowingly sends arms or other supplies to equip a force which systematically violates human rights may itself bear some responsibility for those violations.

RAB was created in March 2004, to much public acclaim, as the government’s response to a breakdown in law and order, particularly in western and central Bangladesh.

In Rajshahi, Khulna and Dhaka districts, armed criminal groups or powerful mercenary gangs colluded with local politicians to run smuggling rings or extort money from local people. Within months of its creation, RAB’s operations were characterized by a pattern of killings portrayed by the authorities as ‘deaths in crossfire’, many of which had the hallmarks of extrajudicial executions.

They usually occurred in deserted locations after a suspect’s arrest. In some cases, there were witnesses to the arrests, but RAB authorities maintained that victims had been killed by ‘crossfire’, or in ‘shoot-outs’ or ‘gunfights’.

Bangladesh’s two main political parties – the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Awami League – have shown no commitment to limiting the powers of RAB.

In the first couple of months of coming to office, the Prime Minister spoke of a “zero tolerance” policy toward extrajudicial executions. Other government authorities repeated her pledge. These hopes were dashed in late 2009 when the authorities, including the Home Minister, began to claim that there were no extrajudicial executions in the country.

An exile column: Behind human rights!

noreply@blogger.com (Jahangir Alam Akash-Editor Euro Bangla) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:07:46 PDT

Jahangir Alam Akash: Human rights are an extensive and widespread matter. This concept is hundred percent universal. What can be imagination human rights, except the rights of food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education? Free from all bindings called human rights. It is a fundamental right and freedom. That is all people alike to enjoy the right to receive or maintain. Economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights are of all human rights.
There are significant human rights conditions in the eyes of the law are survival of freedom, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, freedom to work, freedom of cultural activities, freedom of food, religious freedom, and equal right for all. Misgovernment, inequality, lawlessness, injustice, indiscipline, corruption and even the name of religion the running extremism, terrorism, and many other ways including the autocratic mentality human rights are being jeopardized. Due to these causes the common people are right-less of country to country. By this product is increasing the procession of food, education, medical care and homeless people over the whole world.

In Asia, Africa, America and Europe everywhere to the world about human rights abuses is notable. The only difference is this – somewhere less than the impacts. In the line of human rights, Asia and Africa’s position are miserable than Europe or America. Many countries of Asia and Africa submerged under corruption. There is no real democracy in practice. There is also no scientific institutional education system and the development of the technology infrastructure for use. However, the impact of natural disasters, political unrest, dash, and division many negative symptoms are there in Bangladesh. Out of these, there is a violation of human rights by rich countries and alliances in the name of to protect people from the autocratic rulers.
Behind the protection of human rights, human rights are grabbing by both inter-and outer strength! The violators of human rights are taking shelter by various techniques. As a matter of human rights and universal human rights around the world today, the issue has become a public issue. Of course has a different meaning of it to the opportunist, corruption-power minded state leaders and their collaborator. The power, family and personal comfort are the major subjects of them.
The two sides are always active around human rights. One side is to protect the rights of human being, other side is the violator. In reality we see that, human rights are violating by both parts! Rising violence, indiscipline, injustice and many black laws are violating the human rights. In many countries, extra judicial killings are going on where there is no believe or practice to the democracy.
On the other side, the uses of firearms, bomb and ammunition are damaging innocent people’s lives. The women and children are not exemption from it. War is destroying city, port, civilization and culture. To be changing the living of lives. Destroy the environment. Society is going to lose the peace, and harmony. Who will be taken this responsibility?
However, use of the bomb and the weapon is never to protect the rights or lives. It does can only destroy the peace and human life. But the intellectual of the state runners doesn’t or can’t understand this easy matter. Sometimes, in the name of protecting human rights and peoples become their large aims to achieve economic interests and aggressions. Up to the exchange of interest for those days is no problem. Then, the autocratic leaders are good! Whenever the problems come regarding the interests then the leaders become very dangerous for the people and human rights. Is this theory compatible with universal human rights? That means they do not understand it!
People understand that, once upon a time the rulers of autocratic and human rights violator were best friend of some imperialist rulers. Extra judicial killings are not legal in the third world countries! Even kill to a terrorist is not legal there but if any country is from the first world killed to someone in extra judicially wouldn’t be a violation of human rights! Is this contradictory and discriminating behavior or doctrine can be established peace, human rights in the society, in the world? Funny thing is that, the formula of extra judicial killings is same in everywhere. It happened in third world or in the first world.
The main topic for discussion today is the human rights practice inside of my favorite motherland Bangladesh. There are many ways to oppressing the people, to violate the human rights and dignity. State, state forces, terrorist groups have a good role to become the violators of human rights. There are human rights unsuccessful as universality, human rights are divided by the politics or believe of politics. Human rights are defeated by the individual and his or her political ideology in Bangladesh. Some of the people are using human rights as the slope for personal and the political interest. If someone has effected unexpectedly for any private cause then he or she makes color on it as it’s a violation of human rights. Such an event has been occurred recently at Thakurgaon, is the northern part of Bangladesh.
Dear reader, I consider the details of this event for justification and observations. On 10 January, 2011 Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) executive director Sahanur Islam (alias Saikot) has filed a complaint with Thakurgaon Sadar police station. He wrote, “on January 9 in a time of 1.30am in the event of human rights violation, I went to the home of so called victims Jalil and Yunus at the village of Bania Jhargaon of Thakurgaon with my two assistants Sohel Rana and Ujjal Hossen. A terrorists group has attacked on us by the help of that victim Jalil and Yunus. They were taken our laptop, camera, id, video, pen-drive, money and mobile phones from us. When we tried to resists them then they threatened us to kill.”
This issue has come to my notice in May, 2011. When, I was just finishing my Austrian part after Germany. I was noticed with this event by Jenny Lundström, Human Rights Officer of “Global Human Rights Defense” (GHRD). She sent me a Bengali text for translating to English. Though, I am not good in English. In spite of, I like to try to do it as my ability. I personally have indebted to Jenny. Friendly, humanistic Jenny is working to develop the human rights in Asia, especially she works hardly for Bangladesh.
I indebted and grateful to the Amnesty International, International Pen, Asian Human Rights Commission, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Pen-Norway, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Hamburg Foundation, International Haus Der Autoren- Graz, Austria, International Cities of refugees Network (ICORN), GHRD, Bangladesh Rehabilitation Center for Trauma Victims, Christian Development Alternative, Rajshahi Press Club, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (Sobhan-Jalil), E-Bangladesh etc. I also particularly grateful to the German journalist and human right defender Bernhard Hertlein (Amnesty International, German Section), German author and human right activist Myriam Alexowitz, Chairman of the Writers in Prison Committee, International Pen Marian Botsford Fraser, Helge Lunde, Executive director of ICORN, Elisabeth Dyvik, Program director of ICORN. I would also like to give thanks to an eminent journalist-editor of Bangladesh , ABM Musa, writer Abduallah Al-Harun, Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique (Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University), Prof. Anwar Hossain of Dhaka University, Prof. Malay Bhowmic (Management), Abdullah-Al Mamun (Mass Communication and Journalism) of Rajshahi University Prof. Rahnuma Ahmed & Prof. Sohel Ahmed (Jahangirnagar University), Lutfar Rahman (former President of Rajshahi Chamber & Commerce Association), Naymul Islam Khan (Editor of Amader Somoy), Maynul Islam Khan (Bangladesh Correspondent of Reporters Without Borders) those who were sympathetic towards me and support me in many ways during my dangerous time in Bangladesh. I am grateful to all of them.
However, I doubt Mr. Shahnur’s complaint after read it. It was too large event, but the media has ignored it! The founder of BIHR is a member of parliament of ruling party Bangladesh Awami League. Shahnur’s political ideology is same. My mind is involved with journalism and I have dedicated my career to be a two-decade-long journalism. No doubt about it, the search continues to monitor and investigate the truth is a professional duty of a journalist. I prayed help from my fellow journalist friends whom I known. Many of them give up their hands to me to investigate the complaint of Shahnur. I got the cell number of a concern police. Firstly, I phoned to Mr. Gopal Chakrabarty, officer in charge of Thakurgaon police station. I wanted to know about the complaint of Shahnur. He wanted to know from me that which side I phoned. I want to know the truth and the truth, I am always in favor. He told me, in this case (Mr. Shahnur complaint), there are a lot of pressure. What is stress and why, he didn’t reply. Instead, he gave me the cell number of the investigative officer of Shahnur’s complaint and advised me to talk with him. Investigative officer, Kamal Mohan Chaki said, the matter is under investigation. This is not something to be said! So my doubt on the contents of the complaint has increased. I decided to investigate the matter. Some journalist friends of mine of Panchagarh and Thakurgaon (northern part of Bangladesh) respond to investigate it, after my request. A three member investigative team was formed by two local famous journalists of Thakurgaon district, including a lawyer.
Committee members have tried to discover the actual event or truth from the spot. Committee report sent to me that I want to share with you exactly. “The people of Jhargaon/Bania village of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila are not aware till today with any event of human rights violation. They do not know of any incidents of human rights violation. According to the different class-profession of local people, there is a group of fake dollar businessmen are active. The counterfeit dollar businessmen are making deception with different people. Many people come here from different part of the country to purchase the US Dollar. They can purchase it comparatively much less as the market value. There are many valuable tools, including money to plunder are common. In the event of such a document contains found from the police file in last two/three years. A village doctor, Bishanath Roy (30) told the investigation team, ‘If any human rights violation event would occur around the village then it should be known to me. I discussed with the people about many things even their family problems during my out of professional time. If such a sensitive issue in the region has been occurred of course it could be known.’ He said, but someone was cheated by a group of sharper at 500/700 meters away from the market to come for purchasing the US dollar. Piar Ali (21), son of Kabirul told, some person had been deceived whose were come to purchasing the US dollar. In this connection, Thakurgaon Sadar police have arrested a middle aged man called Hamidul Islam who charged with cheating. Arrested Hamid said, he was not at home of the event day. Moksed, Tara Miah and many other local people have told that, they are not aware of the any human rights violation event in this area. People told that, Mr. Shahnur has accused the aged Yunus and Jalil. Both of them are now over 70 years. They don’t have the normal ability to act of walking or moving. So how they made this crime, we don’t understand. Investigator of this case, Komal Mohan said, the event is still not fully investigated. However, he acknowledged that the area is famous for fake dollar business. He also said, maybe a bad group was given false identification and information to Mr. Shahanur Islam and took him here.”
This is the activity of a human right worker or a leader of human rights in Bangladesh! Shahnur Islam is not only the chief of a human right organization, but also he is the ‘Justice Maker’ of an organization based in Switzerland. And he also recently appointed as country observer for GHRD. He himself clarified this latest designation of him at the Face book. Conscious, respectable reader, I do not want to make any comment about the above event. Do not want to. And now by you to monitor the actual content and the truth, might be what? I can just say that, this so-called justice maker is an expert to say false!
Before coming to Germany forced to leave the motherland, I had experienced with his treachery. I think we need to focus on this issue. I was unlawfully arrested in 2007. When, I was doing journalism, as well as performing as regional coordinator for Bangladesh Rehabilitation Center for Trauma Victims (BRCT). Mr. Shahnur Islam has circulated to the international community that, his organizations BRCT and BIHR mitt-up the legal fees of the cases which has been filed against me by the paramilitary force RAB and the political opportunist group. But it was totally false story. Truth is absolutely the opposite. They never gave me any legal assistance. The series political motivated cases against me were going on at Rajshahi. I gave all types of documents to the hand of Mr. Rubel, to fight legally against the cases in the Supreme Court. Mr. Rubel is also a leader of BRCT and a lawyer of that court. But he was retained my court papers and delayed for long time. He was delaying by and saying that, we will file today, tomorrow…etc! Finally, he didn’t file it. My fearing and anxiousness was increasing. In that situation, suddenly I met with Advocate Sushanta of Rajshahi. He told me about a lawyer who practicing in the high court of Dhaka. That lawyer’s house is at Naogaon (a district). Mr. Zahid has taken 6000 (BDT) Taka from me to file writ petition in favor of my cases. But he also showed attitude as like Mr. Rubel. After two weeks he returned 3000 taka. Then, I went to a women lawyer who is also famous as human right activist. She didn’t help me, finally. She also disappointed me. Though, she is deliberating her speech on human rights issues in Europe-America. This is the lawyers of Bangladesh! There are many sympathetic lawyers like Mohammad Hossain and Syed Mamun Mahbub. But this can’t be an example. They are the exception.
Whole over the country, various misdemeanors were running by the BNP-Jammat cadres. After the election of 2001 it was increasing. Rape, killing, minority and indigenous persecution are added with their list of misdemeanor. Being a professional journalist, I had tried to disclose the truth in front of the people. Mr. Akram Hossen Chowdhury, founder of BRCT/BIHR was fascinated by my reporting. Now he is a member of parliament. In 2002, he proposed me to work with BRCT. He promised to me that, 5,000 (BDT) taka per month will be given as remuneration and a place for residence. I took his offer. I was bachelor at that time. I had to take responsibility for regional coordinator of BRCT. According to this condition, a contract paper had been made where I and on behave of BRCT, Dr. Khalilur Rahman (Chairman of BRCT) was signed. Still it is in my hand.
BRCT has been working against state torture. I always find a similarity between journalism and human rights. So I had tried to work exactly on my duty. During that time, most painful event of my life was occurred. The government was arrested, tortured and detained me for 28 days. I was freed from the prison by the efforts of national and international human rights and journalist’s organization. And of course, I was innocent with the charges. All cases against me was fabricated and politically motivated. But I was not being released from the conspiracy and harassment.
So, I ran away from Rajshahi to the capital city Dhaka. I admitted to the hospital run by BRCT there. Just after admitting there BRCT has given me a reception as I am a persecuted journalist and human right defender. Many human rights defenders from various countries of the world including Denmark were present there. Justice K M Sobhan, Prof. Taslima of Dhaka University, BRCT chief Akram Chowdhury and his wife Mahfuza Akram Chowdhury also were present in the reception meeting.
BRCT and BIHR mainly are like hat or tail of a coin. Akram Chowdhury is the founder of both of the organizations. “Human rights fact-finder” is the monthly publication of BRCT. “If you would be able to help then this publication could be republished” said Akram Chowdhury. He proposed me to take the responsibility as an executive editor of it. Its publication was stopped for long time. But why, I didn’t know. According to his proposal/offer, he gave me a place to sleep and arranged the daily food for me with other officials of BRCT. He also promised to give me 15000 taka (BDT.) as salary or remuneration for each issue of human right fact finder. However, this proposal and the pledge were not written in any form. I will work day and night running for the wheel on the monthly publication. To make a report, feature, editing, writing even to see the proof everything alone I did. I was also writing the editorial. I was needed my family (wife and children). I was published five issues of the monthly publication human right fact finder. BRCT gave me 21,100 taka (BDT) in different times. Still, 53,300 taka is due from BRCT. However, I don’t claim or demand the due money. It is only a big pain inside of my heart. Being a chief of a human right organization how could be possible to make a false allegation against a persecuted journalist! How they could insult or dishonored me?
The political motivated and false cases against me were going on in the court of Rajshahi which was filed by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Mayor of Rajshahi, AHM Khairuzzaman Liton. Meanwhile, the Chairman of BRCT, Dr. Khalilur Rahman has filed another false complaint against me in the CMM court of Rajshahi. The complaint told, “I didn’t paying the rent (for residence in Rajshahi) from few years, on the other side I didn’t vacant the room”. But, Dr. Khalil had never told me to vacant the room. It is good to say that, Dr. Khalil is the uncle of Akram’s wife. I had take life risk to work for BRCT. But the Chairman of that organization made a false allegation against me and to file a complaint in the court. It was laughter! However, I supplied the contract paper to the court which signed by me and Dr. Khalil. Then, the event was clear with the court that how big false allegation was made by Dr. Khalil against me! Finally, my wife and son have left the room. This is the attitude of the leaders of human rights in Bangladesh!
My pain is only for that how they could insult me? The end is not here. My important documents have been stolen from the secured BRCT office. Among the most important of which is “Militancy and terrorism” on the text of the original Manuscript of my book. Not only that but also a Mobil set of mine has lost from the same place. It was not a normal event. It was well motivated. I informed about this stealing to Mr. Akram, his wife Mahfuza Akram and Mr. Shahnur Islam as well as to other officials of BRCT/BIHR. Who did it and why was clear to all of them. But nothing has done against the dacoit who is closed with Mahfuza Akram. Though result was opposite after giving a complaint against him. Suspicious stealer was given me threatened to death. So life is big or documents? It was very normal to defeat by documents as life is dearest.
Still, I didn’t get my documents. That it was not only lost my documents but also an expensive Mobil set of a foreign guest has been lost from BRCT office. Later it was found that I didn’t hear.
The false, fabricated political motivated cases were running in the court of Rajshahi against me which was filed by the combined initiative of RAB, Mayor Liton and DGFI. Meanwhile, chairman of BRCT has filed another motivated complaint against me. Dr. Khalil is a father in law of Mr. Akram. BRCT Chairman Khalil is the uncle of Mahfuza Akram. I sent the contract document to the court which made by both of us (me and Dr. Khalil). Then, it was clear to the court that the complaint is totally false against me. After that, my wife and child son were vacant the room. These are the act of the human rights leaders of Bangladesh!
The abnormal-unexpected two years of emergency situations was end through the election of 29 December of 2008. Grand Alliance, led by the Awami League in January of 2009 has taken the power of the state. An elected government is in power. The human right leader, brother Akram (Akram Chowdhury), is one of the Member of Parliament. Hope is blowing up in my mind. Maybe the black cloud would be cut! This hope is increasing. But not, the black shadow of conspiracy was covering to me and my family. Are Mayor Liton, Akram Chowdhury and RAB mixed up together with same cotton? This is Bangladesh!
BRCT has got comprehensive publicity in various news media, after I joined with BRCT. I managed to setup the treatment clinic and meeting for torture victims on behave of BRCT. I was also organized the treatment clinic of the victims of Kansat. On 26 June of 2006, a meeting of torture victim was held at Engineers Institution Auditorium, Dhaka. Former opposition leader and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was present there as chief guest. I was also organized the torture victims and brought to Dhaka from the different part of Rajshahi region. I worked day-night to organize it by riding on motorbike at the inaccessible Atrai, Raninagar, Bagmara, Naldanga area. I left my wife and child alone. In spite of I was going to door to door of the torture victim. From BRCT, in exchange I got a false calumny and ignominy of the darkness. But I do not have any anger or sorrow. Yet I am grateful to them! I had got shelter, medical care from them after come out of darkness of prison. Whether or not, it is their responsibility-duty of fund or project. Many more bodies were there! Whether which cause or how and what purpose they were standup besides me! I can not deny it. When had to be stopped the trouble upon from the stressed journalist and human rights defenders then cumulus cloud cover was closed there was only gloom and the light of my hope.
Another human right organization called “Odhiker”. This organization is the supporter of right political wing. It was my idea; they work for human rights as universally. Is any particular person or political opinion may be based on the human rights movement? I never imagined it. But my mistake has broken on the basis of the activity of ‘Odhiker’. I went to the Odhiker office in Dhaka with my friend William. We talked with Mr. Elan and Mr. Korban of Odhiker. Our request was, “please investigate the allegation against me and publish the finding report”. They told me that I must apply for it to Odhiker. I did it. After then, two and a half year is going on. They still did not accept my application to any enterprise. I was contacted to them by phone, when I was in Bangladesh. From the office of Odhiker informed me that my matter is under trial. So they can’t do anything. Though, later Odhiker had start crucial fight in favor of an acting editor of the daily newspaper “Amardesh”. It was also the judicial matter, in the same way. However the reason is not other, but it is for political reason? Amardesh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman has the same political ideology same as like as Odhiker’s ideology. As a result, they published several reports on the issue of Mahmudur Rahman! Though, the matter was under trial.
I have another inhuman experienced on the field of human rights. It is very unfortunate. A lawyer of the High Court of Bangladesh is receiving monthly remuneration from a foreign organization. He also takes money from the victim in the name of transport costs, when he visits the spot. The same complaint can be found against another human right activist who is now living in exile in an Asian country. A women human right leader based on Dhaka who receiving regular foreign fund from an organization of Germany. Her activity is centered to collect the newspaper clipping of human rights violations and to publish a bulletin. Nothing has done more by her.
A newsmen from Rajshahi, who made conspiracy against me with the collaboration of Mayor, RAB, DGFI and a cultural activist based on Rajshahi. Now he is working in an oldest Bengali newspaper in Dhaka as a staff reporter. His wife is a member of a women organization. This husband and wife were involved with the immoral activity. They collected bribe from the victim of rape and rapists with the help of a forensic medical doctor of Rajshahi medical college. They (distorted mentality) have done this inhuman-illegal business by the medical reports of incidents of rape scandal. Behind the protection of human rights, hundreds-thousands story like above are in Bangladesh.
On 19 January of 2003, a news story was published in the daily Sangbad which was wrote by me. The headline of the report was “Extortioning in the name of journalism”. Misfortune is that when this report was published by whose hand as the news editor now he is an acting editor. Now he has given an appointment to that extortionist journalist. That controversial person was tried to influence other journalists and social activists against me. But he failed. Finally, the truth had been won. The report was not false. Senior journalist Shah Anisur Rahman (late), General Secretary of the Rajshahi Press Club, Saidur Rahman and central leader of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Anamul Haque were as eye witnesses. That extortionist so-called journalist and his friend so-called cultural personality named “P” who is the informer of RAB and DGFI. Both of them were also provided false information to the RAB and DGFI against me during the emergency period in Bangladesh. Same complaint has been sent to the United Nations by the government of Bangladesh against me. Though, I have given an open challenge to the Bangladesh government. But they couldn’t show their moral honest courage to accept it. When the conspiracy was making against me in 2003 after published the extortion news then Bazlur Rahman was the editor of the daily Sangbad. I called him as “Bazlu Bhai” (Brother). He is no more with us. My hope and believe that his soul is sleeping in peace. He was himself an institution of the journalism and secular movement of Bangladesh. Not only was that he also an extraordinary intellectual personality of the field of economics and politics. When the conspiracy was making against me regarding that report on extortion, one day I went to Dhaka at the Sangbad office. I met with Bazlu bhai. He told me, “You are fighting against the enemy of the people. It is not a simple matter in our society. Don’t be worry. Finally you would be won.” And later his word was also established as true.
However, need to talk about another matter. That is jealous is very common in the mind of the so-called educated people of Asia. Especially, jealous is more active in Bangladesh. This jealous is work both personal and political interest. As a result, one person doesn’t want the betterment of another person. When someone is going forward then opportunist group try to stop him by making conspiracy. A Bangalee/Bangladeshi journalist has applied for political asylum in a Scandinavian country. He wanted an article from me on my persecution history. I sent him it after many struggle. For a long time he was not informed me about my write-up. Then I was communicated with him. He replied me that it hasn’t published. Why, he didn’t notice me the cause. Though, I understood the cause of behind. He is a good friend of the son of the present Prime Minister of Bangladesh. I disclosed in my article about the nomination business of a powerful political party of Bangladesh and also the name of the perpetrators on my horrible persecution. His political fascination is with this party. That is why; my article has not been printed. That person also worked with a reputable human rights organization based in New York from Bangladesh. Another person was worked with a reputable human rights organization in Bangladesh for long time. When he was in troubled hadn’t got any help from that organization. Now he is in Europe is living in political asylum. This is the situation of our media and human rights field!
The executive chief of a NGO based on Rajshahi is also the public relations officer of an autonomous institution. That organization is getting millions fund from USA-EU. Now they are arranging training on human rights issues by the foreign fund. But, when a media man is under threats then they turned their eyes from the situation. The whole country is lay down by the weight of these type of organizations which are always involve with their own, family, group and political purposes. The Millions fund are going into the water in the name of human rights or free media or to reduce the poverty by making microcredit business in Bangladesh. The people who are entitled to get the service are deprived. But the country’s starving the poor man’s fortune does not change. The only change in the status of the organizations big personalities like director or executive director. They are making a big luxurious home, cars, salaries and other facilities for their own or for family by the foreign funds. Just like as “Zero to Hero”. The directors are visiting the foreign countries.
If only 60 percent of foreign funds would be used properly then we could be able to see the real changes of our country. Truly, the country could cover with Golden or by Diamond! Poverty could be flown from Bangladesh. Though, our Nobelist Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus told that one day the poverty would see at the Museum. The reality is that the microcredit business couldn’t reduce poverty but it could be able to confine our poorest women by the net of more microcredit. Yes, we feel proud that for Dr. Yunus. Because he has got the Nobel Prize! But how the microcredit is functioning in Bangladesh, should be a big issue or matter to observe by the non interest eyes. It is better to say here that Dr. Yunus is receiving unthinkable high interest from our poorest women those who have no education.
I would like to write something about another matter. It is about the responsibility of the leaders of journalists. If my memory does not betray me, then it is likely that in the month of June of 2008. I have been victimized with a series of politically motivated cases. I was a leader of the journalist community from the northern part of Bangladesh, Rajshahi. The apex body of journalists is Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ). I also was an executive member of this body as the Secretary General of Rajshahi Union of Journalists (RUJ). BFUJ has made a decision to demand for withdraw the cases against me to the Government in a general meeting held at the National Press Club in Dhaka. The prominent journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, President of BFUJ, former President of BFUJ and renowned journalist Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Secretary General of BFUJ Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan and many other journalists leaders were also present that meeting. But, dear Jalil Bhuiyan didn’t serve the joint statement and decision of BFUJ. Again I have my doubts about his attitude. Still think, perhaps there was an understanding between RAB, Mayor Liton and my dear courageous journalist leader Jalil. Otherwise, why would he silence? There are many positive instance of my life. Another journalist’s outgoing Secretary General of BFUJ, Altaf Mahmud is one of the most popular of the journalist’s leaders in Bangladesh. He is known as a true friend of the journalists. He has never taken any opportunity from the Government. I also try to contact with him from abroad. However, I acknowledge that I am grateful to Iqbal Sobhan, Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Altaf Mahmud. I believe the truth is never dangerous. But, the truth to be hold is rear, very difficult to keep and bear the truth. I think, do not have this ability for all. However, if it would have then selfishness, war, conflict, jealous nothing would be more in this world. Nevertheless, I’ll say that we should be practice the truth in all aspects in our lives. We swear this is what our community strong and Promises. Whether or not true is become a cruel or painful.
There are also many people who makes story only for to come to Europe or America. After came to the developed countries they are making false and fake documents and applied for political asylum. Students are among them many. Sometimes we hear this type of complaint. It is unfortunate and we can't ignore it.
Recently, I talked over phone with a friend of mine who is working in Dhaka. Before the conclusion this article I would like to share to all of you of our conversation. He told, “You (I) are a not supporter of the political ideology of ‘Odhiker’. So, they did nothing for you. And it is normal!” That friend of mine further said, “Presently, a journalist is working with a government-owned powerful media in Germany who worked in favor of the Islamic militancy from Bangladesh. On the other side, you made/did historical report against militancy by taking life-risk for the same media from northern part of Bangladesh. Nevertheless, they didn’t give you any job. This is the media policy of globalization age.” ‘I just said in response to him that I don’t have any sorrow. I never did journalism for getting something. Of course, I did my journalism for the purpose of personal, social and professional responsibility. I know that I am a defeated soldier of the media policy and politics of globalization.
We can see the fund and project based many human rights works in today’s unbalanced world. The combined financial efforts of these two components are coming from the humanistic general people. Many questions including accountability, transparency and democratic practice are comes to organized these initiative for the welfare of the persecuted, stressed and starving people inside of the enterprise. In which exception we observed many ways. Moreover, many organizations are working with good motive to establish the peace and human rights from country to country. It is also true. Otherwise, small news-maker like me would be killed at the hands of injustice. Many thousands lives of Akash have saved by the efforts of non governments organizations. Hope of the people’s (survivors) are alive only for that. I don’t know, what there is to establish the peace and human rights
The practice and establishing of peace and human rights except love, benevolence, tolerance is what we know there is no option to increase the range. Is possible to establish the peace and human rights by promoting discrimination, falsehood, and discriminatory behavior, use of arms, political and economic selfishness, or poverty in the society, nation and world? It is a big question.
I forgot that today (11 July) is an important and special day. The day is the world population day. I want to make my conclusion to encircle upon this day. I think that the food crisis and population abundance of these two important issues are involved with human rights violation. The population and consumption of food and energy are continuously increasing in this world. On the other hand, energy, land and production are reducing. So global economy is under pressure as well as love, harmony, tolerance, believe are breaking day by day. The practice of “Might is right” theory is increasing. World Population Day is celebrated the world since 1987. The world population is now about 7000 Millions. The population is increasing like the wave of river. Bangladesh is one of the highest populate country in the world and its population growth is so high.
Though, the population and dwelling-factory are increasing but the land is reducing in this world. Not only that but also the land is being gradually reduced of the earth. More than hundred 1000 Millions people are hungry across the world today. The world of food, lack of resources to make sure that there is no cost to me. However, the balanced distribution of food and resources are not in the earth. It is clear. Some people are getting food and some people are getting to die without food in the same world. Some of the rich countries of the world are not headache to protecting the environment and keep up food security for all, as they are willing to fight, war, conflict, aggression, bombing and of conspiring to attack! Therefore, for the protection of human rights to increase food security and protect the environment from climate change and to reduce population abundance whether any alternative, so I do not know? However, the experts are only being able to say of it.
In this question, my favorite motherland Bangladesh is what and how active or prepared. Where there is regular lifting the rights of people by the state, where there is a nasty appearance of the civil society there is any expected to continue with the cleaning of the society is only neurosis, nothing else! In spite of, we are optimists. Is people could be able to live without any hoped?
Writer: Jahangir Alam Akash, Editor of Euro Bangla (Peace & human rights) (http://www.eurobangla.org/),(http://penakash.wordpress.com/), (editor.eurobangla@yahoo.de)

