Bangladesh: Take action against RAB

HC asks govt as a man was detained illegally for 27 hrs in 2004

The High Court yesterday directed the government to take departmental action against a Rapid Action Battalion official for illegally detaining a person for 27 hours in Narayanganj in 2004.

The authorities have to take action against Lt BN Firoze Khan, then in Rab-3 of Adamji Nagar in Narayanganj, as he neither did produce Mohammad Dolon, an accused of an arms case, in the police station concerned nor file a case against him within 24 hours after picking him up, the court said in a verdict.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain delivered the verdict after hearing an appeal filed by Dolon challenging a lower court verdict that convicted and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment in 2009.

The HC bench exonerated Dolon in the case filed by Firoze Khan in connection with recovery of arms from him.

A Rab team led by Firoze had picked up Dolon from Kashipur village under Fatullah Police Station of Narayanganj with a pistol and an empty magazine at 12:15pm on October 5, 2004. They produced Dolon in the police station at 3:50pm the following day.

Firoze could not explain to the lower court why he kept Dolon in his custody for so long, Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Gazi Mamunur Rashid told The Daily Star.

Neither the AAG nor Dolon’s counsel Rana Kawser could confirm the post presently held by Firoze Khan.

Source: The Daily Star (http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=218698) – 17/1/2012