Friday, October 6, 2023

Statement: JMBF Calls for Justice and Accountability for the Death of Habibur Rahman due to torture in Police Custody in Bogura

Paris, France; October 06, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deepest concern and outrage over the tragic death of Habibur Rahman Habib due to torture in police custody in Bogura, Bangladesh, on October 3, 2023.

JMBF states that Habib's death in police custody has cast a dark shadow on the state of human rights and the rule of law in the country. It calls for the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate this incident, led by a judicial magistrate, to ensure the highest levels of integrity and transparency in the proceedings.

Multiple news sources reported that Habibur Rahman Habib, a lawyer’s assistant to the Bogura Judge Court, suffered torture during his time in police custody and was taken to the hospital only after he had passed away. He was taken from the court premises in the afternoon of October 3, around 5:45 pm, without a warrant or any FIR, and subjected to alleged torture at the DB police office, ultimately leading to his untimely demise.

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) and a prominent human rights lawyer, strongly protests the incident and firmly asserts that the allegations of Habib's death in police custody must not be dismissed lightly.

He demands that exemplary punishment be meted out to those responsible, emphasizing the necessity of an impartial, comprehensive, and transparent investigation and trial into the circumstances that led to this tragedy.

Furthermore, Advocate Shahanur Islam underscores that Habib's death is not an isolated occurrence but rather emblematic of a larger issue of human rights violations and a lack of accountability within Bangladesh's criminal justice system.

Advocate Islam also states that although Article 35(5) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh clearly prohibits all kinds of torture, police continue to employ torture for interrogation in their custody, without respecting the constitutional provision, resulting in the frequent deaths of citizens of Bangladesh.

Moreover, due to the lack of conducting investigations into such incidents and holding those responsible for wrongdoing accountable, regardless of their position or affiliation, the police are disregarding the fundamental principles of the constitution and other existing laws in Bangladesh, Shahanur Islam stated.

JMBF demands the immediate filing of criminal cases against the alleged police officials under the Prohibition of Torture and Death in Custody Law 2013 and their immediate arrest. It also demands the physical and psychological integrity of the victim's family, as well as ensuring compensation for Habib's family.

In conclusion, JMBF urgently calls upon the government of Bangladesh to uphold the principles of justice, transparency, and human rights in this matter and to take all necessary steps to restore public confidence in its institutions.

With Best Regards



Advocate Shahanur Islam
Founder President
Cell/WhatsUp/Signal: +33 (0)7 83 95 23 15
============================================================ Advocate Shahanur Islam | An Young, Ascendant, Dedicated Human Rights Defender, Lawyer and Blogger from Bangladesh, Fighting for Ensuring Human Rights, Rule of Law, Good Governance, Peace and Social Justice For the Victim of Torture, Extra Judicial Killing, Force Disappearance, Trafficking in Persons including Ethnic, Religious, Sexual and Social Minority People.

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