College student survives a gun shot and labelled as criminal by RAB

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 05:12:07 PDT

By Bangladesh Media; Limon, 18 years old college student from the Jhalakathi district! Limon was wroking in a brick field; at the same time he tried to continue his studies. He was about to sit for the Higher Secondary Examination this year. Limon was shot by the Rapid Action Battalion from a point blank range! And later as usual, he is labeled as criminal by this paramilitary force.

Limon, servived the gun shot at the cost of his leg, is now under the care of orthopedic hospital in Dhaka.

A Torture Chamber name TFI Cell; Operated by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 18:23:51 PDT

–“A detailed map of a notorious Bangladeshi torture centre where along with Bangladeshis several British nationals were held and interrogated has been produced by one of its former inmates.” British Daily The Guardian Reports

By Bangladesh Media; In the northern Dhaka suburb of Uttara, across the road from a women's medical college, is a compound controlled by a Bangladeshi paramilitary police unit called the Rapid Action Battalion. Just inside the gate, on the left hand side, is an unremarkable office block: white-painted, five storey’s tall, with a green awning over its front door.

Were you to enter, climb to the first floor, and make your way through the heavy steel door at the head of the stairs, you would find yourself facing a desk and a uniformed receptionist-cum-guard. Corridors stretch to his right and his left. According to a number of those who have found themselves standing at this spot, to venture down either corridor is to find yourself descending into a form of hell.

This is the Taskforce for Interrogation Cell, or TFI, a place where officers from all Bangladesh's intelligence agencies and main police units work together, extracting information and confessions from enemies of the state. The hand-drawn plan of the Task Force for Interrogation cell (TFI) in the northern suburbs of the capital, Dhaka, shows the mistreatment of detainees to be a deliberate and systematic affair.

Some inmates are held in one of nine cells, each measuring 3ft by 7ft, and many more are chained up in corridors, with their hands shackled to the bars of windows above their head. Some, according to the man who drew the map, are hooded and handcuffed and forced to kneel in the corridors for days or weeks.

At the end of one corridor are two torture rooms. One room, which has an observation window, is said to be equipped with pulleys and with a volt meter, to measure levels of electricity. Former inmates say fingernails litter the floor.

Several former inmates say the second room houses a rotating chair into which detainees are reported to be strapped - sometimes after being drugged - before being spun at up to 180 revolutions a minute. This room is also said to house a small library of photographs of people being tortured, which are shown to inmates before their own interrogation.

The methods they employ suggest a great deal of thought has been given to suffering. Men are reported to be beaten, subjected to electric shocks and strapped to a chair that spins at high speed. In one room, fingernails are said to litter the floor. The taking of life during interrogation is not unknown here.

Hundreds of people have been consigned to the TFI in recent years. Among them, the Guardian has established, were a number of British citizens who were detained after Jacqui Smith, then British home secretary, flew to Dhaka to press the government for greater co-operation in counter-terrorism operations.

A number of people who have survived spells inside the TFI have given accounts of what they saw when they were led further inside. To the left is a corridor with barred windows on its right hand side. Former inmates say dozens of blindfolded prisoners are shackled to the windows, with their hands above their heads. They are said to be kept in this position for up to two weeks. Sometimes they are beaten while suspended this way. One former inmate – too terrified to be identified – says: "Being beaten around the small of the back is standard procedure. They're obsessed with damaging kidneys."

More prisoners must kneel on the floor of the corridor, blindfolded and with their hands cuffed behind their backs.

Running off this corridor, on the left, is a row of nine small cells, each 3ft x 7ft, with a prisoner in each. At the end of the corridor are two offices, a computer room, and a restroom for the torturers. At the other end of the TFI, past the guard, is a corridor with a barred window on its right side and two rooms on the left. Inside the first room is a series of implements – pulleys, blocks of wood, small generators and voltmeters – that are used during interrogation. There is a small window allowing people to stand outside the room and watch what is happening inside.

A man who has suffered electric shock torture in this room recalls: "You're blind-folded, but you can hear them shuffling around you and moving equipment and tools about. Then they start to move you into position and strap you down. You don't know what's happening. And then you feel the most intense pain. It's such a shock because you don't know its coming."

A former TFI inmate told that this is also the room where fingernails are removed. Asked how he could be sure this happened, the man became slightly agitated, raised his voice and replied: "Because I saw the nails on the ground."

Former inmates say the next room houses a small library of photographs of people being tortured, which are shown to people before they too are made to suffer. In the centre of the room, according to several former TFI inmates, is a motorized rotating chair into which victims can be strapped and spun at high speed.

Several former inmates say they were aware of prisoners dying at the TFI. A man who was held in one of the cells said he watched as a prisoner in his 50s, chained up in the corridor, was beaten to death. Several said that when a prisoner died his body was put on a stretcher and an oxygen mask placed over his face, giving the impression “he was alive and receiving medical treatment.”

U.S. Department of State: Human Rights Report 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 16:20:36 PDT

Report says: Situation "Matter of serious concern"!

By Bangladesh Media; Human Rights Report 2010 for the glove has been released by the State Department of USA, which describes the situation of Bangladesh is a "matter of serious Concern"! Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dipu Moni reacted as "not authentic"!

The summery of the report says that security forces committed extrajudicial killings and were responsible for custodial deaths, torture, and arbitrary arrest and detention. The failure to investigate fully extrajudicial killings by security forces, including several deaths in custody of alleged criminals detained by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), remained a "matter of serious concern". Some members of the security forces acted with impunity. Prison conditions at times were life-threatening, lengthy pretrial detention continued to be a problem, and authorities infringed on citizens' privacy rights. An increasingly politicized judiciary exacerbated problems in an already overwhelmed judicial system and constrained access to justice for members of opposition parties. The government limited freedom of speech and of the press, self-censorship continued, and security forces harassed journalists. The government curbed freedom of assembly, and politically motivated violence remained a problem.
Official corruption and related impunity continued. Discrimination against women, and violence against women and children remained serious problems, as did discrimination against persons with disabilities and against persons based on their sexual orientation. Trafficking in persons remained a serious problem. Violence against religious and ethnic minorities still occurred, although many government and civil society leaders stated that these acts often had political or economic motivations and could not be attributed only to religious belief or affiliation. Limits on worker rights and child labor remained problems. To read the full report click here!

The foreign minister has termed 'not substantiated' the US State Department's human rights report on Bangladesh. "Sources of the report are weak and analysis is not properly done," Dipu Moni said at a press briefing at the ministry Monday.

They collected information from newspapers, NGOs and other private sources, which are not very authentic, she claimed.

Another Investigation:

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 05:25:03 PDT

Stop Extra Judicial Killing!

Earlier, we have reported about this case which was published in different newspapers [1] [2] in Bangladesh as a "Criminal killed in Crossfire"! But now we have gone through a detail investigation where it proves that the victim of this extra judicial killing is not a criminal and eye witnesses described how Rapid Action Battalion RAB-10 Commander Major Kamruzzaman shoot him from a point blank range! And later Major Kamruzzaman was awarded by Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Reported by Anwar Hossain.

By Anwar Hossain; On 16 March 2010, at around 1pm, Asaduzzaman Rubel went to visit his neighbour Pushpo Akhter’s home at House No. 4 of Garden Road, Sharulia area which is under the Demra police station in the city of Dhaka. A team of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from RAB-10 led by Major Kamruzzaman cordoned the house as soon as Rubel arrived there. The RAB team comprised Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) Delwar Hossain, Sergeant Ferdous Ali, Sub Inspector (SI) Aminur Rahman, Constables Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Mohammad Abdul Quader, Faruk Hossain, Mohammad Pervez and Soldier Mohammad Jamshed. The members of the team, who were in plain clothes, took position at different points of the house including the rooftop of the two-storied building.

A eye witness describing the killing of Asaduzzaman Rubel by RAB-10 from Human Rights Watchdog on Vimeo.

According to the eyewitnesses, Rubel was speaking to Pushpa in her room at the first floor of the building. Suddenly after entering into Pushpa’s room Major Kamruzzaman asked Rubel’s name. In reply Rubel reportedly said that his name was Asaduzzaman. The major then called a person from his cell phone and described Rubel’s complexion and appearance. Following the conversation the officer wanted to check whether one of the teeth of Rubel was broken or not. As Rubel showed his teeth, which were broken, the RAB team handcuffed him and started beating him with fists and boots while taking him out of the room. While they were beating Rubel, they insisted him to give them his firearms, which the RAB team alleged he possessed. Then, Rubel reportedly attempted to escape from the ongoing assault and ran towards the rooftop of the house. The members of the RAB that previously took position on the rooftop caught him.

Then, Rubel was brought to the middle of staircase between the first and second floors where Major Kamruzzaman pointed a pistol on the left side of Rubel’s head and shot him. The RAB officer also shot him in the stomach. Rubel fell on the floor bleeding from his head and abdomen, and died at the scene in few minutes.

The statement of Mohammed Rumi the brother of Asaduzzaman Rubel who was killed by Rapid Action Battalion -10 from Human Rights Watchdog on Vimeo.

After the alleged extrajudicial killing of Rubel the team major Kamruzzaman of the RAB-10 asked his subordinate to shoot him in his left leg, however, it did not bleed and his colleagues bandaged his leg. The members of the team allegedly shot a number of blank shots. Major Kamruzzaman gave his pistol, which was allegedly used to kill Rubel, to his colleagues and ordered it be put beside the dead body. He also asked his colleagues to scatter the used bullets around the dead body, which was later taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue.

