THE HAGUE, August 25, 2011
URGENT APPEAL: Bangladesh: Police fail to react or investigate when human rights defender Shahanur Islam assaulted [UA-BA-25-08-2011]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISSUES: Threats to human rights defenders, personal integrity, physical assault, police negligence
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,
Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) regrets to inform you of an unprovoked physical assault on our local observer and human rights defender Advocate Shahanur Islam on August 24, 2011 in Dhaka. At this point there is no suspicion or indication that the attack is related to his human rights activities or to the recent death threats that have been made to Shahanur. However, it is concerning that, despite numerous international appeals for increased security for Mr Islam, the police failed to come to the scene of the assault, nor interview any of the witnesses, despite several members of the police being called and informed of the assault and requested to help.
As at the time of writing this report, the police have refused to register a First Information Report (FIR), and have failed to interview witnesses or investigate the assault.
Case details:
On the 24th of August, 2011 Mr Islam was at a print shop in Dhaka “New Konica Digital Studio”, Mahbub Plaza, 21/A, Topkhana Road, Dhaka-1000 around 5 pm (Bangladesh time) and asked one of the customers who was using internet if he could print a one page document. The man, who was a customer himself, asked that Mr Islam pay him 40 Thaka for use of the facility (over four times the usual value), which Mr Islam refused to pay. The man then became violent in front of the other customers and he started to kick and slap Mr Islam.
There were some 10 people witnessing the incident and who shouted to the man to stop beating upon Mr Islam, and he then stopped and left the shop. Mr Islam then called Mr. Krisno Pad Sarker, Deputy Police Commissioner (DC), Ramna Zone, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and told him of the assault, requesting police assistance. The Deputy Police Commissioner did nothing but told Mr Islam to call Shahbag Police Station. Mr. Islam then called to Mr. Rejaul Karim, Officer in Charge (OC) of Shahbag Police Station, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and asked him to come to the scene and investigate the matter. The OC told Mr. Islam to inform the patrol police who are on duty near the location of the incident. Mr. Islam told the OC that he was not able to find the patrol police and requested that the OC inform them of what happened. The OC agreed to do so but after one hour of waiting at the scene, no police had come to Mr Islam’s aid.
Mr. Islam received emergency treatment from the Emergency Out Door of Dhaka Medical College Hospital on the same day.
Mr Islam does not recognise the attacker but has found out that his name is Mehedi, further identity unknown.
GHRD is shocked about the passive behaviour of the police authorities [O.C Mr. Rejaul Karim, OC, Shahabag Police Station, DMP and Mr. Krisna Pad Sarkar, Deputy Police Commissioner (DC), DMP], who despite Mr Islam’s attempts to call and report the attack, did not show up to investigate the claims.
On the 24th of August, 2011 Mr Islam was at a print shop in Dhaka “New Konica Digital Studio”, Mahbub Plaza, 21/A, Topkhana Road, Dhaka-1000 around 5 pm (Bangladesh time) and asked one of the customers who was using internet if he could print a one page document. The man, who was a customer himself, asked that Mr Islam pay him 40 Thaka for use of the facility (over four times the usual value), which Mr Islam refused to pay. The man then became violent in front of the other customers and he started to kick and slap Mr Islam.
There were some 10 people witnessing the incident and who shouted to the man to stop beating upon Mr Islam, and he then stopped and left the shop. Mr Islam then called Mr. Krisno Pad Sarker, Deputy Police Commissioner (DC), Ramna Zone, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and told him of the assault, requesting police assistance. The Deputy Police Commissioner did nothing but told Mr Islam to call Shahbag Police Station. Mr. Islam then called to Mr. Rejaul Karim, Officer in Charge (OC) of Shahbag Police Station, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and asked him to come to the scene and investigate the matter. The OC told Mr. Islam to inform the patrol police who are on duty near the location of the incident. Mr. Islam told the OC that he was not able to find the patrol police and requested that the OC inform them of what happened. The OC agreed to do so but after one hour of waiting at the scene, no police had come to Mr Islam’s aid.
Mr. Islam received emergency treatment from the Emergency Out Door of Dhaka Medical College Hospital on the same day.
Mr Islam does not recognise the attacker but has found out that his name is Mehedi, further identity unknown.
GHRD is shocked about the passive behaviour of the police authorities [O.C Mr. Rejaul Karim, OC, Shahabag Police Station, DMP and Mr. Krisna Pad Sarkar, Deputy Police Commissioner (DC), DMP], who despite Mr Islam’s attempts to call and report the attack, did not show up to investigate the claims.
This is of particular concern given the fact that numerous urgent appeals and statements from various international organisations have been sent out requesting accurate police investigation and protection for Mr Islam, and also given the recently opened investigation into death threats made against Mr Islam by the National Human Rights Commission. GHRD is concerned that such passive and delayed behaviour undermines the investigation at a crucial stage, particularly as eye-witnesses were not interviewed at the scene.
On the day of the assault, Mr Islam went to the Shahbag Police Station to file an FIR on the case, but the duty officer refused to file it, telling Mr Islam to go talk with the OC of Shahbag Police Station. Then Mr. Islam again talked with OC, who also refused to file the FIR, advising Mr Islam instead to file a General Diary (a notation of the incident). Mr. Islam then filed a GD with the Shabag Police Station being number 1371 dated 24,08,2011 and Mr. Abdul Malek, and Sub Inspector of Shahbag police Station, has been appointed to investigate the incident, but as of the date of writing this report, no investigation has been initiated.
GHRD strongly urges the authorities to take the threats made against Mr Islam seriously and to fully and immediately investigate this recent assault as well as death threats made against Mr Islam earlier in 2011. According to our information there were ten to twelve eye witnesses to this recent attack, who need to be interviewed in order to ensure that a full investigation is carried out and justice achieved. The motive of the attacker should be thoroughly investigated given the history of threats and intimidation of Mr Islam, and any relevant information should be shared with the NHRC.
Documents attached:
- medical injury report 24.08.2011
- general diary lodged at Shabag Police Station. 24.08.2011
Please also see GHRD’s previous appeals regarding the safety of human rights defender Advocate Shahanur Islam: see the July appeal here and the January appeal here.
Additional information will be made available upon request.
We trust that you will take immediate action regarding this serious matter.
Thank you.
Global Human Rights Defence
Human Rights Division – Urgent Appeals Desk
Laan van Meerdervoort 70
2517 AN The Hague
The Netherlands
+31(0)070 3456975
+31(0)703926575
urgentappeals@ghrd.org
www.ghrd.org
