South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders across South Asia, conducted a fact finding mission in Rampal, Bangladesh on the establishment of a coal-based power plant by the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt)…
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) vehemently condemns the arbitrary arrest of Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan, a Senior Lawyer of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and a former Deputy Attorney General who currently holds office as Secretary of Odhikar, a Bangladeshi Human Rights Organization.
We are concerned that the Chief Metropolitan Court of Bangladesh initially allowed a five-day remand to interrogate Mr. A. R Khan, which was later stayed by the High Court. As there is evidence of torture linked to police remand in South Asia, we believe that the trial courts of Bangladesh should be very careful in allowing the remand of persons arrested without any specific case, as with regards to Mr. A. R. Khan.
It was reported that about 10 plain-clothes officers from the Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police took Mr. A. R Khan into custody on the 10th of August 2013 from outside his residence in Dhaka. The men carried no arrest warrant with them at the time of forcible removal and SAHR is of the opinion that the manner in which Mr. A. R Khan was arrested and detained is wholly unconstitutional and in violation of his fundamental rights.
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) expresses concern over a recent High Court decision to summon Dr. Asif Nazrul, a constitutional law expert, over a comment he made recently on a talk show on a private television channel.
A law professor at the University of Dhaka, Dr. Nazrul has been writing on legal and political issues for several years, in various newspapers and journals.
The comment in question centred on the current confrontational politics between the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition.
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) yesterday condemned and expressed its deep concern on the rise of incidents of enforced disappearances and secret killings in the country.
In a press statement SAHR said enforced disappearance and subsequent killings of the victims is the worst form of violation of human rights.
The international rights body termed it frustrating that the government fails to give acceptable explanations when witnesses and victims’ family members pointed their fingers at the law enforcement agencies.
We express our concern over the Bangladesh government’s continuous statements in defense of its Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) shooting of college student Limon Hossain. In their statements given at various times, they have termed him as a criminal without having demonstrated evidence in any acceptable or credible investigation. We believe such statements of the advisers and ministers of the government only serves at providing continuing patronage and protection to RAB from the legal consequence of their extra judicial and indiscriminate shooting at ordinary people of the country.
The SAHR Bangladesh Chapter organized a national consultation on the proposed draft of the “SAARC Democracy Charter: Citizens’ Initiative” on Monday 11 April 2011 at the Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka. Shaheen Anam, the Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation and Bureau member of SAHR presided over the consultation. Imtiaz Ahmed, Professor of International Relations of the Dhaka University (DU) presented the draft on behalf of the South Asia Centre for Economic Policy (SACEP), Kathmandu, which had initially formalized the draft. The said draft consists of 10 sections and 50 articles, focusing mainly on the obligations of the SAARC Member State in nurturing democratic institutions, guaranteeing the rights of the citizens, strengthening the rule of law, peace and justice, and including consolidating political, economic and social governance for the welfare and happiness of the people of this region.
Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina,
Hon. Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s Office
Old Sangsad Bhaban
Tejgaon, Dhaka-1215
The People’s Republic of Bangladesh
27th August 2010
Madam,
SAHR appeals to Release the Garment Leaders
Ms. Kalpona Akter and Mr. Babul Ahkter
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) would like to urge the Government for a proper investigation to the cases filed on the charges that Ms. Kalpona Akter and Mr. Babul Ahkter provoked the street protests that occurred in early August,2010.
On 14 August Ms. Kalpona Akter and Mr. Babul Ahkter, the leaders of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity (BCWS), were arrested at 2:00 am by twenty armed policemen. BCWS is a prominent organisation working on worker rights. It conducts worker rights training and legal and public advocacy to improve labour practices. Kalpona Akter, the Executive Director, is a former child labourer herself. Babul Ahkter is the Executive Director of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation. The leaders were arrested on unsubstantiated charges of fomenting worker unrest. At 20 cents per hour, Bangladesh has by far the lowest wages of any major apparel producing country. Also, more arrest warrants have been issued against hundreds of workers and several labour rights leaders in the recent past.
Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina,
Hon. Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s Office
Old Sangsad Bhban
Tejgaon, Dhaka-1215
The People’s Republic of Bangladesh
05/07/2010
Madam,
SAHR appeals for an Independent Judicial Enquiry instead of Police Enquiry into recent cases of custodial death and disappearance
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) would like to urge the Government to take serious note of the reported cases of custodial deaths and disappearances reported in national newspapers, and particularly in Daily Star.
Reports of three deaths of people in police custody only within a span of 5 days are unacceptable. Although the police is denying the custodial deaths of Mizanur Rahman, Babul Kazi and Mujibur Hossain, The Daily Star investigation has found that the fact is quite the opposite to that of the police version of the incidents. Police picked up businessman Mizanur Rahman from his Badda house early Tuesday while Mujibur Hossain from Melartek Ghat in Darussalam early Thursday, and Babul kazi from Modhubagh, Moghbazar on Monday the investigation revealed.
Mizanur was found bullet-hit and was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where Mizanur succumbed to his injuries. Meanwhile, Darussalam police denied Mujibur’s arrest and his death in custody. His body was recovered floating on the Turag Friday morning, said Mujibur’s family members. Morgue sources said Mujibur died drowning but his body bore several marks of injury. Abdul Malek, officer-in-charge of Darussalam Police Station, however, identified Mujibur as a local drug peddler and said that Mujibur’s rivals killed him over a feud. According to the brother of the deceased, the policemen had allegedly demanded money from him for his release but when he failed to give it he was beaten to death.
Dr Mizanur Rahman Khan,
Chairperson,
National Human Rights Commission,
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dear Dr Khan,
Congratulations from the members of South Asians for Human Rights
On behalf of South Asians for Human Rights, let me congratulate you on assumption of the responsibility of Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh. The Commission has come into effect after a long journey of several years. We are glad to note that its structure has been enlarged to seven members, and that four of them are women. We are also encouraged that the Commission’s terms have been slightly enlarged to allow you to enquire into violations of human rights by law enforcement and security forces.
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) vehemently condemn the action taken by the Government of Bangladesh to ban the photo exhibition of extra judicial killings in Dhaka. This is a violation of a citizen’s right to freedom of expression.
Hours before the exhibition was due to open at a special ceremony in Dhaka, Police closed down the Drik Picture Library on Monday, 22nd March 2010. The exhibition, “Crossfire,” by Shahidul Alam, features photographs based on Drik’s case studies relating to the alleged extra-judicial killings by the Rapid Action Battalion of Bangladesh. The reason for the closure of this exhibition, as stated by the police, was that the exhibition had no official permission to open and that it would “create anarchy”. From this day onwards police officers have been stationed at the gates every day to stop people from entering the exhibition.