After making the arrangements, the RAB asked some local people, who gathered around the building hearing the sounds of gunshots and seeing the vehicles of the RAB, to identify the deceased person. They claimed that the deceased person died in "crossfire" during a "gun-battle" between the deceased and the RAB. Showing a bandage at the foot Major Kamruzzaman claimed in public that he and his colleague constable Abdul Quader had been injured.

Contrary to the account by the RAB, the relatives of the deceased and the local people, claiming themselves as the eyewitnesses of the incident, said that no “gun-battle” took place at the time of the incident. The eyewitnesses claimed that had there have been any “gun-battle” in broad day light in a overcrowded place like Sharulia there would have been more people killed in the same incident. Besides showing the place of death, which was inside the staircase, the relatives argued that any kind of “gun-battle” was not possible inside the house.

Rubel’s older brother claimed that a person, who is reportedly an immigrant in Japan, offered a big amount of money to Rubel a few weeks earlier to kill that person's own wife named Sultana Akther Rupa. When Rubel refused to kill any person and revealed the information to the woman trying to save her life, the husband became vindictive to Rubel. The man allegedly hired Major Kamruzzaman of the RAB-10 by paying a huge amount of money to kill Rubel, who might be a witness of any case regarding the conspiracy of killing his wife.

The members of Rubel's family allege that the police and members of other law-enforcement agencies in plain clothes cordoned their house after the dead body of Rubel was brought for burial after the post-mortem. The law-enforcing agents did not allow the relatives to see the dead body and insisted them to bury the body within an hour of the arrival of the body in the evening of 17 March. The police asked the relatives not to make any noise regarding the death of Rubel anymore.

Back from extra judicial killings camp & challenge to Bangladesh government

noreply@blogger.com (Jahangir Alam Akash-Editor Euro Bangla) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 04:49:01 PDT

By Jahangir Alam Akash: How I came back from the extra judicial killing? How I tolerate the brutality of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in an army torture camp? How I was hang there for 15 hours with blind folded by a towel and a black mask? What was my fault? Why and what did RAB with me? Many other questions regarding the human rights, rule of law, judiciary, politics and the journalism of Bangladesh; you can find in my article which I would like to write now for the readers and national-international community. Dear valuable readers, you can find the real Bangladesh including my torture history, other human rights violations, extra judicial killings, politics and the minority persecutions in Bangladesh in my book "PAIN" which has published from USA. Here is the Amazon link of Pain: http://www.amazon.com/Pain-Jahangir-Alam-Akash/dp/1456858025

