BANGLADESH: Brutal torture of two young men by the Boalia police in Rajsahi 

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: UA-133-2005
ISSUES: Torture,
Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed of the brutal torture of Azizur Rahman Shohel and his younger brother Atiquer Rahman Jewel by the Boalia police in Rajsahi District, Bangladesh on 27 July 2005. The victims were not only beaten with batons but were also given electric shocks. The police also reportedly asked for money from the victims’ family.

Moreover, the Boalia police made false charges against Shohel and Jewel to cover up their illegal act after the torture incident was highlighted in the media. Due to severity of their condition, the two victims are now being treated at the Rajsahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) under police custody.

Such brutal torture and police corruption is not uncommon in Bangladesh. However, its continuation indicates that the Bangladesh government as well as the police department is not committed to preventing police atrocities and promoting human rights.

Your urgent action is thus needed to pressure the Bangladesh government to conduct an immediate investigation into this case and to take effective steps to stop further torture and corruption by the police.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victims:
1. Azizur Rahman Shohel, final year student of the mathematics department at the Rajsahi College
2. Atiquer Rahman Jewel, second year student of the history department at the Rajsahi College
* ‘They are the sons of Abdur Rashid and reside in Puratan Bilsimla area, Boalia Police Station, Rajsahi, Bangladesh
Alleged perpetrators:
1. Sub Inspector (SI) Hafizur of the Boalia Police Station
2. Sub Inspector (SI) Netai
3. Other police constables
Date of incident: Arrested and severely tortured on 27 July 2005 and are at Rajsahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) under police custody up to now
Place of incident: Boalia Police Station

Case details:

Abdur Rahman runs a private student dormitory in Rajsahi District and two students named Rashid and Rubel rented one room in this dormitory. On 27 July 2005, Abdur Rahman’s two sons, Azizur Rahman Shohel and Atiquer Rahman Jewel had a minor clash with Rashid and Rubel, who then complained against the brothers at the Boalia Police Station. When the police came to investigate the incident, they had an argument with the two brothers and took them to the police station. Before leaving however, the police demanded money from their family, which was not given. This was about 9:00pm on July 27.

At the Boalia Police Station, after blindfolding Shohel and Jewel, the police allegedly assaulted the brothers with batons and kicked and punched them. In addition, the police also administered electric shocks to the victims.

The next morning (July 28), Shohel and Jewel were taken to the Rajsahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) for treatment, where were admitted as patients when their condition turned critical. They are still under treatment at the RMCH under police custody. Shohel and Jewel say that they were tortured by Sub Inspector (SI) Hafizur and Netai along with other several police constables. Higher police officials reportedly visited them but no action has yet been taken against the alleged perpetrators.

Although the police reportedly came to investigate the allegation made by Rashid and Rubel, they did not register any complaint against the victims when they arrested them. However, when the brutal torture was highlighted in the newspapers, the police allegedly fabricated charges against Shohel and Jewel of snatching away the policemen’s arms and brandishing sharp weapons.

The AHRC is deeply concerned by this serious torture against civilians by the Bangladesh police, particularly the routine use of electric shocks, which the police use to obtain confessions. In addition, the Bangladesh police is well known for its corruption; Transparency International (TI) had earlier identified Bangladesh as the world’s most corrupt country for four consecutive years, with its police being the most corrupt public institution.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter, fax or email to the persons listed below and express your concern about this serious case.


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SAMPLE LETTER

Dear __________,

Re: BANGLADESH: Brutal torture of two young men by the Boalia police in Rajsahi 

Name of the victims:
1) Azizur Rahman Shohel, 2) Atiquer Rahman Jewel (They are the sons of Abdur Rashid and reside in Puratan Bilsimla area, Boalia Police Station, Rajsahi, Bangladesh)
Alleged perpetrators: 
1) Sub Inspector (SI) Hafizur, 2) SI Netai, 3) Other several police constables  
Date of incident: Arrested and severely tortured on 27 July 2005 and are at Rajsahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) under police custody up to now
Place of incident: Boalia Police Station

I am gravely disturbed to hear that the two young men named above were brutally tortured by the Boalia police on 27 July 2005. The police also tortured the victims using electric shocks. The alleged reason for this inhuman act was that the victims' family did not give the requisite bribe to the police.  

I was also informed that the police fabricated charges against the victims after the torture was highlighted in the newspaper. Now the two victims are being treated at the Rajsahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) under police custody. 

It is disheartening to note that the Bangladesh authorities are not taking any serious steps to end police torture. In fact, impunity granted to police officers by their superiors who either ignore custodial torture or take symbolic actions merely to pacify criticism, encourages further police brutality. 

I therefore urge you to conduct an inquiry into this case immediately. The alleged perpetrators must be arrested and brought before court forthwith. I also urge you to investigate the allegation of fabricating charges against the victims and take appropriate steps to release them accordingly. I further urge you to ensure that the victims are given complete medical care by the state. For their security, I also urge you to provide full protection to the victims and their family while the investigation is going on. Lastly, I urge you to put your efforts to eliminating the high level of corruption within the Bangladesh police force.  

Yours truly,


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SEND A LETTER TO:

1. Mrs. Khaleda Zia 
Prime Minister 
Prime Minister's Office 
Old Parliament House, 
Tejgaon, Dhaka 
BANGLADESH 
Tel: +880 2 8828160-79, 9888677
Fax: +880 2 8113244 or 3243 or 1015 or 1490 
E-mail: pm@pmobd.org or psecretary@pmobd.org (to the Secretary) 

2. Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed 
President 
The People's Republic of Bangladesh 
Bangabhaban, Dhaka 
BANGLADESH 
Fax: +880 2 9566242 

3. Mr. Md. Lutfozzaman Babar
State Minister
Ministry of Home Affairs
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Secretariat
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 8619667 / 9552323

4. Police Commissioner
Rajsahi Metropolitan Police
Rajsahi, Bangladesh
Tel: +880 721 761496/ 776386 or 761330
Fax: +880 721 773052

5. Deputy Inspector of Police (DIG)
Rajsahi range
Rajsahi, Bangladesh
Tel: +880 721 772309/ 811077 or 811088
Fax: +880 721 775444

6. Superintendent of Police
District Police Office
Rajsahi, Bangladesh
Tel: +880 721 772250,
Fax: +880 721 775626

7. District Commissioner (DC)
Rajsahi, Bangladesh.
Tel: +880 721 772040/ 772050
Fax: +880 721 775477

8. Prof. Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
Attn: Mr. Safir Syed 
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9230
Fax: +41 22 917 9016 (general)


Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
 
 
Document Type : Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID : UA-133-2005
Countries : Bangladesh,
Issues : Torture,