As a professional journalist, writer and human rights defender, I am a helpless victim of the conspiracies and revenges of RAB, state, corrupt politicians and the persons related them jointly. The State, terrorists, miscreants-clique, violators of human rights, army executives are all under the same roof! Why and on what grounds I became their praise of barbarous tortures, conspiracies from all sides and through whom, if these could be properly researched, a clear picture of breaking democracy, administrative, executive and legislative systems of Bangladesh, violation of human rights, state-tortures, corruptions, free from punishments and criminalization’s could be obtained.
On the 11 June 2007, Mr. Mijanur Rahman Minu, the then Mayor of Rajshahi, Organizing Secretary of Central BNP was arrested on the charges of forceful contribution-collection. Through trial, 11 leaders of BNP including Mr. Minu were sentenced to 13 years of imprisonments. But later on from the higher court, all the accused with Mr. Minu were released as not guilty. At least from this trial and from another against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused on the charges of 3 hundred millions of forceful Contribution-collection, the people of the country were sure that on political reasons, the army-controlled interim government did forge and impose the cases. The plaintiffs were forced to file cases against the top political leaders. The plaintiff of Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina, explained the backgrounds of the filing of the case in a press conference. Although MP and the influential Minister under Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Selim gave statement under section 164 and accepted the charges. People of the country do not know yet how this confession of Sheikh Selim did come out. Was it volunteerilily or under any pressure?
As per constitution, country belongs to the people. After nine months of bloody liberation war, with the sacrifices of 3 millions of martyrs, in exchange of rapes to the 2 hundred thousands of mothers and sisters, on the 16 December 1971, Bangladesh came into being in the world map. The main aims of this great struggle were to achieve partiality, exploitation, deprivation, torture-free golden Bangladesh. After the independence, the father of the nation, Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tried his best to re-build this war-devastated country by strengthening is economy, creating the infra-structure of the state and to redress the total administrative system. He took several plans in this regard so that the Bengali nation and Bangladesh could proceed forward. In this time the defeated enemies of 1971, the independence-opposing murderers-clique, national and international conspirators with the help of imperialistic powers killed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with almost all of his family-members. Perhaps in the history of the world there is no such human rights violation and persecution ever held. Actually after this event, attempts were made to reverse the course of the history. The old Pakistani ideologies were tried to bring back in Bangladesh.
As I have reported against the violation of human rights, about the corruptions and terrors as a professional journalist and human rights-worker, I became the victim of tortures by a special armed force of the state. Against me three forged cases of forcefully contribution-collection were filed. Not only I was physically tortured, I and my family were harassed mentally. I was persecuted in front of my son (then 4 months old, now about 3 years and eight months) and wife. My eyes were tied with a towel, head was covered by a dark cap and I was kept in the darkness for 15 hours at a stretch. I was hanged from the ceiling of a room and tortured brutally. But what was my fault? Media is called the 4th pillar of the state. It is quite obvious that media will always tell the truth. But what we have seen? The so called protectors of law and order arrested me from my house. But it was reported in the media, I was arrested at the late of night from the Shahebbazar Area of Rajshahi Metropolitan city on the charges of doubtful movements! While a terrorist is arrested, big reports were published, my arrest as a professional journalist and as a victim of tortures was tactfully avoided by the media (except one or two Newspapers). So the questions: is our media free, Independent? Or determined to publish the truth? Except the Weekly Media watch of daily Amader Somoy, no other media of the country did publish research-reports on my arrest and tortures.
On the 2nd October 2007, the first forged case against me on the complaint of contribution-collection was filed in the Boalia Model police station of Rajshahi. On the 16th October, I got the advance interim bail from the High Court. To obtain proper and neutral enquiries about the complaint against me in this case, on the 22nd October 2007, I applied to the Chief Advisor of the interim Government, Home-Secretary and Army Chief separately. But after one day, on the 23rd October night, I was again arrested by RAB-members from my house. Only 4 and half hours before the arrest, a new case on the charges of Contribution-collection against me was filed in Puthia police station. The plaintiff of the case was himself the first accused of a case where he has been charged with the complaint that he has killed planfully the complainant of this rape case! During arrest, I was molested before my child son. My son is still suffering from this trauma! Who is responsible for this?
Dear reader let us talk about the time of difficult and dark time. I am a journalist, deprived of the soil of mother land, water, air, nature and love. Every year majority of my countrymen fight against natural calamities, flood, drought, cyclone, winter and the change of weather. I always cry for my poor, hungry and hard working people of my country. Dear reader, fellow countrymen, I am talking from the distant abroad, Germany. I want to tell you today a story. No, it is no fiction. A true, hard and real episode of my own life. I am writing this with the hope that nobody in my country suffers like me!
‘Lubdhak’ is the name of a house. It is the no. 55 house of the Rajshahi satellite town in sector number.2. I, my wife, Farhana Sharmin, student of last year, Dept. of Folklore in Rajshahi University, my child-son Fiman Farhad, we three used to live in the left side of the ground floor. CSB has been closed. So the Beauro office of CSB News in Rajshahi (in Kadfirgonj) is not opened like before. I worked in this 24 hours news Chanel and could give no much time for my family and friends. As the CSB did not broadcast, I had no work to pass the time. I went off and on to Press club and stayed till late night.
But my wife had a standing order; I must come back by 10-00 p.m.!’ But many times I disobeyed it. When I made late to come back, after 10.00, she rang me in Mobile. She asked Fiman to talk over Mobile and I rushed back home.
On the 23 October 2007, I was in the Press club till 11. At least twice Farhana has reminded me by Telephone. Around 11-30, I came back home. Fiman was not sleeping till. We were playing with him. TV was on. We did not have dinner. We were trying both to bring the child in bed. At long last she slept. We took our meals and went to bed. Around 1-30 night, our calling bell rang with a big sound!
Bell was ringing endlessly. Our sleeps were broken. I with my wife came out in the Balcony. I had Fiman in my lap. I understood a group of armed people had surrounded the whole house. All had arms in their hands. I did not know them. But why? I thought as I had case against me, they came to arrest me. But I was bailed out in that case by the High Court. And why either Police or other law-enforcing people surrounded whole house to arrest a simple journalist like me? Am I a thief, robber or a convicted criminal?’ Police and other security personals had their dresses but they were in plain dresses. In plain dresses but they had all arms. Are they terrorists or robbers?’ They had come to plunder this house etc. thoughts rang in my mind.
In the meantime, the unknown persons have rung all the calling bells of the house. Not only were the people of this house, also the neighbors all awakened. This was a 3-storyed house and the owner Mr. Abul Kashem and his son, Likhon came down from that floor. 10/12 armed people in civil dress came to the door of the Balcony of the part of the house where we lived. They introduced them as administrative persons and told they would search my house. We should open the door. I and my wife asked about their identities. I asked, ‚until I am not sure of your real identity, I shall not open the door.’ They said, ‚open the door now, otherwise you will be in difficulty.’ I asked ‚what difficulty? Why you are disturbing, so late night in a civilian’s house?’ They rebuked me as terrorist and contribution-collector.
I phoned with my mobile in Boalia police station to know whether administrative persons or armed-robbers had raided my house. Duty officer said, ‚None from our police station has gone to your house. But who are they, belong to what force, we don’t know.’ In this time, one armed person inserted his hand through the grill of Balcony and snatched away my mobile. I thought clearly they were robbers. After some time, they told themselves to belong to the RAB's.
I say, ‚but I cannot believe that you are RAB's. And if you want to search my house, have you the search-warrant?’ I and my wife told this together. They became angry. Likhon, son of the owner of house wanted to know the identity of them. They started beating him. I thought if they were from RAB, why they were hitting the House-owner’s son? I appealed to them, ‚why you are flogging him? Please don’t do anything illegal. I am opening the door. You can search my house. But please don’t do any injustice to me. Please don’t deposit your arms in my house and then arrest me in the arms-charge! I gave Fiman to her mother. I opened the Balcony door. Just I have opened it; RAB's dragged and pulled me out of the house. My two hands were hand cupped. My eyes were tied with towel. Not only that, my total head was covered with a black cap up to my neck. In front of my child, wife and house owner, RABS were flogging and kicking all over my body right and left. Armed forces in charge of law and order of a civilized country can behave so beast like and vulgarous; I faced the experience for the first time in my life!
RABS dragged me like a terrorist in a Microbus. In the Bus, 2 were in my front, 2 in my back and 2 each in my both sides hold me tightly. All were armed. One of them asked, ‚tell you the rogue, where we are taking you?’ I replied how I could know it. They said, we are RAB’s. Don’t you know where RAB takes the people?’ I asked whether I was taken to be killed in a cross-fire. They started slapping and boxing me. Microbus started. I could feel from the turnings and speed breakers that it was going on to the University. After crossing Binodpur gate by the University, there was one speed breaker. If then it turned to the right, I would be sure I was being taken to the RAB-5, Headquarters of Rajshahi RAB. On the way, I was beaten. They rebuked me in filthy language. They threatened me to accuse me with Arm-case and also of ‚crossfire.’ One in the car told me, ‚take the name of Allah, recite prayers from Quran. You would be killed in crossfire.’ I thought I had not done any wrong, committed no crime, I was not a killer. Why I was to be killed through crossfire. Was it possible? Then I felt Bangladesh is a country of all possibilities. Here to kill a person out of trial is nothing new. Shahriar Kabir and Muntasir Mamun like humanitarians are to face state-tortures here. But the murderer, war-criminal like Nizami roams on the streets with national flag in his car! While thinking so, once I was sure, I was brought to the RAB Headquarter No.5 in Rajshahi.
In the RAB Headquarters, my two hands were tied and then hanged from the ceiling of a room. Before, I was to walk up and down from this room to the stair house several times. At night, around me, 4/5 persons came with the sounds of their Boot-hills, stood a while and then again went back with the same sound. My eyes were tied, head was covered with black cap till neck and I was hanged whole of the night! In this way whole of the night, I was mentally tortured. Around 8 in the morning, my hands were made free and I was brought down. One very small thin bread with watery-cereal was given me to eat. I tried to feel from the size of the bread and water like cereal, whether with ex Vice Chancellor of Rajshahi University Mr. Saidur Rahman Khan, Abdus Sobhan and Malay Bhowmic, RAB had behaved same! All these 3 genious teachers were also arrested by RAB-5. I heard in the Rajshahi Central Jail how the ‚beasts’ had tortured these honorable teachers of the University. While I was hanging whole of the night, I felt that perhaps my two hands were separated from my body! With a towel my eyes were tied very tightly and then a black cap made of a thick cloth was put on my head. My breathings seemed to be stopped! I repeated requested to take out the cap but the ‚inhuman beasts’ did not pay any heed of. The cap I wore, this was the same cap which were only worn to the ‚death-sentenced- criminals’ while they were brought to the gallows. I took a little morsel from the thin bread and then drank water to satisfy thrusts. Then I was hanged again. While I was given food, the cap was not taken away. Till upper lip, it was drawn up. Always they have scolded me with vulgar words.
Around 10 a.m. in the morning two persons came to me and asked about my name. When they talked, I could know them. Before I was arrested, I met them several times on professional reasons. They were RAB-5 Crime Prevention Company (CPC)
RAB officer an Army Major (now Lt. Colonel) Rashidul Hasan Rashid and Second-in-command of RAB-5, Major Humayun Kabir. They were not in Rajshahi now. Major Rashid was sent to Ivory Coast as a member of UNO peace keeping Mission. Major Kabir was transferred to Bandorban, so I have heard. When on the so-called kidnap-allegation, Kamrul Islam alias Majnu, Workers Party leader was killed following the tortures of RAB on the last 18 May 2007, I then met Major Kabir. One week before the closing of CBS News, I talked with Major Rashid in his office on professional ground. One of my earlier known two officers, Major Rashidul Hasan started torturing me. At the outset, he asked, ‚you the son of a beggars, why you have so prestige? You son of a beach, contribution collector and terrorist. I fuck’ your journalism. You swine, you must not again report to the CBS News. Make no report on Lichubagan (Lichi Garden) , the story of Benjir’s wife, about the Waqf-Estate of AHM Khairuzzaman Liton (Awami League central executive committee member, Mayor of Rajshahi city Corporation, he is the nephew of Mr. Loton who is the plaintiff of my case). Bastard, you have seen RAB, but not yet experienced the actions!’ I thought why this RAB officer was taking the name of Liton, son of our national leader? Had he provoked to arrest and torture me? But I did no harm to Mr. Liton. As a journalist, I have made a report just to perform my professional duties. If because of this report, Mr. Liton was angry and dissatisfied with me, how he could be so much revengeful with me? Or this Major was using his name as to give him the full responsibility for my assaults? Later on, I came to know that honorable Mr. Mayor was one of the planers of the total conspiracy against me!
While being tortured, I asked Major Rashid, ‚you are an employee of the state. You are forgetting your duties and responsibilities. How you can behave so badly and uncivilized with a citizen? State and constitution have given you no right to torture anybody. One time, Major Rashid slapped in my left cheek and I bled through lips. After sometime, he gave electric shock in my left heap. I did not know that this was an electric shock. After I had gone to Rajshahi Central Jail, I could know it. While torturing Major Rashid hit in my left heap with a ball like substance very speedily and several times. This is electric shock. I felt that my whole body was burning! My total physical condition was deteriorating. It was about 10-30 in the morning. My hands were freed. I was placed in the electric chair. After half an hour, I was lied down on the floor of the torture chamber. Now both Majors Rashidul Hasan Rashid and Humayun Kabir together started molesting me. I was thinking, they were torturing me just out of their personal revenge. With batons both were trouncing me. At the same time they were kicking me with their boots with slaps and blows. Known as our national pride, two members of the Army persecuted me for a long one hour. They are no prides, rather symbols of shame and hatreds. With a thick and round baton, both have hit on the palms of my two feet. Both of them were very much delighted while torturing me. I lost my sense. When I got back my sense again, I found myself in a abandoned kitchen above the straw. Many insects were moving there. I was kept there like cattle, my hands, face and eyes tied up. About 1-30 afternoon, the two RAB-members asked me to stand up. But because of the tortures, I could not stand erect. Major Rahsid said, ‚brother-in-law is acting!’ and then pressed my feet with his boot. He said, ‚beating is not yet complete, Swine is acting. Son of a dog, stand erect and walk! Otherwise, I shall beat you again. Son of a bitch, you must be put to the crossfire!’ I said I was not acting. Really I could not stand and walk. But they wanted not to believe it. Major Rashid, ‚till you walk, I shall give you blows.’ I tried my best to stand and walk, but could not.
Major Rashid was kicking me in my feet and dragged me in a room. About 2-00 p.m., from my head the black cap and towel from the eye were removed. It seemed to me that as if I came out of the darkness of grave! I could again breathe normally. RAB members took my finger and palm prints from the both hands. A plate with my name was placed in my breast. I was photographed with a digital Camera. After Finger print and photo-taking, again my eyes and face were covered. Black cap was placed to my head. I was again brought to a Microbus. About 3-00 pm. I was in the Boalia Model police station. RAB wanted to show me as arrested on the contribution-collection case filed by Awami League leader, Loton and to send me in the court through the police station. But Police informed RAB that in this case, he was in bail. So he could not be taken into the custody now. While I was taken to the police station RAB members threatened me, ‚in the police station, you must walk normally. Otherwise, was hall bring you back again and put to the crossfire and kill you. When police asks, you must say I was not tortured.’ I thought I would not tell a lie, even if I was to die. But the face of my child son appeared in my mind. I became restless. I was crying. With the tears, a part of black cap was wet. As in the case filed by the Awami league leader, I was in bail given by the High Court, police refused to accept me. So from the police station, I was brought back to the RAB Headquarters. RAB members spoke that I was taken to the Baghmara police station and there I would be taken into the custody on an arm case. I also heard that in the Puthia police station also a case against me has been filed on contribution-collection charges. I might be taken there. At the end, around 5.00 p.m., RAB handed me over to the Boalia Model police station u/s 54. My eyes and face were freed.
After RAB has left the police station compound, I was brought to the police custody room. The room was filled up with burnt out cigarettes, spits, cough, banana peels and other garbage. A total unhygienic atmosphere with pungent smell! I felt to vomit! After sometime, SI of police station, Nuruzzaman came to me. He is he uncle of present Rajshahi Mayor Mr. Liton and the inquiry officer of the case filed by Awami League Leader Loton against me. I knew him. When I was a student of Rajshahi University and was a resident of Ziaur Rahman Hall, he was also student there. He was known as the cadre of Chatradal. He is also nephew of Mr. Shahin Shaukat, ex Rajshahi Chadradal leader. I could easily imagine how he could get a job by police. Anyway, he started rebuking me with filthy language. He said, ‚son of a bitch, you belong to the Awami murderers of Hasina League. When you were in the University, you wrote false reports on Chadradal and Shibir. Now I shall beat you in remand.’ Police of Boalia Model police station, sent me to the Chief court of Metro police Magistrate under the emergency Act 16(2) of 2007 in the evening of the 24 October 2007. SI Nuruzzaman took me to the court in his Pick-up with Siren. He wanted possibly to show (on the way from police station to the court) a ‚great convicted criminal, known terrorist’ to the whole people of Rajshahi city! There was no magistrate in the Court, when I was taken there. Within few moments, police took me in the van and I was brought in the Rajshahi Central Jail.
Jail authority admitted me in the Emergency of Rajshahi Central Jail Hospital at Surgical Ward-4. Next day, on the 25 October 2007, early in the morning, I was brought by 2 prisoners to the case table (Jail court). There whole of my body was inspected and although I told about the tortures, the senior Jail Superintendent of the Central Jail ordered to keep me in the normal ward. I was taken to the import-ward (first comers are brought there). After seeing me the prisoners of the import-ward requested the Jail-subeder to admit me in the Jail Hospital. He transferred me into the Hospital. Up to 3rd November, I was in the Hospital. But before I was totally cure; as I could not bribe the Hospital Surgeon, he cancelled my stay in the Hospital (Release letter from the Hospital as cured). I was then transferred to the No. 6 Civil Ward. I passed there the rest 28 days in the darkness of the Jail.
Following the report of Police, I was released on the 8th November from the charges u/s Emergency Act 16(2). But on that day I was presented as arrested on the second contribution-collection case (filed only before 4 hrs of the arrest). On the 18th November, 2007 I got the bail after a miss case was filed by the District and sessions Judge Court. On this respect from the last 24 October, 2007 to the 19th November 2007, I was imprisoned in the Rajshahi Central Jail and was released on the 19th November at 8-00 p.m. After few hours of being free, I was informed that I would be again arrested by RAB and this time I would be killed in crossfire. Confronting with such a threat and because of the anxiety and concern of the family members, I left them in panic and fled away from Rajshahi and came to Dhaka. I was admitted into the Bangladesh Rehabilitation centre for Trauma victims and obtained physical and mental treatment. After this unexpected event of my life, I wrote six books on state-tortures, religious militarism, Bomb and Grenade attack. They are, ‚15 hours in darkness’, ‚Murders extra judicial and revenge’, Militant Godfather and others’, From Udichi to Peelkhana’, "Struggle for Peace" and "Away from Home". Recently, another book of me "Pain" has published from USA (http://www.amazon.com/Pain-Jahangir-Alam-Akash/dp/1456858025). Still now when I see RABs and Cars with RABs, I got panic. Each of my moment is restless! A threat to kill me is still there. Conspirator-influential cliques and militants are threatening me incessantly. Unbearable pains and the memories of sufferings still haunt me. I am, so to say, mentally, physically, economically, socially and culturally invalid now. Invariably the state is responsible for my condition. In the face of endless threats and panic, recently I was forced to leave my country.
See my ill-luck, only due to my journalistic activities, my searching reporting’s on state-tortures, religious militancy, corruptions and political terrorism, my father-in-law was not given nomination from Awami League in the last election of 29th December 2008. Not only was that, to prevent him to contest the election as an independent candidate, many tricks made to close the road. One millionaire was nominated. The grass root workers protested and he was given the nomination. But that was a show. It could be understood while ultimately he was not given the final nomination. But in the election of 1991 the elected Awami League MP, Advocate Tajul Islam Muhammad Faruque, President of Rajshahi District Awami League has been working with the ideals of the party and Bangabandhu, the father of the nation for the last 43 years. He, Mr. Tajul Islam Muhammad Faruque and Khulna District Awami League Leader Harun-ar-Rashid collected the proves of the forgeries in the much discussed Magura Bye-election and so became the victims of harassments of political cases. My father-in-law started first the movement against the Militants in Rajshahi. For this reason, he and his intimate friend Fozle Hossain Badshah, Polite-Beauro Member of the Workers Party and four journalists were threatened by so called ‚Bangla Bhai’ (militant leader) and his forces to be killed openly. In his long political career he got many lucrative offers but never left Awami League and joined another party. Although there are evidences that those who became‚ reformists’ unitedly with Ferdaus Ahmed Koreshi and DGFI got the nomination of Rajshahi Awami League!
It is reported that under the pressures of RAB, DGFI, Army and the honorable Mayor of Rajshahi, my father.-in-law was not nominated. We don’t know whether it is a fact. But if it is true, this is not at all good for the politics. This thing will be clearer in future, I believe.
The daughter of Bangabondhu, Sheikh Hasina has promised to the people to protect human rights. So we expect from this new government the end of murders extra judicial. People of the country also want the proper and neutral enquiries of the past murders without trials by RAB. Government must ensure the due punishments for the persons responsible. As normal citizens of the country, we demand to the daughter of Bangabondhu and the father of the nation, to establish the rule of law in the country immediately, to finish the trials of the war-criminals, re-trial of Jail-killings, make the judgments of Bangabondhu-murder case effective (though I don't support death penalty) and to stop all sorts of killings-tortures along with murders extra judicial. People who are related to these crimes must be brought to the books through necessary actions.
The politics of Bangladesh is how much depending on black money, I want to talk about this. During emergency the filing of cases on the charges of ‚forceful-contribution-collection’ became the only arms for taking revenge! From this charge, even the prime minister of the country herself was not exempted. A similar case (Illegal and forceful collection of 3 hundred million of Taka as contribution) against the President of Awami League and present Prime Minister, daughter of Bangabondhu, Sheikh Hasina became a farce! Against the top politicians of the country, one after another such cases were filed. Including the prime minister of the country and other powerful politicians were only the victims of politically motivated forged cases (but few cases were true). Observing such cases, for the past disputes out of political, personal, land and property and other interests, a big festival of false ‚contribution-collection’ cases was started throughout the country just to redress the enmities and conflicts. As the cases are filed under the emergency Act, accused had no right to get bails!
Against me total 3 cases on so-called forced collection of contributions and one particular case on the Emergency Act u/s 16 (2) were made. They were purely on political motivations as I have reported on the Killings extra judiciary, militarism, corruption and above all due to my collecting news on research. Still now two contributions-cases are hanging against me! From the local Rajshahi Court No.2 to the higher court, I am to move about the cases and I am fed up! Because of the forged cases, I am physically, mentally, economically, familiarly and socially upset! On the other hand, hundreds of real contribution-hunters, terrorists, Godfathers of terror-corruption and militancy are still out of catch! Late prominent writer and educationist Dr. Humayun Azad said the truth, ‚everything now has been owned by the spoils!’
After the 11 January 2007, after the change of political scene, the interim government took the power which was actually a Military-regime in disguise. So the just gone interim government is commonly known as ‚army-controlled’. Emergency was proclaimed in the country. Within the emergency many operations of RAB-5 in Rajshahi raised many questions amongst the people. On the 2 May 2007, Benjir, once a top terrorist in Rajshahi was shot by RAB in his own house in the bedroom in front of his wife and child-daughter and he was sent to the court under arms case. In the same month on 16th, in the room of the then Director of Rajshahi Medical college Hospital, the hands and feet of Sahebul Islam, a prison-guard was broken by the beatings of RAB. After 2 days (18 May) in the Choto Bonogram of Rajshahi Metropolitan City Workers Party Ward-President, Kamrul Islam alias Majnu Sheikh was beaten to death by the RAB members. He was then guarding a Lichi-Garden and he was blamed with the so-called kidnap-drama. The people of Rajshahi became furious against the RAB because of this murder. Violating the Emergency Act, thousands of men and women came out in the Roads and indulged themselves in movements. Through the waves of angry people, Emergency Act drifted away. Police and RAB could not resist them.
Only in CSB News Chanel 24 hours, this peoples-movement was broadcast. It was a similar broadcast as following the events of 20th August in Dhaka University, students had started the movement and gradually it turned into a people’s revolution. So the anger of the people was displayed. And this was the black ominous sign of my life. After the closing of CBS News, it seemed that the administration had covered up their total revenge for the CSB with me! With the administration the political corrupted-interested-circles also played their roles. Before CSB News was closed because of its investigating Reporting’s, on the 20 June 2007 in Boalia model police station, the first class contractor Mahfuzul Alam Loton, new Awami leaguer and Vice President of present Metropolitan Awami League filed a case against me on the charges of so-called forceful contribution-collection. That complain was recorded by the police, GD No—1160, dated 20.06.2007. At the end of August of the same year, I could understand the meaning of the case. I have heard that higher police officers of Rajshahi did not want to accept the case as the complaint was a biff lie! But what police had obtained after the inquiry of this case, I don’t know that report. Later on the present Mayor of Rajshahi who has also the status of junior minister and his uncle Mahfuzul Alam Loton, as per plan, with the collaborations of some officers of RAB reactivated the GD-Entry in the Boalia police station on the 6th September, 2007, the day when CBS News was closed. Commander Lt. Col. Shamsuzzaman Khan, Major Rashidul Hasan Rashid and Major Humayun Kabir of RAB-5 Rajshahi have put pressure on police and they were bound to revive the case against me.
Before 23 October 2007 some co-incidences occurred with the case against me planned on harassments and my arrest, torture. On the 21 August 2007, in the campus of the Rajshahi University, a group of patriot teachers organized a ‚Silent-Procession’ to protest the events in the Dhaka University. University is an autonomous body. Free thoughts are practiced here. To protest the Dhaka-occurrence, a silent procession in Rajshahi was not a crime or illegal. On the 22 August following the Army tortures on the Dhaka university students while the teachers-students of Rajshahi University were peacefully protesting, the cadres of Chatrashibir and, a part of employees known as 544 planfully damaged, plundered widely and set fires in the campus. During the clash, Afzal Hossain the Rickshaw puller was killed by police firing. When the devastations were going on in the campus, a car of Rajshahi DGFI entered through the Kajla Gate of the University. The police requested the Assistant Director of DGFI in the car not to enter into the campus because of the agitated situation. But the officer did not pay any attention.
In the campus he met the Vice-Chancellor in his house and talked. When he was returning, students were coming to the VC’s house with the corpse of the killed Rickshaw puller from the opposite direction. After the DGFI car crossed the gate of house of VC, the motor was stopped. Aggrieved students set fire to the car.
In these circumstances of the University, DFGI alias Army scented a conspiracy. Secret agents discovered a big conspiracy of the teachers within the students-agitations and this was a plea to punish the progressive teachers! The ex elected Vice-Chancellor, Professor Saidur Rahman Khan, the then convener of University Progressive Party, Professor Abdus Sobhan and newline famous dramatist and leader of progressive teachers party, Malay Bhowmic were arrested from their quarters by the members of RAB-5. These talented teachers were taken that day by the black-dressed persons, binding their eyes, face and hands to the Army camp (RAB torture-centre). How the ordinary Lt. Col., Major and Captains misbehaved with the teachers, that can’t be expressed in language. Not only that, what bathe monster Pak Army could not do in those cruel days of 1971, RAB of an independent country has done! All their activities are against the constitution. Amongst the 3 arrested teachers, mostly Malay Bhowmic was inhumanly tortured by RAB members. Through their repeated baton-charges, all the bones of his both feet were broken. The gentle and polite Professor Saidur Rahman, popular and dear to all, was moved in an Electric Chair sitting. When he stood from the chair he vomited vigorously. Yet by the cruel RABs did not show any sympathy. They went on with tortures on the teachers. The sweet spoken Professor Abdus Sobhan was also mercilessly beaten. Irony of fate is that some of these beast-RAB members, whose pay, foods and dresses are from the peoples’ tax, were direct students of these teachers! Even in the Army, many higher officers were taught by them! After the University-incidence, eight more teachers were arrested and taken to the Jail. While the movements were going on, by order of the VC, the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Sadekul Islam performed the responsible duty of recording the events through VIDEO. But he was also stamped as a conspirator. He was also arrested on the charges of setting fire to the DGFI car. He was imprisoned also. Two other teachers of the University of Geology and Mining, Choudhury Sarwar Jahan Shajal and Gholam Sabbir Topu were the witnesses of the murder-case of Professor Taher of the same department. It is assumed because of this; these two teachers were included in the car-burning case and were put to the jail. In all it seemed that the total arrests of the progressive teachers were to please the Jamat-Shibir Clique. In the Dhaka University the same drama was staged. Here the Professors Anowar Hossain, Harun-ar-Rashid, Sadrul Amin, Nimchandra Bhowmik were arrested and harassed. The ex general Secretary of Dhaka University Teachers Association, Mr. Anowar Hossain is the brother of patriot and brave col. Abu Taher.
The sensational Cases against the Rajshahi University teachers had begun. In the court, the curious people were crowded. While the trials are going on, I went there on my professional grounds. I took the notes on the statements of the witnesses and interrogations. Possibly because of this event, before I was arrested, another incidence took place in the Rajshahi Court. On the 26 September 2007, from the morning, I was taking notes on the statements and interrogations of the then Officer-in-Charge of Motihar police station, Khondokar Ferdaus Ahmed who has filed the much discussed case against the six teachers of the University on the charges of violating the Emergency Acts. In the court Mahbub Kanij Keya, teacher and General Secretary of Women’s Council, Rajshahi University, educationist Muhammad Naser, teacher of Philosophy Department and cultural personality S.M. Bakkar and some other teachers, students and some common spectators were present. Around 2-15 afternoon, police assaulted me openly during the process of the Rajshahi Metropolitan prompt-trial court for the law and order violators. When the court was adjourned, I was driven out and dragged outside by police. Immediately about the incidence, I submitted a written complain to the Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Mr. Afzal Hossain. The copies of the complain was sent to then Rajshahi DC, Md. Khalilur Rahman, Police Commissioner Muhammad Mahbub Mohsin and to the President, General Secretary of Rajshahi Bar Council.
Because of the Rajshahi University events, I went everyday to the court after DGFI officer Shaukat Ali and Motihar police station O/C Khandokar Ferdaus Ahmed filed the charges and till the witnesses are heard, interrogations are made connecting with the case, I remained within the court. On the 26th September 2007, I went to the Prompt-trial Court for the law and order violators of Metropolitan Magistrate S.M. Fazlul Karim Choudhury. From the morning, plaintiff O/C Ferdaus was interrogated. Magistrate made 20 minutes recess at 2-00 p.m. I was sitting in the court. CSI Kamaluddin and 4/5 polices came to me and asked me to get out of the court. I politely showed my journalist-identity card. But they pulled me by force out of the court. (Source: daily Bhorer Kagoj, 27 September, 2007, ‚ Journalist is molested in Rajshahi Court’).
On the 2 October, 2007, the forceful collection of contribution complain against me by Loton was recorded in the Boalia Model police station. On the assault of police to me by the police in the court, on the same day in reply to my written complain Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mr. Afzal HHossain issued me a Notice: Memo No. – CMM/Raj/Go/1-1/97-1109, dated 02-10-2007. It is said in the Notice, ‚the hearing of the event as described in your complain (expulsion from the court of S. M. Fazlul Karim Choudhury by police on the 26 September) would take place on the 4 October 2007 at 9-30 a.m. in the chamber of CMM. You would present with your witnesses.’
Accordingly on the 4 October 2007 I went to the court of CMM with in time Dr. Md. Naser, teacher of Statistics, Mahbuba Kanij Keya, teacher of psychology and some other eyewitnesses. After we reached court, I was informed that against me a case of contribution-collection had been filed in Boalia police station and police will arrest me here in the CMM court. Under the circumstances, I applied to the CMM to adjourn my hearing and left the court quickly. I came to Dhaka on the same day. I wanted to take bail from the Dhaka High Court on the contribution-collection case. But Supreme Court had then vacation. I went to Mr. Syed Mamun Mahbub, ex Students Union leader of Rajshahi University and my respected elder brother. I called him per Telefone. He asked me to come to his house. I went and gave him all the case-documents. He took the matter seriously and submitted a bail petition (Case No.-14454/2007) to the vacation bench (Criminal Misc. Cases) of the High Court. In the High Court vacation-bench (Justice A. F.M.Rahman) the hearing was held on the 16 October 2007. After the hearing Justice A F M Rahman granted me an interim bail.
But he told openly,’ where is he evidence that he (meaning me) did not collect contribution illegally? Do journalists this crime not? Because of their arbitrary reporting’s the country is facing a helpless condition.’ I was ashamed of when Hon. Justice commented. I was also very much angry. I did not collect contributions forcefully, why he had told this? I uttered silently, ‚Ho. Justice, how you can believe that I am no illegal-collector, the complaint against me is total false, forged. But maybe he is right, but can we accept his comments in general? It is a fact, many of the journalists today cannot swear that they are clean, man of principles and worshipers of truth!’
The proficient son of Rajshahi, Mayor A. H. M. Khairuzzaman Liton asked respected Mr. Syed Mamun Mahbub why he had applied for my bail; ‚He (meaning me) does not belong to us. Why you have arranged his bail?’ Very shameful, painful and pitiful are this conversation! A people’s represntative, son of a national leader, why he is so meanminded? I am very much sorry to think about. Hatreds occur to me. Although High Court has granted me bail, yet RAB arrested me illegally. The night when I was arrested, on the day, there was a meeting in the circuit house in Rajshai. The agenda was to exchange of opinions on making the judiciary total separate. I went there as a journalist. Speakers said that to ensure justice amongst the people is the cherished goal of the separation of judiciary. Attempts must be taken so that no hindrance is created to this process. If there is any obstacle already, that must be immediately removed. Judiciary is the last resort of the people. Separation will bring a new era for the judiciary. They said, this initiative will enrich the country and bring welfare for the people. We are living in such a society now, where man to man, family to family there exists a complex situation. Under the circumstances, government must take the historic step and along with it, we must help to fulfill this duty. On the 23 October 2007 evening in the exchange of opinions meeting, the highly powered Observation Committee set by the Hon. Chief Justice (now former) for making the separation of judiciary member, M. M. Ruhul Amin Mirza, Justice Bangladesh Supreme Court, Mirza Hossain Haider, M. Kamrul Islam Siddiqui, Secretary Law-justice and parliamentary affairs, Kazi Habibul Awal, Registrar Bangladesh Supreme Court M. Ikdetar Ahmed, Jt. Secretary Law-justice and parliamentary affairs, M. Anowarul Hoq, Additional Registrar, High Court Division of Bangladesh Supreme Court, Farid Ahmed Shibly were present. Others who took part in the discussion, they are: Rajshahi District and session Judge, A. R. Masud, the then additional Commissioner, Rajshahi Division, M. Hafizuddin, District Commissioner, Rajshahi, Md. Khalilur Rahman, Police Commissioner Rajshahi, Md. Mahbub Mohsin, Police Superintendent, Rajshahi, Didar Ahmed, President Rajshahi Bar Association, Mojibur Rahman Talukdar, General Secretary, Najmus Sadat, PP Ekramul Hoq, GP Moyenuddin Ahmed, Supervising Engineer of Public Buildings, Sultan Ahmed and others. District Judgeship Judge Jahangir Alam Mollah, Sirajul Islam, M. Rezaul Islam, Metropolitan Magistrate S.M. Fazlul Karim Choudhury were also present. Speakers said, since long time the demand for the separation of judiciary is there. This demand belongs to all in the society. As the demand is fulfilled, everybody is happy. With this historic decision, people who have been facing political and administrative misbehaviors till now would be free. We express our gratitude’s to the government. Government must ensure now so that poor-helpless people get justice and honest trials. All are to work together. Amongst the judiciary, law and order and administration must prevail now a situation of harmony and tolerance. There might be many meetings, seminars or researches in future on the materialization of peoples dream and expectations through the separation of judiciary. Just to arrest me on the night of 23 October, around 8-45 a.m., another forged contribution-collection case was filed against me in Puthia police station. This illegal contribution-collection was held during the BNP-Jamat government, so was mentioned in the case. Plaintiff of the case was Abdul Jalil, himself a dedicated member of BNP, said in the complaint that he had no courage to file this case during the reign of political government! This Abdul Jalil was he chief accused of the murder case of Abdul Halim, worker of Awam League. Abdul Halim was the plaintiff of a sensational rape case. Attempts were made that he withdrew the case but as he denied, he was planfully killed. After the complaint of Abdul Jalil was recorded in the police station, I was arrested after 4 hours from my house in the satellite town.
In the case lodged by Awwami League Leader Mahfuzul Alam Loton, (Boalia police station Case No.-2, dated 2/10/2007, the time of recording was 12-05 midnight, u/s 385/386 penal code, MGR No.- 843/2007, Session No.- 672/2007), I got the interim bail on the16 October 2007 from the High Court. Within next 28 days the charge sheet of this case was submitted to the court (CS No. – 398, dated 30/10/2007). Enquiry officer was SI Nuruzzaman. I was released from the Rajshahi Central Jail on the 19 November 2009 on bail. RAB threatened me then to kill me in crossfire. So I rushed to Dhaka gain. I was admitted there in BRTC for treatment. But on the 29 November, 2007, I was attacked with pox. 22. November, 2007, a prayer for time was submitted in the court. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate granted the prayer but accepted the charge sheet. He ordered the transfer of the case to the District and session judge on the same day. It was proposed that case should be brought under the Emergency Acts 2007. On the 25th November, 2007 Government granted this. (Memo of home ministry no.- M.N. (law/1) Emergency-1/07/(part-13)/1236, dated 25/11/2007). On account of illness, with medical certificate, on the 29th November, 2007, again a prayer for time was submitted in the District Session Court, on behalf of the defendant Court granted. In his order, District Judge said, ‚ the permission for this case to bring under Emergency Acts 2007 u/s 19 (1) has been obtained. The prayer for time because of the absence of the defendant, I have forwarded to the learned PP, he has accepted with objection. The prayer for the time is being submitted for the hearing.’ On the 13 December 2007, again a prayer for time was submitted to the court on my behalf as I could not attend the case because my pox had not been healed. On the ground of illness (pox), an extension of time till 1 January, 2008, a payer of my absence had been made. Challenging the government order to bring my case under Emergency Acts, a writ petition was submitted to the High Court through the Supreme Court Advocate Mohammad Hossain (Writ No.-10905/2007). On the 2nd January 2008, High Court Division Bench of Justice A. B. M. Khairul Hoq and Justice Abdul awal ordered and issued a Rule-Nishi to the government to postpone the application of the Emergency Acts for 3 months by the lower court. I was not cured from the pox. So on the 3rd January 2008, local advocates quoting the High Court order and with the certificate of Advocate, on behalf of the defendant, appealed again for time. The Rajshahi District and session Judge Mr. A. R. Masud did not grant the extension of time cancelled my bail and issued warrant of arrest against me. N the 14th January 2008, the attested copy of the High Court order was submitted to the District and Session Court. District Judge postponed the hearing date till 12 April 2008 but kept the order of arrest in force. A High Court Bench formed by justice Najmun Ara Sultana and Justice M. Ashfakul Islam, on the 7th February 2008, granted my bail for 3 months. On the 18th February, 2008, the Bailbond of the bail was submitted to the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate of Rajshahi. On the 20th February, 2008, in the court of Rajshahi District and Session Judge, a prayer to recall the order for the warrant of arrest to enable my presence in the court was submitted. Judge Mr. A. R. Masud granted my bail and ordered recall for the warrant of arrest. On the 31 March, 2008 in the High Court Bench of Justice Sarifuddin Chakladar, the postpone-order for the application of Emergency Acts was extended up to the 6 April 2008. Justice M. Iman Ali and Justice A. F. M. Abdur Rahman of High Court division Bench, on the 6th April, 2008, issued an order to extend the 3-months postponement of application of Emergency Acts. On the 1st July, 2008, Justice Iman Ali and Justice M. Emdadul Hoq ordered for one month extension of the postponement order and interim bail. Justice Khademul Islam Choudhury and Justice Mashuk Hossain Ahmed of another High´Court Bench, on the 4th August, 2008 ordered again for an extension of 3 months for both. Justice Jeenat Ara and Justice Muhammad Ziaull Karim of another Bench, on the 3rd November, 2008 gave order for another extension of 3 months. I was to present physically in the District and Session Judge Court regarding this case on the 12th April, 7th July, 6th August and 6th November, 2008.
On the charges of killing the plaintiff of the much discussed Rape case (under trial), BNP supporter millionaire Abdul Jalil has filed a complaint against me on contribution-collection (Puthia police station case no.-13, dated 23/10/2007, u/s- 385/387/506 penal code, the time of recording the case: 8-45 p.m., GR. No. 251/2007). Following this case, on the 22 January, 2009, I attended the Rajshahi District Additional Judge Court-2, and got bail. On the next February, 2009 in the same court, it is supposed that the hearing would be held on the charge sheet. On the 6th January 2008, charge sheet was submitted (Charge sheet no.-1, dated 6/1/2008). Enquiry officer of the case is SI Moazzem Hossain. On the 25 October, 2007, while I was in Rajshahi Central Jail, I was shown as arrested in this case. On the 29th October, 2007, in the court of the first class Magistrate of Rajshahi ‚B’ area, a bail petition was submitted on my behalf. Magistrate cancelled the petition. On the 12th November 2007, Chief Judicial Magistrate Abu Saleh Sk. Md. Zahirul Hoq (Dulal), a prayer was submitted for the haring of the bail. Magistrate Mr. Dulal was a Student League leader while he was in Rajhshahi University. This is known to all in Rajshahi. I have heard he is very close to Mayor Mr. H. M. Khairuzzaman Lyton. His rival is my father-in-law (of the same political party), Mr. Tajul Islam Muhammad Faruque. He is he President of Rajshahi District Awami League and ex MP. I am the son-in-law of him!
On the 14th November, 2007, in the same court, Magistrate has cancelled my prayer for the bail-hearing. On the same day, in the District and Session Judge court a Miscase (No.-2149/2007) was submitted on my behalf. =n the 15th November District and Session Judge, Mr. A.R. Masud asked the documents for the hearing of the Miscase. On the 18th November after the hearing he ordered to grant my bail against a bail bond of 20,000 Tk. Next day on the 19th November, I was released from the Central jail. On the 3rd January 2008 I was absent on petition in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate. In the same year on the 4th February Magistrate accepted the charge sheet and I was also absent that day. On the 23 March, as per trial-law, court recognized the case. I was present physically. Magistrate granted my bail on condition. In his court, hearings were held on 12 May. On the 25 May, though the order on hearings should have been issued, Magistrate fixed again another date of hearing! On the 8th July, hearings on complains were held and Magistrate ordered to submit charge sheet. During the process, my advocated said, ‚on the 20th April, 2002, in the Dainik Sangbad (Newspaper), Akash published a report in the first page, ‚Again the Chadradal Cadre is defendant on the charges of teenager-rape in Puthia’.
Not only this, the father of the victim was killed through poisoning! On this rape and murder case, journalist Akash had written many reports. On this reason, the father of the accused-rapist, Abdul Jalil, after 4 years willfully has filed a case against Akash on ‚contribution-collection’. There are no element of GD-Entry and formulating of charge sheet in the case. So we pray for the release Akash from the charges.’
On the 21 October, 2008, in the same court witness of the plaintiff Abdul Jalil was heard. Public prosecutors were APP Abu Raihan Al-Beruni Minhaj, Abdul Hamid and Afzal Hossain. During the cross-examination, PP Al Beruni Minhaj tried to dictate the plaintif, my advocates raised objections. In this day, my senior Advocate could not attend the case on personal ground. So his junior Advocate Jamshed Ali and Sarwar Jahan Tuhin appealed for time to the Magistrate. Magistrate rejected and allowed the witness of plaintiff. At the beginning, the plaintiff could not tell the exact year (2002) of the incidence! In this time, APP Beruni saw the GD-Entry and told him the date and year! He could not tell the second date and the year! In the way APP tried told him and plaintiff repeated it for the Magistrate’s my advocate Sarwar Jahan Tuhin objected and told ‚ Public Prosecutor has dictated the witness, this is totally illegal. This is injustice for the defendant.’ Chief Judicial Magistrate ordered APP not to tell further anything to the plaintiff.
We submitted Criminal revision case against the charges in the Session Judge court on the 5th November 2008 (Criminal Revision Case No.-162/2008, dated 5/11/08). After the hearing, District Judge ordered orally and openly no to grant the application. My advocates asked for the attested copies of the order, so that we can go to the higher court. The assistant of my Advocate, while went to the court to bring the attested copy, he was informed that next day (6th November) again a date for the hearing has been fixed. After the hearing of that day (6 November) , District Judge A.R. Masud granted the revision and issued order to the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court to send him the current files of the case. On the 9th November, on my behalf, in the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court, application was made about the reference of the revision of the case. Chief Judicial Magistrate fixed the new date of accepting the order of Session Judge on the next 30th November. I was ill before. On that day (30 November), to the District Judge, time was begged for my illness. District Judge acknowledged the case and transferred it to the court of the Additional Judge -2 to settle the case. On the 22 January, 2009, in the court of Additional District Judge-2, I was present and appealed for the ‚transfer-bail.’ Justice Ali Ahmed granted my bail and fixed the next date on15 February 2009.
The 3rd case against me on so called Collection of contribution was filed by Abdul Latif Biswas, BNP Puthia police station President. He complained in the Puthia police station (Puthia PS Case no. – 28, dated 25/11/2007, u/s- 385/506 penal code, GR No.- 283/2007). Enquiry officer of the case was SI Amjad Hossain. GDR Entry was sent to the court on the 26th November, 2007. After enquiry, Police found no truth on the complaint. On the 4th January, 2008, they submitted the final report (Final report no.-2, dated 4/1/2008) to the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court. 3rd February was fixed as the date of the submission of the report. But Police submitted no report. On the next 18 March, 2008, Police made the final report and asked the permission from the court to file a case u/s 211against the plaintiff on making a false complain! On 19th June, 2008 Chief Judicial Magistrate Abu Saleh Sk. M. Zahirul Hoq accepted the final report and acquitted me from the charge. But he did not take any action against the plaintif u/s 211. Another case against me was under Emergency Act 16(2). GD Entry No. of Boalia Model police stattion-1239, dated 24/10/2007. Plaintif is he state. Under Emergency Acts 2007, as per 16 (2) section I was sent to the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (GR no.- 106/2007). On the 8th November, 2007, additional chief metropolitan Magistrate Ali Ahmed acquitted me from the charges under Emegency Act, 16(2). On the same day, I was shown as arrested on the case filed by Abdul Jalil in Puthia police station. The case which was forged by the Awami League leader, in the charge sheet, against me GDs of a journalist and one retired teacher and as I underwent some investigating reports against some journalists and the concerned paper-cutting describing me ‚unwanted’ had been added. In this context, on the 11 June, 2001, my filed case GD Entry No.- 488, dated 11/6/2001 and against one Mrs. Humaira Begum and Retired teacher Ashraf Ali Khan GD Entry No.- 449, dated 11/12/2000, carried a special significance! It is worth mentioning here that in different courts, the advocates who have represented me, they are: Advocate of Bangladesh Supreme Court, Muhammad Hossain and Syed Mamun Mahbub. In the local court were senior Advocate Mojibur Rahman Choudhury, Ex MP Advocate Tajul Islam Muhammad Faruque, Ex P Mansur Rahman, Advocate Kamrul Monir, and Ex General Secretary of the Rajshahi Advocates Bar Council, Ibrahim Hossain, Advocate Jamsed Ali, Advocate Rashed Ahsan, Advocate Sarwar Jahan Tuhin, Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Shamim, and Advocate Tanveer Hossain Khan.
Advocate Tajul Islam Muhammad Faruque, President Rajshahi Didtrict Awami League and Ex MP got the greatest shock in his last 43 years of political life and that is for me! He is my father-in-law. On the cast 29th December, 2008, he was not given the nomination from Awami League. But a drama was staged in the name of giving him nomination! Rajshahi-5 (Puthia-Durgapur) is his own area. He is not a sudden appearance in the politics. He was students league member when he was a student, then Upozilla Chairman and from there to the Member of the Parliament. All were under the banner of awami League. He has never left Awami Lreague in his more than 4 decades of political life. He hid not pay attention to many lucrative offers from other parties. But while Awami league was in the peak, he did not get the nomination!
I enquired and came to know that ‚I am the only reason that he has been so insulted!’ I have reported against corruption, terrorism, militancy, killings extra judicial, violation of human rights and I used to make investigating journalism. And this was the great barrier to the political career of my father-in-law. One suffered for the fault (!) of other!
Because of my professional works, his political rivals and a special section of the administration took their revenge! In their directions, for around two years, a unnatural situation was pressing on the people, a heavy big stone was that! Can we tell him a society civilized where there is no rule of law, principle, ideals, honesty and transparency? Not at all. But in such a wild society, we are living. Here are vileness, conspiracy, forgery, cheatings, dishonesty, black money and oiling are the chief measures of quality!
Through the artifice and fraud, in 2001 BNP and Jamat came to power and then with a master plan, murder-torture-terror and plundering were manifested on the Awami League leaders, workers, supporters, religious minorities and Indigenous. But in that election, with the people’s votes, Mr. Tajul Islam Faruque was elected. But through fraud he was defeated. As per government Gazette, 94% votes were recorded here as cast. It is simply unbelievable! But he got 47% of votes! In 2001 election, there are many election centers, where 100% (more than 100%) votes are claimed to be cast! On the 22 January 2007, BNP-Jamat qualition tried to hold ‘onesided election’ again as per the blue print of 2001 and so on the 11th January came a drastic change in the country!
On the 6th November, 2008 in an extended meeting in Puthia-Durgapur area held under the directions of the central Bangladesh Awami League, the grass root workers, through democratic way, decided unanimously to give Mr. Tajul Faruque the nomination from Rajshahi-5 constituency. But the parliamentary board did not agree to it. Nomination was given to Garment Merchant Abdul Wadud Dara who has been living in Dhaka permanently for the last 22 years! Later on Tajul Islam was given the party-nomination but the final selection was Mr. Dara. In this way Mr. Tajul Faruque faced an unprecedented injustice in his long political career where he always raised the banner of the ideals of Bangabondhu and for their materializations. He has faced innumerable molestations, persecutions as prisoner, victim of warrant of arrest, fugitive etc. He was always with the people of Puthia in their good and bad days. During the last BNP-Jamat Government, he gave shelters, arranged securities for the workers, supporters of his party confronting the tortures, terrorism. He preserved the party against all adversities. He is not a new comer in the party. He is a devoted soldier of Awami League, Bangabondhu and the people’s leader, Sheikh Hasina.
He started his political career as the Vice-President of the Ishwardi police station Students League in 1967. Later on step by step, he was elected as the Upozilla Chairman of Durghapur, Rajshahi (his birthplace), and was elected as the member of the parliament in the national election of 1991 as candidate of Awami League. After the killing of Bangabandhu, Tajul Faruque after the beginning of ‚Politics within 4 walls’ in 1977, he organized many Thana and Union Awami League units. He played a leading role to re-establish the Awami League. In the movements against the autocracy in 80’s, peoples’ Uprising in 90’s, his role is worth mentioning. During the fraud of Magura Bye-Election, he and Khulna Awami League President, Harun-ar-Rashid protested and collected evidences. BNP filed cases against both of them.
During his more than 4 decades of political career, he was always loyal to the party. He was never opportunist to leave the party under lucrative proposals from the others. Because of this BNP-Jamat qualition government tried with their cadres and also the traitor-renegades in his own party, tried to kill him several times! On 20 February, 2004, in Bagha the conspirators, opportunists and traitor-party leaders provoked killers to kill him. Armed raid was made on him. Bangla bhai alias Siddiqul Islam and Shayokh Abdur Rahman with the direct assistance of the last BNP-Jamat qualition government started the militant activities with the name of ‚Jamaatul Mujahidin Bangladesh’. In 2004 the militants tortured random to the Awami League and other progressive political party-workers-leaders-supporters, killed innocent people and at the same time plundered, robbed, forceful contribution-collections in large scale. Tajul Faruque first started movement against the militarism through a press conference. On the 23 May, 2004, Rajshahi District Awami League and other 11 political parties called a half-day strike to protest the tortures of militants, to bring them into book and to resist the armed expedition of them in Rajshahi. But the metropolitan Awami League did not support it (source: Daily Janakantho, 24 May, 2004). For this Tajul Fruque became the target of the militants. Bangla bhai openly threatened him to kill.
In the last days, through conspiracy with the BNP candidates, to make him defeated in the election, attempts to kill in Bagha, during the last interim government, forged cases against me (his son-in-law), his arrest, and tortures in the RAB camp, behind all, there were Awami League Central leaders and the newly elected Mayor of Rajshahi, A H. M. Khairuzzaman Liton. Last not the least, after the (last) interim government came to power, many false complains were dictated and lodged against him (by name or anonymous) to different administrative offices. But after the enquiries, they were all proved to be fake. Following these events, Tajul Islam did not support or oppose any candidate the City Corporation election. But in the Rajshahi Naohatta Municipality, he rendered all his strength, organizational capacities so that the Awami League candidate Abdul Gafur was elected as the Mayor.
As a part of continuous conspiracy, on the 23 August, 2008 in Durgapur police station, against him and his younger brother, Vice-President of Thana Awami League, Kabirul Islam Anis and the President of Durgapur Awami League, Mr. Nazrul Islam, General Secretary, Mr. Tofazzal Hossain on false allegations a GD entry was made. But the complaint was proved to be false after enquiry. Through the provocation of an influential Rajshahi Awami league leader, one Abdul Latif accused of corruption and fraud filed the case against Ex MP Tajul Islam Muhammad Faruque and other 4 Awami League leaders in Durgapur police station. (GD entry no. – 857, dated 23/8/2008). About the matter of being candidate of the Upozilla election, District Awami League President, Advocate Tajul Islam Muhammad Faruque, Durgapur Upozilla Awami League President, Nazrul Islam, Vice President, Kabirul Islam Anis and General Secretary, Tofazzal Hossain had threatened to kill, so complained Abdul Latif s/o Abdul Jabbar Ali Mridha of village Hoja Anontakandi of Durgapur. On enquiry, no truth was found in this allegation. Second oficer of Durgapur police station, Mokhlesur Rahman entered one GD (GD no.- 980, dated 26/9/2008) in his police station in this matter.
In 1980, he was elected as the General Secretary of Awami League of Durgapur Thana. Afterwards Tajul Faruque elected twice General Secretary of Rajshahi District Awami League. On the 26 September, 2005, he was elected as the President of Rajshahi District Awami League. In that party conference, he knew the wish of Party Leader, Sk. Hasina and against the resistance of the councilors, he requested them to elect Omar Faruque Choudhury as the General Secretary and lastly Mr. Choudhury was elected. It was the greatest mistake of his political career. General Secretary of District Awami League Mr, Abdul Jalil, and Member of the Presidium Mr. Tofael Ahmed, Organizing Secretary Mr. Abdul Mannan and Akhtaruzzaman were present. They formed a Committee with the newly elected President, General Secretary, Awami League leader Nurul Islam Thandu, Mr. Ataur Rahman, Mr. Engineer Shafikul Islam to organise a full Committee for the Rajshahi District Awami League. But the General Secretary did not want to work with them. Moreover he tried to include some of his own and self-choiced Metropolitan workers in the District Committee. This was the cause that a full Committee could not be formed. Later on the General Secretary-in-charge of Central Awami League Mr. Syed Ashraful Islam, wanted to send letters to the new nine Thana Committees and Municipal-Committee general secretaries with a proposal to convene a joint meeting to organise the full Committee of the District Awami League. But it was not materialized. Mr. Tajul Faruque faced a big financial loss and even became debtor for his political career. But he never left Awami League or the ideals of Bnngabondhu. At the end of his political career, while under the leadership of Bangabondhu-daughter, the great qualition of Awami League after winning the great victory in the election and millions of Awami League supporters were celebrating, Mr. Tajul Faruque and his family were confronting various conspiracies. For the last 7 years, he has been preparing the field for Awami League in Puthia-Durgapur but he was not given the nomination as Awami League candidate: This injustice, he can’t possibly ever forget.
It is reported that DGFI, RAB and the Mayor of Rajshahi, together these three powers, had opposed the nomination for Tajul Faruque and even he was insulted after once nominated and then the withdrawal of that by rendering another person the final nomination! Did he not get the nomination due to me? I could not calmly think about it. This thought makes me angry. Is really the country now wonder the rogues?
If not, why one is punished for the wrong of other? As my father-in-law had to compensate for my activities! I have heard because of the interventions of Army, RAB and DGFI, he was not given the Awami League nomination. But I don’t know the actual reason why Party-President and Parliamentary Board did not give him the nomination. But if because of the above reasons, he was deprived of, it is terrible for the politics. Pity to Bangladesh!
Bangladesh is known as one of the risky countries for the journalists. In the last 20 years, about 34 journalists-writer were killed. Many of them were victims of tortures. But few events were investigated and put to the trials. Throughout the country, everyday many journalists are doing their professional duties at the risks of their own deaths, persecution and intimidations. In different District towns, it is more dangerous than in capital, Dhaka. In spite of many adversities, the journalists in villages are fighting courageously for their existence in this profession. I was the victim of false complain, put to the jail and tortured. After I came out of the jail on bail, comments of my many colleagues had hurt me. Some seniors of me, they call themselves as the leaders of the journalists, said, ‚I move against the current, I chase everybody! Because of this, I was imprisoned and persecuted.’ An elderly from Rajshahi University, a colleague advised me to leave this profession to make an end of my crisis!
My wife is my friend, colleague and the source of my inspiration. She asked me after I was released from the jail, for your honesty, courage and transparency, you got the reward with being arrested on the charges of forged complains and imprisoned by the state. Society, state and colleagues do not recognize your honesty and transparency, then why you are fighting against the corruption and the violation of human rights?’ I answered, ‚ I would continue my fight ignoring all obstacles to establish truth, justice for the country and the people. At least I have the self-satisfaction and I would definitely get the love of the common people.’
Only due to professional reasons, I was inhumanly tortured and harassed and arrested through on the grounds of forged complains and cases lodged against me one after another. I have been passing an unnatural life for the last three years as a result of the conspiracy of an united clique. At the same time, with me, 3 families attached to me are also suffering. Why against me the conspiracies, I want to explain.
Any report of an event which is held, is for the favor of someone and against some other. This is natural. One professional journalist has to search for the truth. If this truth is published or broadcast in media, one side is happy and another side is unhappy! Those are favored by the report are happy and vice-versa! Especially the concerned persons are not friends of a responsible, professional and honest journalist who reports about their corruptions, terror and crimes. Because of the reports they are unhappy and they vow to take revenge with the reporter. As I have reported against the corrupted-terrorist-circle and the violators of human rights, my life has become totally insecure. Because of the reporting’s on these matters, I became victims of tortures and forged cases. I was arrested on fake charges and molested in front of my wife, child, my house owner and his son. What the elite forces misbehaved with a human rights-worker journalist, I don’t know whether a convicted criminal had been so handled! I am now out of the jail after 28 days. But the conspiracy against me is not stopped.
Being committed with the state, country and people, sometimes along with the journalism, I worked as an activist. On the 21 August, 2004, after the grenade-attack and following the similar attacks throughout the country, on protest against the fundamental activities, I alone did a silent Rally with burial-dress. This report was published the daily Star (24 August, 2004) under the title, ‚An Unique Protest’. On the same day, a report, in the Bengali Daily, ‚Prothom Alo’ under the title, ‚ Awake the conscious, save the country, an extra-ordinary protest by a journalist in Rajshahi’ was published. To protest the journalists-killings, I went with lonely movement. While in 2004, in Rajshahi North areas, Militants started murders and tortures, I first, made a detail report on the Militant leader Siddiqul Islam and Shayokh Abdur Rahman on their murderous activities and made a GD entry on the 30th May, 2004 in Rajshahi Boalia police station (No.-1587, dated 30/05/2004) and another in Baghmara police station (N0. – 1647, dated 30/05/2004). Both GDs are not yet investigated.
On the 26th April 1997, the terrorists of Chatrashibir raided on the then Vice Chancellor and famous Folklore-expert Professor Abdul Khalek and three other teachers in their residences. I was then a student of the University and worked as the correspondent of daily Sangbad. The cadres of the Chatrashibir set fire to my room, crumbled and tried to kill me. Source: Special News after the 8-00 pm BTV News on the 28 April, 1997. In the same year in daily Ajker Kagoj, Daily Bangla, Bangladesh Observer, daily Sangbad and almost all other national dailies, on the 27 April, this report was published. To make a much discussed report about the Islamic militancy and revolution in Bangladesh, Alisa Griswold, American journalist of New York Times Magazine came to Rajshahi. I helped her to investigate in Militant area of Baghmara, on the spot. Source: Daily Amar Desh, 6th March, 2005. Student’s league leader Ahsan Habib Babu was killed in the Brushfire of RAB in Durgapur, Rajshahi on 1 December, 2006. On behalf of the Bangladesh Institute of Human rights (BIHR) an investigation was made. I led the investigating team. Source: Daily Janakantha and daily Bjorer Kagoj, 9 December, 2006.
I prepared a report on the killings-tortures, plundering and rapes in Rajshahi area by the BNP-Jamat Qualition and their armed cadres after the election of the 1st October, 2001. It was published in daily Sangbad. For this, many times the cadres of the qualition-powers tied to kill me. Since last 15 years, what was my role to protect the Bengali culture and with all progressive-democratic movements, the people of Rajshahi know it. In September 2002, in Sadhanpur of Puthia, Rajshahi on the direction of then MP of BNP Nadim Mostofa, BNP cadres attacked on me with arms. In 2003, miscreants kidnapped and brought me to an unknown place tortured me. Militant leader Siddiqul Islam alias Pakibhai (self-proclaimed, Banglabhai) threatened me to kill. After the closing of CSB News broadcast on 2 October, 2009, Mahfuzul Alam Loton, on the provocation of his nephew, AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, lodged a conspiracy and forged case against me on contribution-collection. They made me arrested with RAB and arranged my tortures by them. That conspiracy is still going on. I have reported on the complaint of the administrative-corruptions in the Delwar Hossain Waqf Estate (Religious-Grant-property) of Rajshahi. Because of this, Liton and Mr. Loton has harassed me with lodging fake cases against me. I was arrested by RAB and tortured. After 28 days in jail, on 19 November, 2007, I was released on bail. But both are still against me. These two are joined with one from the law and order (Army). I am a harassed victim of extreme injustice as a journalist. Recently it is rare in Bangladesh that a humanist-journalist is persecuted through forged cases. My profession was the reason for all these mishandlings. It is not yet ended. The known opportunists and corrupts were angry with me. They always searched plea to put me in trouble. In the beginning of June, 2007, the conspiracy started. After the closing of CBS News, this was enlarged. Special state army personnel joined in it because of his personal grudge. As a consequence, I was charged with a complaint of forceful collection of 50,000 Tk, by contractor Loton. I got the interim bail of this case from higher court on 16 October 2007. Yet on the 23 October 2007 at night, I was arrested. Till now I have 3 fake cases against me. My life is at a great because of my professional career. The deep reasons are my reports on the violation of human rights.
‘Delwar Hossain Waqf Estate’ is a widely known Estate in Rajshahi. Everybody knows about the corruption in the administration of this Estate. Cases in the courts have also been lodged. On 9 April 2002, in Daily Sangbad, a report was published, ‚Complains of large irregularities and corruptions in Rajshahi Delwar Hossain Waqf Estate, a new administrator has been appointed’ and on the 17th December, 2006, another report‚ ‚Police has handover the responsibilities to the new administrator of Rajshahi Delwar Hossain Waqf Estate’ was published. I made the both reports. On 25 April in CSB News, under the title‚ ‚In North areas, the Waqf-Estates are being
Illegally occupied’ was broadcast. The complaints about the Waqf-Estate were elaborated here. Besides I made reports on the 30 June, 2003 in the weekly Mridubhashan, ‚the Awami League in Rajshahi is finding no direction’ and on the 21 February, 2004 in daily Sangbad about the postponement of Awami League Bagha Upozilla Conference and assaults on the local Awami League leaders and workers by one particular group with the help of BNP cadres where with Central General Secretary, District General Secretary, 20 workers were harassed. In the same year I reported on the 28th December, Rajshahi Awami League is shattered with the inner party struggle’, on the 19 May 2005, ‘The process of familiarization of Rajshahi Awami League’. Mr. Lyton was dissatisfied with me. On 11 January, 2007, after the change of government (interim), Emergency was proclaimed in the country. Uncle and Nephew took the chance of Emergency and with the help of an influential RAB Officer, started conspiracy against me. Mahfuzul Alam Loton, son of Abdus Samad, Delwar Waqf Estate-Administrator, planfully forged a contribution-case against me and submitted. Mr. Abdus Samad, father of Loton, was fired on the charges of corruption from the Waqf-Estate. In May, 2001 Loton joined Awami League. Now he is the Vice-President of Rajshahi District Awami League and a contractor by profession. Before on the 4th March, 2000, I was made a report in the daily Sangbad, ‘From the spot of the event in Rajshahi, out of fear of the terrorists, two families can’t go out’. Another report from me was‚ Case has been lodged but Police is silent’. On account of these reporting’s, Mr. Loton wanted to teach me a lesson! So he let the terrorists loose on me. But his cadres, out of mistake, instead of me, wounded the then correspondent of daily Jugantor, Mr. Uttam Kumar Das. I made a GD entry in Boalia police station (no. – 310, dated 7-3-2000). Mr. Loton is accused of fraud and cheating. He is the 4th accused of Rajpara police station case no-10, dated 7-10.2007, and u/s 466/468/471/406 penal code. In Rajshahi Boalia Model police station on the last 20 June, 2007, Mr. Loton filed a GD and police recorded (GD no.-1160, dated 20-6-2009). After about 4 months on the last 2 October, in the same police station, a ditto copy of this GD was submitted as complainant’s deposition. Police recorded this as a case (Case no. 2, dated 2-10-2007, u/s 385/386 penal code). On the last 16 October, I got interim bail from the higher court in this case. On the 23rd October night (1-30 a.m.), I was arrested by civil-dressed RAB from my satellite town-rented house. Before I was arrested the second collection-case was filed against me in Puthia police station. Case no.– 13, dated 23-10-2007, u/s 385/387/506 penal code. Plaintiff was BNP supporter Abdul Jalil. On the 19th April 2002, his son Chatradal cadre, Harun raped teenager Shiuli. He was then caught by the people. Abdul Jalil gave pressure on Awami Leaguer Abdul Halim to compromise the case. But his attempt failed and it was alleged that he has killed Abdul Halim with adding poison in sweets (Jilapi). He was charged with this murder and he was recorded as the chief accused in Puthia police station, Case no. 7, dated 9-5-2005, GR No.- 99/2005, complain document no.- 136, dated 12-8-2005, u/s 302/34 B. penal code.
Over this sensational rape-incident of 19th April 2002 and about the murder of Abdul Halim, I made several reports in daily Sangbad. On the 25th November Puthia Thana BNP President and ex administrator of Puthia Municipality Abdul Latif Biswas filed the 3rd forged contribution case against me. Puthia police station case no.- 28, dated 25/11/2007 u/s 385/506 penal code. Plaintiff of this case was of the chief accused of a sensational attempt to kill, plundering and also collection case! The case against Mr. Abdul Latif with Puthia police station is no. 3, dated 2/7/2007 (GR 152/2007) u/s 147/323/325/307/385/427/114 penal code. On the complaint against Mr. Abdul Latif to open an Alcohol-Distillation in Puthia, my report was published in daily Sangbad on the 23 August, 2003. The political company of him, Mamtajul Alam lodged a case against me and the respectable editor of daily Sangbad Mr Bajlur Rahman on defamatory charges. Court has acquitted both of us.
After I came out of jail, from various circles I was advised to leave journalism. I told them, ‚journalism is my first and last profession of life.’ I want to conclude, ‚ I would never go backward to tell the truth. With hundreds of harassments, persecutions and tortures, none can stop my pen! Let us unitedly make journalism free from all pressures and ensure is independence. This profession must be more decorated, recognized. We must secure the rights to know the truth, the human rights and. We must be united to fight for a free Bangladesh from terror and corruption.’
Because of my investigating reports on corruptions and violations of human rights, I have been harassed. The fake cases against me are nothing but revenge! As a result my and two other families are passing days in panic and insecurity. This is an unbearable dreadful life. I want freedom from all these persecutions. I demand the security of my family and me, a natural life and justice. And all conspirators and perpetrators should be punished. Recently, I saw a report of the United Nations on Bangladesh where the government of Bangladesh has identified me as a "Yellow and extortionist journalist".
Really I am astonished on the attitude of the state (Bangladesh) after seen that report. I can challenge to the Bangladesh government about my professional honesty and responsibility for the society. After all, I am not an extortionist and yellow journalist. I had been always working for the oppressed and voiceless people from Bangladesh and still I am doing this from abroad. It is common practice of Bangladesh, where there is no respect to the patriot and honest professional personalities. Many example are there in favour of my speech. Bangladesh should be stopped to make any false statement against human rights defenders and journalists. Bangladesh should be practical on truth and should uphold the human rights for the interest of peace and democracy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1G8BUvZ_mc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHqyDmeLpvc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9P1mZ7zKww
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xzaCRYCkqs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncsJTo0ZxQY
Writer:
Jahangir Alam Akash
Editor
"Euro Bangla"
http://www.eurobangla.org/
http://youtube.com/user/jaakashbd
http://extrajudicialkillings.wordpress.com/

Killing Continued:

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Sun, 01 May 2011 19:08:56 PDT

Despite Prime Ministers assurance two more killed in “Crossfire”!

By Bangladesh Media; Despite Prime Ministers assurance to stop extra judicial killing during her visit to London two more men were killed by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Bangladesh. Spot Pabna District! Same structured press releases were inserted to different newspapers by the Rapid Action Battalion where the deceases were called ‘criminal’ and accused of murder. The press release inserted by RAB demands the Battalion recovered fire arms.

A regional commander of Purba Banglar Communist Party (Lal-Pataka) was killed in a ‘shootout’ with police in Ataikula of Pabna early Thursday. The deceased, Abdul Hamid alias Thosha Hamid, 32, son of Abdur Rashid of Kakilakhali village in Ataikula, was accused in a number of cases including three for murder, police sources said.

Officer-in-charge Habibul Islam of Ataikula Police Station said a team, led by him, started a drive at Kakilakhali village to catch outlaws shortly after the midnight. But when they reached near Kakilakhali Beel at about 3:30am, Hamid and his gang opened fire on the police personnel suspecting them as their rivals. In reply, police fired shots, triggering a 20-minute ‘gunfight’. The law enforcers found the bullet-hit body of Hamid after his associates fled the scene, reports our Pabna correspondent quoting the OC.

Another incident took place in Sathia Upozila of Pabna on early Wednesday. The deceased Rezaul Karim Reza was a regional commander of the East Bangle Communist Party (ML Jano Juddho). He is the son of Khalilur Rahman of Nurdaho Village of the same upozila. RAB 12 demanded; they have been informed that a couple of criminals gathered in a brick field of Nurdaho village in Dhulauri Union. Sensing RAB presence the alleged ‘criminals’ open fire on them and compelled to fire them back. Reza died when he came in line of fire.

On January 30 in London Lord Avebury, the chairman, Standing Committee of Human Rights of the House of Lords, Abbas Faiz, Bangladesh Researcher of Amnesty International and Brad Adams, the director of Asia of Human Rights Watch met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, foreign minister Dipu Moni and other government officials about the human rights situation in Bangladesh. Three incidents took place and three men were killed just after the prime minister's meeting with the human rights leaders during her visit in London.

The prime minister assured the HR leaders that she will take action if anybody found guilty and will act to stop extra judicial killing in Bangladesh.

A Man Killed by RAB

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 05:18:28 PST

Here Prime Minister breaks her promise!

By Bangladesh Media; A 35-year-old man was killed by the Rapid Action Battalion in ‘gunfight’ at Manikdi in Dhaka. The victim’s family alleged that someone had him killed centring on a land dispute. The incident took place just after the prime minister's meeting with the human rights leaders during her visit in London. The prime minister assured the HR leaders that she will take action if anybody found guilty and will act to stop extra judicial killing in Bangladesh.

The deceased, Azgar Ali, a resident of Utrapur Araihazar in Narayanganj, had dealt in brick and had been involved fish farming in the area, the family said. Tuesday’s incidents took to eight the number of people, killed in the incidents of ‘crossfire,’ ‘gunfight’ or ‘encounter’ since January 1.

Two hundred and thirty-eight people have so far fallen victim to extrajudicial killings by law enforcers in the incidents of ‘crossfire,’ ‘gunfight’ or ‘encounter’ since January 6, 2009 when the AL-JP-led government assumed office. The Awami League in its election manifesto had said that extrajudicial killing would be stopped.

The victim’s elder sister Atar Banu said that her brother had been picked up by the plainclothesmen from the house of his sister-in-law in Narsigndi about 5:00pm on Monday. ‘We informed the local police of the matter and the police said that he had been sent to Dhaka. We later had to identify the body in the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue,’ she said. Atar Banu also said that they had a land dispute with local influential people. ‘We suspect that the killing might have taken place after a verdict on the land dispute in our favour.’

The battalion in a release said three RAB-4 teams challenged a group of people at Chowdhurykunja in the area. The group fired into the law enforcers, who fired back, leading to a ‘gunfight,’ it said. The critically injured Azgar was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The police said a case had been filed in this connection.

Promised to take action:

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 23:58:18 PST

PM meets HR leaders: an insider’s account

During her visit to UK, The prime minister meet the chairman, Standing Committee of Human Rights of the House of Lords, Lord Abury, Abbas Faiz, Bangladesh Researcher of Amnesty International and Brad Adams, Director of Asia, Human Rights Watch, paid a courtesy call on her at her hotel suite in London on Sunday. Human Rights Watch, Asia Director Brad Adams writes about the discussion...

By Brad Adams; On January 30 in London Lord Avebury, Abbas Faiz of Amnesty International and I met prime minister Sheikh Hasina, foreign minister Dipu Moni and other government officials about the human rights situation in Bangladesh. Your report of January 31 about this meeting (‘Stern action against those responsible for extrajudicial killing: PM') quoted the foreign minister as saying ‘the human rights leaders expressed satisfaction over the existing human rights condition in Bangladesh. They also lauded Hasina for her relentless efforts for improving the country's human rights condition and establishing democracy in Bangladesh.'

To be more specific, we spoke for over an hour about many human rights issues. The meeting was indeed a welcome change from encounters with the previous two governments, which refused to meet with Human Rights Watch at the highest levels to discuss the human rights situation in Bangladesh. The meeting was serious, befitting discussions of human rights in a country facing many serious challenges.

Among the issues we discussed were the war crimes tribunal process, the pending anti-torture bill in parliament, court cases against officials of the Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity, the arrest and treatment of Moshrefa Mishu, the situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and the trials of suspects in the BDR massacre of 2009. We cited specific concerns and made recommendations. The prime minister, the foreign minister and other officials listened carefully and explained the government's position on these issues.
One subject we discussed at length was the continued large number of extrajudicial killings by the Rapid Action Battalion. The prime minister pointed out that RAB was created by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government and used against criminals and political opponents, including members of her own party. She said her government does not order RAB to target members of the opposition or order the killing of specific individuals. She said she had opposed RAB's behaviour while in opposition. I explained that Human Rights Watch had been documenting RAB killings since it was set up. As far back as 2005, we published a report titled ‘Judge, Jury and Executioner', which showed in detail how RAB targeted individuals for killings, often after severe torture.

I reminded the prime minister of her announcement of a ‘zero tolerance' policy towards extrajudicial killings in 2009. I pointed out that despite this statement RAB continues to carry out large numbers of ‘crossfire' killings" and that no RAB official or officer has ever been prosecuted for such killings. Whether political officials order RAB killings or not, it is the responsibility of the government of the day to ensure that government security and law enforcement forces do not abuse human rights. When such abuses occur, it is the government's responsibility to take swift action against perpetrators.

I expressed dismay at the statement last week by the home minister, Sahara Khatun, that there had been no extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh since the Awami League government came to power in 2009, a statement that bears no resemblance to reality, as even a cursory examination of Bangladeshi newspapers makes clear. I told the prime minister that this statement and similar ones by other government ministers in the past two years call into question the government's commitment to end this scourge, which is now gaining regular international attention.

The prime minister told us that she was committed to ending these killings but said this problem could not be solved overnight. This may or may not be true: the killings almost completely stopped in early 2009 when the new government took office, perhaps because RAB was concerned about how the new government might react to continued ‘crossfire' killings. In any case, I suggested that there are things the government can do right now. It can require, including through legislation, an official and independent inquest into every death at the hands of government forces. This is a common approach in democratic countries. Such inquests would allow the truth to emerge in cases in which RAB or other law enforcement officers kill an individual. They would provide a forum for RAB to present evidence of self-defence, which RAB regularly claims as the reason for killings. At the same time, they would allow victims, their families and others to present evidence of illegal killings, torture or unlawful detentions. Proper inquests would also allow the public to know the truth of what happened.

The government can act immediately to show its commitment to ending abuses by beginning criminal prosecutions in cases where there is clear evidence that RAB has acted unlawfully. Human Rights Watch has provided such documentation to the government in the past, but has received no formal reply. The prime minister has now asked us to send such information to her, which we will do. One case she could look into is that of the brothers Lutfar and Khairul Khalashi. They were arrested by RAB on November 13, 2009. Because of RAB's long record of killing people in custody, the following day family members organised a press briefing in which they urged the authorities to ensure that the brothers would not be not killed while in custody. Yet two days later, on November 16, 2009, RAB announced that both had been killed in ‘crossfire' with a RAB patrol team early the same morning. RAB provided no credible explanation for the killings.

Human Rights Watch appreciates the statement issued by the prime minister after our meeting on 30 January that ‘If anyone found guilty after investigation for extrajudicial killing, we will take action against the persons as we believe that all citizens have the right to get justice.' Our goal as human rights activists is to help the government turn these aspirations, expressed repeatedly in the past, into action. The victims and their families deserve no less.

Brad Adams is the director of the Asia division of Human Rights Watch.

Published in
Human Rights Watch
Daily New Age

Amnesty International:

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:42:02 PST

UK-trained security forces must stop extrajudicial executions in Bangladesh.

By Bangladesh Media; Amnesty International in a press release yesterday said Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) must stop extrajudicial killings. The press release also called on the British government to raise concerns before Sheikh Hasina about reports of torture, extrajudicial executions, and excessive use of force by Rab.

The press release says -Amnesty International is calling on the UK government to raise concerns about reports of torture, extrajudicial executions, and excessive use of force by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.

Sheikh Hasina is in the United Kingdom this week amid a flurry of accusations about extrajudicial executions carried out by Bangladeshi security forces. Amnesty International and other human rights organisations have documented repeated instances of human rights violations by the RAB in the past five years. More than 600 people are thought to have been killed by RAB personnel since 2004 when the battalion was created.

In most cases, victims have died in the custody of the RAB, but police authorities routinely reported that the victims were killed during "crossfire", police "shoot-outs" or "gun-battles".

Abbas Faiz, Amnesty International’s Bangladesh researcher, said “Suggestions that these deaths in custody are just unrelated random incidents, as opposed to targeted executions, are simply not credible. The chances of this same fate befalling so many apprehended individuals defies belief and contradicts eye-witness testimony. These deaths amount to extrajudicial executions.”

“The deaths must stop now, and the responsible personnel must be brought to justice without delay,” Abbas Faiz said. Comments and announcements from Bangladeshi government authorities over recent days have demonstrated a hostile defiance in response to national and international calls to address the claims. The Bangladeshi Home Minister, Shara Khatun, yesterday denied that extra-judicial executions have ever taken place in Bangladesh during the time of the present government and today went on to accuse human rights organisations of "siding with the criminals"

Recently, Wikileaks sources alleged that UK police have been training the RAB in Bangaldesh. Abbas Faiz, added “Any country that knowingly trains a force, which systematically violates human rights, might itself bear some responsibility for those violations.”

Wikileaks:

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:04:39 PST

Where are the Bangladesh ‘death squads’ for the UK government to train?

Condemning the British government for its engagement with RAB—without any actual evidence that the training it provides facilitates RAB in violating human rights—risks preventing the organisation from gaining the skills and capacity that might allow it to develop into a human rights compliant organisation, writes David Bergman.

THERE has been much in the WikiLeaks cables that is new, revelatory and damning, but the recent ‘disclosure’, published by the Guardian newspaper, claiming wrongdoing by the British government in providing training to Bangladesh’s law enforcement body Rapid Action Battalion is far from being any one of them.
The article describes RAB as a ‘death squad’, and suggests that the British government training may well have increased RAB’s criminality, at one point reporting that its journalists asked the UK’s National Policing Improvement Agency whether its ‘courses in investigative interviewing techniques might not render torture more effective.’
If these claims were true, this would, of course, be a significant scandal. Yet, they are unsubstantiated.
Unlike the suggestion in the article, it has been no secret that the UK government has provided training to RAB.
In April 2009, Human Rights Watch itself had reported that, ‘The United Kingdom and the United States’ were providing ‘training to RAB in the stated hope that the force will improve its human rights record and eventually become a more effective counterterrorism outfit.’
And, after the Guardian article was published, the news agency AFP reported that, early in 2010, Duncan Norman, Britain’s deputy high commissioner in Bangladesh, had given it an on-the-record interview about the training the British government provided to RAB.

Moreover, the use of the term ‘death squad’ is highly sensationalist.
The words are taken from a comment given by Brad Adams, the Asia director of Human Rights Watch who is quoted in the Guardian article as saying that ‘RAB is a Latin American-style death squad dressed up as an anti-crime force.’
The article adds that ‘Human Rights Watch has repeatedly described the RAB as a government death squad.’
However, Human Rights Watch has only once used the term ‘death squad’ to describe RAB and that was in a report four years ago. Since then—despite numerous press releases and a further detailed report on the organisation in May 2009—HRW has routinely described RAB either as ‘an elite crime-fighting force’, or a ‘paramilitary law enforcement agency’. Not a ‘death squad’. And certainly not a Latin American-styled one.
When asked about this, Brad Adams said, ‘I’m not sure when and whether we’ve used the term before’ saying that he didn’t ‘have time right now to research this.’
And although the Guardian article suggests that HRW is not the only organisation to refer to RAB as a ‘death squad’, no other human rights organisation in Bangladesh or outside has done so.
This is not surprising. They know very well that although there is much to condemn RAB for, it is simply not a militia that goes around the country solely engaged in kidnapping and killing people, as suggested by the term ‘death squad’.
It is instead a law enforcement agency with over 7,000 officers who spend most of their time dealing with straightforward law enforcement issues.
RAB officers are, for example, commonly seen on the roads of Dhaka manning road blocks and the daily newspapers are full of reports of people arrested by them for ordinary criminal offences.
It, of course, does have a very dark side. The Guardian is right to report serious allegations against RAB of extrajudicial killings. As it says, RAB has over the years reportedly killed hundreds of people in what are often euphemistically called ‘cross fires’. These need to be investigated, the people responsible brought to justice and the agency itself needs to be seriously reformed.
Yet, there is quite a significant difference between a 7,000-man death squad, as suggested in the article, and a law enforcement agency some of whose members have allegedly committed torture and extrajudicial killings.
Use of the term ‘death squad’ only prejudices the question of whether or not it is appropriate for the British government to provide RAB training.
And there does not seem to be anything contentious about the training itself.
The leaked US embassy cable describes the UK government providing ‘human rights training’, ‘training to make the RAB a more transparent, accountable and human-rights compliant paramilitary force’ part of which is training in ‘areas such as investigative interviewing techniques and rules of engagement.’
The British-based National Police Improvement Agency expands on this in the Guardian article by stating that it provides RAB training in ‘forensic awareness, management of crime scenes and recovery of evidence. Throughout the training we have emphasised the importance of respecting the human rights of witnesses, suspects and victims.’
Following the publication of the Guardian article, a British High Commission spokesperson in Bangladesh told the BBC that the training involved ‘interview skills, investigation skills, [and] basic scene of crime skills.’
This kind of investigation skills training to improve compliance with basic human rights standards is very similar to that provided to the Bangladesh police by the United Nations Development Programme as part of its ‘Police Reform Project’, which is funded by the UK Department for International Development and development agencies of other countries. This has been going on for a number of years without any controversy.
Since the Bangladesh police has been accused over many years by human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, of involvement in the systematic torture of detainees to extract confessions, those critical of improving RAB’s investigative skills should also want to end the police training.
To do this though would be entirely counterproductive. A key reason why such organisations as RAB and the police are involved in torture is that these are the only methods by which the organisations know how to investigate crime. In Bangladesh, crime scenes are almost never kept, techniques like finger printing are not used, and cases are not built up on the basis of deductive inquiry and questioning. Both RAB and the police, simply detain people, and carry out investigations by coercion, torture—and sometimes killing.
It is, therefore, essential that these organisations understand that crimes can be solved without torture. Criticising the British government for providing training removes the possibility that these agencies will ever learn how to investigate crime using the human rights compliant techniques standard in the UK and other countries.
And, interestingly Human Rights Watch, in its most recent report on RAB states that international donors like the British government can provide training as long as it is ‘specifically for human rights’.
Human Rights Watch has not responded to a query about why the training by the British government does not constitute the kind of ‘human rights training’ it supports.
The only suggestion in the Guardian article that the training provided by the British government was not human rights training comes from a comment by the RAB’s head of training, Mejbah Uddin ‘that he was unaware of any human rights training since he was appointed last summer.’ It is notable, however, that the Guardian does not set out what training was in fact provided.
It is very likely that Uddin’s response simply reflects a different understanding of what constitutes ‘human rights’ training, not recognising that it includes learning about the maintenance of crime scene and investigation techniques.
There is a purist view that donor agencies should not engage at all with organisations involved in human rights violations, that any engagement simply provides them unhelpful legitimacy. And there may well be questions to be asked of the British government about how much pressure it put on the Bangladesh government to stop torture and extrajudicial killings by RAB.
However, condemning the British government for its engagement with RAB—without any actual evidence that the training it provides facilitates RAB in violating human rights—risks preventing the organisation from gaining the skills and capacity that might allow it to develop into a human rights compliant organisation.
This makes it all the more remarkable that British lawyer Phil Shiner has initiated legal action against the British government. One would expect lawyers of Shiner’s reputation—who made his name in taking action against the British government over killing of citizens in Iraq—to undertake their own due diligence before opportunistically filing legal papers based on a misleading newspaper article.

David Bergman
Editor, Special Report.
New Age

Published: Daily New Age. January 04, 2011

Wikileaks reveals:

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 20:10:58 PST

RAB was trained by the British Government!

Wikileaks

By Bangladesh Media; While the western governments cry about the human rights situation of Bangladesh – and behind the Screen it helps the ‘dead squad’ Rapid Action Battalion, A paramilitary force in Bangladesh with its name and fame for Extra Judicial Killing, Which is responsible for couple of Hundreds civilians death shows how double standard the Human rights policy these governments maintain!

Yes, finally the whistleblower Julian Assange blows his whistle through the Wikileaks about the dead squad of Bangladesh name Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The final revelation of the diplomatic cables of USA shows that how different western governments were training or supporting this paramilitary force which is accused of several hundreds of extra judicial killing in Bangladesh, despite their strong stands for human rights policy in their own countries.

The Guardian Reports that Wikileaks has disclosed the US diplomatic cables [ 1 2 3 ] that were sent from the US embassy in Bangladesh shows that the Bangladeshi 'death squad' trained by UK government! Three diplomatic cables that were sent from the US ambassador in Bangladesh which are still classified until the year 2018 to 2019.

Rapid Action Battalion members have been taught "interviewing techniques" and "rules of engagement" by the UK authorities, said the leaked cables.

One message says the US would not offer tactical training to the RAB because of its alleged human rights violations.

In a cable dating from May 2009 published by the Guardian, the US ambassador to Dhaka, James Moriarty, writes: "The US and UK representatives reviewed our ongoing training to make the RAB a more transparent, accountable and human-rights compliant paramilitary force.

"The British have been training RAB for 18 months in areas such as investigative interviewing techniques and rules of engagement."

In another cable, Mr Moriarty notes it would be illegal for the US to offer anything other than human rights training to the RAB because of the force's alleged crimes.

In a report BBC confirmed that UK officials told the BBC the focus of the training was on human rights. But in the Guardian report says RAB denied any training offered or organized by the British government!

BBC reports that British High Commission officials in Dhaka told the BBC that the UK training programme for the RAB had begun in early 2008 and was due to finish in March 2011.

"The focus is on human rights. It concentrated on providing the RAB with the skill-set to conduct law enforcement duties in an ethical manner," said an official, who did not want to be named.

"The areas covered basically include basic human rights training; interview skills, investigation skills, basic scene of crime skills, inclusion on a range of legal and human rights focused events."

The official declined to comment on whether this training was part of any counter-terrorism effort in Bangladesh.

The Guardian reports that the UK's National Policing Improvement Agency provided training to the RAB on crime scene management and investigation, via officers from West Mercia Police and Humberside Police.

Human Rights Day today.

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:08:01 PST

Extrajudicial killing, torture continue apace

By Shahiduzzaman, Human Rights Day will be observed in Bangladesh, as elsewhere in the world, today with extrajudicial killing and torture going unabated and freedom of press and expression being at stake. The theme of the day this year is ‘Human rights defenders who act to end discrimination.’

According to rights watchdog Odhikar, 249 journalists were killed, attacked, arrested, intimidated or subjected to other forms for rights violation between January 1 and November 30. Three journalists were killed, 109 injured, 40 assaulted, 17 attacked, 2 arrested, 1 abducted, 48 threatened and 13 were sued and 16 became victims of other forms of rights violation mainly by the ruling class and other powerful quarters for publishing reports in 11 months.

Amar Desh special correspondent Oliullah Noman had to serve a month in jail and his acting editor Mahmudur Rahman is still in jail on charges of contempt of court for publishing a report. In 2009, three journalists were killed, 84 injured, 45 assaulted, 16 attacked, one arrested, two abducted, 73 threatened, 23 sued and 19 became victims of other forms of rights violations.

Extrajudicial killing in the name of ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounter’ and torture in custody are going apace marking the severest form of violation of rights by the state machinery, law enforcers in particular. According to Odhikar, 116 persons became victims of extrajudicial killing in nine months till November 30. One hundred and forty-five people were killed by law enforcers in the incidents of reported ‘crossfire’ in the same period in 2009.
A total of 243 people have been killed in crossfire,’ ‘encounter’ or ‘gunfight’ after January 6, 2009, according to a New Age tally, when the Awami League-led government assumed office, with the government’s deviation from its pledges to stop such killings. The Awami League-led government assumed office on January 6 after a landslide win in the December 2008 general elections on the wings of a number of pre-election pledges, which include an end to extrajudicial killing.

The extrajudicial killing, however, still go unabated with the government’s gradual shift in position — from condemnation to justification — with regard to such killing. At least 87 people have so far been killed in ‘crossfire’ since the High Court on December 14, 2009 directed the authorities not to kill any more people in ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounter’ until it disposes of a rule it issued suo moto on the government to explain extrajudicial killing.

The government is also yet to reply to the rules issued by the High Court, including two in 2006 and another in June 2009 regarding extrajudicial killing by law enforcers in the name of ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounter.’ The High Court first came up with a ruling on extrajudicial killing on May 25, 2006.

According to Odhikar, 101 people died in custody and 22 were tortured to death in custody by law enforcers. Sixty-six Bangladeshis were killed by India’s Border Security Force in nine months till November 30. According to the rights watchdog, 16,839 people became victims of political violence during the same period. Of them, 19 were killed, 1,380 injured, 988 arrested and two became victims of other forms of political violence. During the same period in the past year, 15,146 people became victims of political violence.

In nine months, four people were killed, 2,224 injured and 172 arrested in the incidents of protests in apparel sector unrest. During the same period in 2009, seven were killed 1,273 injured and 15 arrested. Harassment of women and girls became a major form of human rights violation this year. In nine months, 623 people became victims of stalking, according to Odhikar. Of them, 20 were killed, 23 committed suicide, 9 attempted to commit suicide, 244 were injured, 4 were abducted, 16 faced attempted abduction, 19 were faced attempted rape, 130 were assaulted and 43 became victims of other forms of injury of stalking.

Three hundred and ninety-six of the offenders in harassment cases and their relations were, however, arrested during the same period. According to Odhikar, 239 women and 289 girls were raped 59 women and 28 girls were killed after rape and a women and four girls committed suicide after being raped in nine months. Besides, 227 women and eight children were killed, 112 women were tortured and 22 women committed suicide in dowry-related violence in nine months.

According to rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra, 90 people were lynched in nine months, marking a severe deterioration in law and order across the country. Against the backdrop, different institutions and organisations chalked up detailed programmes to observe the rights day.

Odhikar held a discussion in its office at Gulshan on Thursday on freedom of the media. It will hold a report launch programme and a discussion on ‘Trigger Happy: Excessive Use of Force by Indian Troops at the Bangladesh Border’ at the BRAC Centre Inn on December 13.

Ain o Salish Kendra held a three-day human rights conference at the National Youth Centre at Savar. The conference began on Thursday and will end on Saturday. The Manusher Jonno Foundation will hold a music festival at Dhaka University at 3:00pm today. The United Nations Association of Bangladesh will hold a symposium at the BRAC Centre Inn at 10:00am. The Bangladesh Christian Writers’ Forum will hold a programme on human rights in poems at the CBCB Centre on Asad Avenue at 3:00pm. Bangladesh Manabadhikar Samanway Parishad will form a human chain in front of the National Press Club at 10:30am. The Bangladesh Human Rights Watch Organisation will hold a discussion on the rule of law, democracy and human rights at the National Museum at 6:00pm. Bangabandhu Sangskritik Parishad will hold a discussion on war crimes and human rights at Mukti Bhaban at Paltan at 10:00am. Jatiya Ganatantrik League will hold a discussion at Mukti Bhaban at 3:00pm. Manabadhikar O Paribesh Sangbadik Society will form a human chain in front of the National Press Club at 10:00a

Three people killed in one hour!

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 20:23:03 PST

5 people killed in 7 days

By Bangladesh Media, Sources report that three people have been killed in one hour. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) demanded three Crossfire incidents! Places are Dhaka, Meherpur and Barisal in Bangladesh. Time of these incidents are between 4.00 to 5.00 early morning on Friday! By these incidents, 5 people killed in last 7 days.

Photo: Amar Desh

The deceased are raw material and chemical trader Nazimuddin, Babu, 30, of Chittagong, was killed at Malibagh in Dhaka, the ultra-left PBCP leader Durjoy Babu, 36, of Jorpukuria, was killed in Meherpur and Al Ameen Sannyamat, 31, said to be involved in robbery was killed at Bakerganj in Barisal.

The incidents took to 243 the number of people killed in ‘crossfire,’ ‘encounter’ or ‘gunfight’ after January 6, 2009, according to a New Age tally, when the Awami League-led government assumed office. According to the daily Amar Desh total number is 275 including "Force Disappearance". At least 87 people have so far been killed in ‘crossfire’ since the High Court on December 14, 2009 directed the authorities not to kill any more people in ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounter’ until it disposes of a rule it issued suo moto on the government to explain extrajudicial killing.

A press release issued by the Rapid Action Battalion said "two people, riding a motorcycle, fired at a patrol team at a check point in front of the Swarupkathi Medical Hall on the Outer Circular Road at Malibagh about 4:00am. It said the battalion team then fired at the motorcycle, leading to a ‘gunfight.’ The co-rider was killed on the spot. The rider, however, managed to get away."

The daily New Age reports that Motijheel police subinspector Sheikh Muhammad Nasiruddin said the body was handed over to the family after a post-mortem examination at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue. The battalion identified the deceased as Abdullah Md Nazimuddin alias Honda Babu and T&T Babu while the police said he could not be identified. But the sub inspector, who handled the body, identified the deceased as Sheikh Muhammad Nazimuddin.

The victims’ family said the deceased was Sheikh Nazimuddin, a resident of Banashree at Rampura. The victim’s brother, Nayan, at the hospital morgue, alleged plainclothesmen had picked up his brother on Thursday evening from home. ‘The police on Friday morning called us to say that they had found my brother dead.’ Nayan said his brother was released from jail in mid-November. He had been jailed in a murder case filed with the Motijheel police. Nayan said his brother went to Chittagong in the past week to meet others of the family. Referring to the victims father Sheikh Farid, the daily Amar Desh also reports that his son was picked up by the Plainclothsman from home on Thursday night!"

Report published in The New Age refers to its correspondent in Barisal reported that Al Ameen Sannyamat, was killed at Bakerganj in a ‘gunfight’ with a Rapid Action Battalion team. According to the battalion, "a group of six to seven people were roaming about suspiciously near the Piyarpur Bridge early in the day. A battalion official said as the lawmen asked the people to stop, they ran away firing on the lawmen. The lawmen fired back and Al Ameen died on the spot after being wounded in the ‘gunfight.’ Local people identified the deceased as Al Ameen, the battalion official said.

He was accused in 17 cases, including four for robbery, filed with the Bakerganj and Bauphal police, the Bakerganj police officer-in-charge, Syed Rabiul Islam, said. The police said Al Ameen was a member of a crimes gang called Rafik Bahini. Rafik was killed in ‘crossfire’ in November 2007 at Bakerganj. The body was sent to the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital morgue for a post-mortem examination, the police said.

The victim’s widow, Rupa Begum, said Al Ameen had received a phone call and went out of the house, at Manasa Bari in the city, about 8:00am on Thursday and he had been missing since then.

In Meherpur, the Gagni police officer-in-charge, Motiur Rahman, said the battalion team had raided a sugarcane field at Purba Malsadh where two groups of the Purba Banglar Communist Party were trading fire early in the day. The battalion cordoned off the area and fired bullets, the police said. After the ‘gunfight,’ Durjoy was killed, the police said. His associates managed to get away.

The police said he was accused in eight cases related to murder, extortion and abduction. The police handed over the body to the family after a post-mortem examination at the Meherpur General Hospital morgue.

An alleged criminal was killed in a 'shootout' with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in the capital's Gulshan area on November 28. The identity of the dead, aged about 30, could not be known immediately.

Captain SM Shafiqur Rahman said a patrol team of Rab signalled two youths on a motorbike to halt at a check post near Gulshan Shooting Club around 1:20am. Defying the signal, the youths opened fire on the Rab men, compelling them (Rab) to retaliate with bullets that left the co-rider bullet injured, he said. The other youth, however, fled the scene on his motorbike, he added.

The injured youth was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where the duty doctor declared him dead around 2:30pm, said the captain. His body was later shifted to DMCH morgue for an autopsy. Morgue sources said the body bore two bullet injuries at its head.

Another alleged mugger was killed while another bullet injured in “shootouts” with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in the city's Bangshal and Keraniganj on November 29. The deceased identified as Shamsul Islam Tipu, 21, was a resident of Bagdasha Lane of Bangshal while injured Mohammad Sohel, 28, of Kotubpara of Keraniganj.

In Bangshal, a team of plainclothes Rab personnel in the guise of rickshaw passengers was patrolling around 4:30am when three youths waylaid a rickshaw carrying two of the Rab members near Armanitola, said Officer-in-Charge Jamiruddin Ahmed of Bangshal Police Station quoting an official of the Rab-10 team.

The OC said that as the youths wielding firearms tried to snatch the belongings of the Rab men, they fired shots in which one of the muggers sustained bullet injuries. Hearing gunshots locals rushed to the spot and identified the injured as Tipu, a known criminal in the area. Tipu's accomplices, however, managed to flee the scene. One pistol and three bullets were recovered from the spot.

Rab personnel took Tipu to Mitford Hospital where doctors declared him dead. Tipu's brother Bulbul claimed that some law enforcers in plain clothes arrested Tipu from Mirhajirbagh of Jatrabari on November 14. A general diary was filed with Jatrabari Police Station in this connection.

He also said Tipu was an office bearer of Ward-68 BNP. Rab-10 in a press release claimed that Tipu was accused in six cases including those for murder with Kotwali and Bangshal police stations. Meanwhile, another Rab team in plain clothes was intercepted by a gang of muggers while they were patrolling Keraniganj area around 12:00midnight, Rab sources said.

The muggers tried to rob the Rab personnel at knife-point, which prompted the law enforcers to shoot them. The firing left one of the muggers bullet hit in the leg while the other gang members escaped. The Rab team caught injured Sohel and handed him over to Keraniganj police, said Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abul Basher of South Keraniganj Police Station. A case was filed in this connection.

One knife, two cellphones and Tk 530 were also recovered from the spot. The OC said Sohel was a fugitive criminal but could not mention the case in which he was accused.

We demand investigation for all Killings:

noreply@blogger.com (ALAUDDIN ARIF) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:48:10 PST

Govt investigation proves RAB responsible for Extra Judicial Killings - Arif died from torture, Bappi from direct firing!

By Arif Alauddin, Two incidents of extra judicial killing by RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) have been proved in a recent investigation conducted by the Home Ministry itself. In one case, Mohiuddin Alamgir of Mirpur died from inhuman torture while in the other, young model Bappi of Rampura was killed - not in a crossfire, but from a direct bullet fired by the RAB.

Kaiser Mahmud Bappi (Left) and Mohiuddin Alamgir (Right)

In the last week of January of this year, Md Mohiuddin Arif was arrested by members of RAB - 4 from Pallabi in Mirpur, as a suspect in an under investigation case. According to Home Ministry Investigating Committee, an analysis of available evidences clearly showed that the RAB and Police kept Mohiuddin in their custody for long 46 hours in breach of the law, and mercilessly tortured him. He died as a result of these physical tortures. Police also tortured him at the Pallabi Police Station. The Investigating Committee recommended that the persons connected with the killing of Mohiuddin Arif should be brought under legal action.

In another incident occurring on 9 October 2009, a young model and actor Kaiser Mahmud Bappi was shot and killed by RAB-1 members without any evidence of crime by him. The wrong information regarding the presence of top terrorist of East Rampura, Kamaruzzaman Bappi alias Mian Bhai alias Bappi and his associates was given to the RAB force by its source and RAB – 1, without verifying the truth of the information so provided, conducted the operation. These were not right, the committee said. It also said that in this case, the RAB officer who led the operation, failed to prove his efficiency and wisdom. Terrorist Bappi and dead Bappi were not the same person. The Investigating Committee recommended that it was important to bring both the secret information providing source, and the officer who gave leadership to the operation, under the law.

Following complaints made by the National Human Rights Commission, Asian Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights and family members of the dead, the two reports of the Investigation Committee are being sent, under the leadership of Deputy Secretary, Law Division of the Home Ministry, to the National Human Rights Commission via a higher official of RAB. Smritirani Gharami, Deputy Secretary of Home Ministry was the Chief of both the Investigating Committees while DC, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Ramna Zone and Advocates Adilur Rahman and Shamsul Hoque – both human rights activists, were members of the committee. Last month the both the reports were submitted to Secretary of the Home Ministry. The complete report of the Investigating Committee is attached at the end of this report. The requirement of human rights awareness, deep-investigative mentality and rapt attention are necessary for conducting investigation of such tragic incidents of extra judicial killings have been reflected in this report. A detail picture of how RAB and police in the name of arrest harass people and conduct inhuman torture on them, and crush the Constitutional and legal rights of the citizens at every step, has been vividly reproduced in these two reports.

The Committee in its report recommended that to avoid the occurrence of pathetic incidents, it is essential to ensure the appointment of such officers of the Law and Order Force who have long experiences on the job as leaders. In addition, the Controlling Authority should be aware that no RAB, working at the field level, can ever engage in extra judicial behavior and/or activity. Secondly, the act of taking citizens into custody by plain-clothed unarmed RAB members performing detective-duty, for the purpose of questioning, must be stopped. Thirdly, in every case, the laid-down process of questioning of a person, arrested on the basis of any complaint, must be followed. The Investigative Committee also recommends the ensuring of good treatment of an accused or an under-trial prisoner by making available necessary medicines and medical equipments as and when required side by side with ensuring proper behavior of hospital and jail-authorities with the accused or an under-trial prisoner. Investigative Committee's firm realization is that in order to ensure peoples' confidence on RAB activities, side by side with adequate publicity of their actions, if any RAB-member causes any harm, illegal attack or hampers some constitutional rights of a citizen is any way, then the accused should be given exemplary punishment through legal means.

The plain-clothed RAB-members who had arrested Mohiuddin are: Sergeant Biswanath Rai, Lance Naik Atikur Rahman and Constable Md Babul Akhtar. The report mentioned that the injury in the finger-nails of Md Mohiuddin was caused by a glass by Pallabi PS Officer Incharge Md Iqbal Hossain but the rest of the injury in his body, according to the statements of other two accused, was evidently caused by the RAB.

The Medical Officer put the cause of death in the post mortem report as - "(In my opinion, the cause of death was) due to shock resulting from above-mentioned injuries which were ante-mortem and homicidal in nature and caused by a blunt weapon." The RAB members in their statements said during the arrest as accused Mohiuddin Arif tried to flee, he fell down on the pitch road in the ensuing scuffle with RAB members as they tried to catch him and badly wound his knee. But according to the doctor, in Arif's body the open wound was not only in his knee. There were wounds caused from rubbing on the front side of both his legs below the knees covering an area of 10''X 0.5''-1''. The Investigating Committee questions the possibility of such big wounds caused from falling down on the pitch road as a result of scuffle with RAB members.

It may be mentioned that the incident of extra judicial killing of Arif was proved in the primary investigation of the Asian Human Rights Commission. Compared to the past, incidents of extra judicial killing have marked a rise in recent times.

On the other hand, the killing operation of Kaiser Mahmud Bappi comprised RAB-1 ASP Sarkar Omar Faruk, Sergeant Md Abdul Hannan, Lance Corporal Md Azam Khan, soldier Pikul Biswas, Sergeant Md Kazimuddin, ASI Khan Maruful Islam, ASI Md Rokunuddin, Corporal Md Khasru Mian, and Naik Md Mizanur Rahman. According to RAB's statement: "As soon as RAB force reached the crime spot, following the receipt of secret information and order of higher authority, the terrorists suddenly started to spray bullets at them. These bullets hit ASI Rokunuddin on his right leg and seriously injured him. The RAB members fired back at them to save their lives, safeguard government property and rescue illegal arms and ammunition. After about 20 minutes shoot-out, one of the terrorists was hit by a bullet fired from one of his armed associate terrorist's gun and died on the spot. There are cases filed against terrorist Bappi in various police stations. Terrorist Masud Mian was caught with one locally-made one barrel gun and one cartridge while accused Abid Hasan was caught with three cartridges from the crime spot. Dead Bappi had one locally made revolver in his right hand."

According to the Investigating Committee, no evidence was found to substantiate RAB's claim that there were cases lodged in different police stations against dead Kaiser Mahmud Bappi. Although Bappi was a phensidyl-addict youth, RAB failed to prove any evidence that he was a terrorist. Besides, the investigation also could not come up with any evidence of the presence of armed terorists at the crime-spot as claimed by RAB-members. The report stated that it was evident from the situation that Bappi was killed by the bullets fired by the RAB (ie not in a cross-fire) alone. Just as the over-excited initiative of the source was responsible for the sad incident so was the RAB officer's lack of alertness. When Bappi gave his identity as belonging to a decent family, had the RAB stopped firing then, may be Bappi's life would have been spared. Besides, the Investigating Committee report while stating that the claim of injury of RAB-member by terrorist's bullet did not support the doctor's prescription, said, the contradicting statements give rise to a third belief that as per the belief of Bappi's family that despite the statements of RAB saying that a huge round of bullets were sprayed if no RAB member was injured, it would create doubts in the minds of the mass people. Due to this reason, after a RAB member accidentally hit construction materials at the under-construction building and received lacerated injury on the leg heel they tried to pass it on as a bullet wound.

A recent human rights watchdog 'Odhikar' report (Link: http://www.odhikar.org/press.html) says that on an average every three days one person is reportedly killed extra judicially. Following are the some of the incidents mentioned in the 'Odhikar Report':

During the period of January – September 2010, 90 people were reportedly killed extra-judicially. It has been further alleged that of these people, 40 were killed by RAB, 33 by Police, 08 persons were killed by the joint operation of RAB and police, 03 were killed by the RAB- Coast guard jointly, 05 persons were killed by the operations of RAB- Police- Coast guard and 01 person was killed by BDR.

On September 5, 2010, the newly appointed Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Mokhlesur Rahman said, "RAB never supports extrajudicial killings. RAB is not involved with these incidents and RAB will operate its duty upholding the human rights." Abdur Rashid (60), Rajshahi divisional commander of Purba Banglar Communist Party (Led Flag) was killed by RAB at Sathia in Pabna on the same day when the DG RAB has given statement to the journalists.

Looking back to the records of government's statement on crossfire, one finds that on March 28, 2010, Home Minister Sahara Khatun said, "RAB members are left with no option but to open fire when criminals shoot at them."

On May 28, 2010, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed claimed that crossfire killings have stopped. 'No more crossfire incidents are taking place in the country. It has stopped'. On July 8, 2010, he further said, "Action will be taken against the perpetrators if any further incident of extrajudicial killing occurs."

It should be noted that following the crossfire killings of two brothers Lutfor Khalashi and Khairul Khalashi from Madaripur on November 15, 2009, a bench of the High Court Division, consisting of Justice A F M Abdur Rahman and Justice Imdadul Huq Azad, issued a suo motu Rule on the Government. The High Court Division asked the Government as to why the High Court Division should not declare the crossfire killings of the two brothers illegal. When the Government prayed for time on the date of hearing on December 14, 2009, the Bench issued a direction to stop crossfire killings until the Rule was disposed of. Later on when the Chief Justice reconstituted the concerned Bench, the hearing of the Rule issued did not happen.

In the early morning on July 1, 2010, a businessman named Mizanur Rahman died in police custody at Gulshan Police Station. Taslima Begum, his wife, alleged that police picked up Mizanur Rahman on June 29, 2010 from the Nayanagar area in Baridhara in the city. After that, police demanded Taka one hundred thousand from her. Police allegedly shot and killed her husband upon failure to realise that money.

On July 3, 2010, some plain-clothes police of the Darus Salam Police Station at Mirpur allegedly picked up one person named Mojibar. His body was recovered from the Turag river the next day. It has been learnt that Mojibar's 7-year old son Iqbal was with him when Mojibar was picked up and beaten by police.

We are counting:

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 18:54:26 PST

Was he a 'Drug Peddler'?

By Bangladesh Media, Our source from Srimongal confirmed that an ‘alleged drug peddler’ who was not proven by the court was killed at Belghar bazaar in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj early yesterday! It is not clear that if he was killed in’Crossfire’ between his cohorts and members of the Rapid Action Battalion or was killed in an extra judicial manner, while RAB demanded that he was killed in ‘crossfire’! Total number of death toll rose to 1792 since the Rapid Action Battalion was formed since 2004.

Abdul Hakim

He was identified as Abdul Hakim, 40, son of Abdus Samad of Itakhola Nayapara in the upazila. RAB officials demanded that “Hakim was a known drug-peddler in the area, was accused in 13 cases!” Our source could not verify about these accusations but it is clear that even if it is true, none of them is yet proven by the court!

Our source reported that Flight Lt Kawsar Mahmud, in charge of RAB at the Srimangal camp, told the reporters, a patrolling team of RAB led by Deputy Assistant Director Biplob Kumar found around eight to 10 persons sitting near a restaurant on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway at Belghar bazaar at about 2:30am. Flight Lieutenant Kawsar demanded that “as soon as the law enforcers reached there, the gang opened fire on RAB prompting them to retaliate.”

As usual, RAB spoke person of Srimongal demanded that “RAB men found the bullet-hit body of Hakim lying on the ground while his associates managed to escape.” But it is not clear that whether he was alive at that time or not! And later Hakim was rushed to the upazila health complex where doctors declared him already dead.

RAB demanded that a point 22-bore pistol, 100 bottles of liquor, 50 bottles of phensidyl, four kgs of hemp and a machete were found near the body. The body was sent to the Habiganj Sadar Hospital for an autopsy.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) of Bangladesh is known for its extra judicial killing since 2004.

Death Toll reached 1791 Since RAB formed in the year of 2004:

noreply@blogger.com (Bangladesh Media) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 18:53:17 PST

One more killed in Jhenidah

By Bangladesh Media, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) demanded that a regional leader of Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-Janajuddha) was killed in a 'Crossfire' between his cohorts and RAB at Garamara village in Jhenidah Sadar upazila yesterday. By this, total number of death toll reached to 1791 since Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was formed in the year of 2004

Photo by Daily Amar Desh.

The dead was identified as Abdul Kuddus, 35, son of Montaj Uddin alias Kune Mondol of Ashwasthali village in the upazila. Kuddus, the regional chief of the party, was wanted in eight cases, including murders, police said.

According to the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Md Rezaul Islam of Jhenidah RAB unit, "a team of RAB-6 after a tip off challenged at about 4:30am a gang that was roaming the area. Sensing the presence of RAB, the gang opened fire on the law enforcers, prompting them to retaliate that triggered a 'gunfight'. The outlaws, at one stage, managed to flee the scene."

He says "- later, RAB found Kuddus bullet-wounded body and rushed him to Jhenidah Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead. RAB recovered one 9mm pistol, a locally made shutter gun, eight bullets, a wig and local and Indian coins." But he did not mention that whether Kuddus was alive or dead while RAB found his bullet wounded body! According to the doctor Kuddus was already dead when he was bought to the hospital.!

Family members of Kuddus demanded that "- RAB arrested Kuddus begining of this month November from Narail District and since then Kuddus was disappeared. RAB or police never disclosed that Kuddus was arrested! Kuddus was brought to Jhenidah and executed by RAB and then RAB made the story of 'Crossfire'!" The villagers from rural area came to see Kuddus dead body!

It could be mentioned that the latest extrajudicial killing took place at Savar early Tuesday when the Rapid Action Battalion killed a 28-year old young man. In an editorial the Daily New Age wrote "-Since the Awami League-led coalition took office on January 6, 2009, the law enforcing agencies have killed as many as 235 persons in so-called ‘crossfire,’ ‘encounter’ or ‘gunfight’. Notably, the High Court on December 14, 2009 directed the authorities not to kill any more people in ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounter’ until it disposes of a rule it issued suo moto on the government to explain extrajudicial killings. Since then, at least 79 people have reportedly been killed in ‘crossfire’! This is a clear contempt of the country’s highest court on the part of the government. But, for reasons known to the court authorities, it has not charged the government for its continuous contempt of court." But the Daily New Age did not count the "force disappearances" claimed by their families numbers more than 50.