STATEMENT:On United States Human Rights (USHR) report on Bangladesh dated 27 March 2008 the home affairs Adviser Mr. M. A Matin of Bangladesh.......

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

  On United States Human Rights (USHR) report on Bangladesh dated 27 March 2008 the home affairs Adviser Mr. M. A Matin of Bangladesh caretaker Govt. has evaluated as “lack of Balance” on the following grounds: - (1) That the report has not acknowledged the reform of (a) Election commission (b) Public Service commission (c) Anticorruption commission (d) Separation of judiciary (e) Revision of police Act with adherence to human rights principles and standards (f) initiative to establish a National Human Rights commission. (2) Those extrajudicial killings by Law enforcing agencies including Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been reduced than the previous time.

FACT FINDING REPORT:Human Rights Defender Shahanur Islam Receives His Life Threats

Date: February 07, 2008

Fact Finding Case: BIHR-HRD-01-08 

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights has been received a report reliable source regarding to intimidation of Mr. Shahanur Islam, Team Leader and team In Charge of Lobbying Campaign & Advocacy Team at the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT) by cell phone. According to the information received, there was no action taken by the police authorities. 

BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: 

  Name of the Victim :Mr. Shahanur Islam Saikot, Team Leader and team In Charge of Lobbying Campaign & Advocacy Team at the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT). During the time of his duties, he moved many cases against the perpetrators as a lawyer and some of them have been punished. He also conducted many investigations and fact-finding missions on human rights violations as well as issued local and international urgent appeals requesting attention to concerned authorities. 

STATEMENT:Trial of the offenders of Extra- judicial killing in the name of Operation Clean Heart and Cross Fire is a necessary demand of the citizens

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

In the preamble of the constitution of Bangladesh it has been clearly declared that “ it shall be a fundamental aim of the state to realize through the democratic process of socialist society, free from exploitation- a society in which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality and justice, political, economic and social, will be secured for all citizen”. It is well known to the whole national and international communities that the last BNP-Jamat government in the name of controlling deterioration of law and order situation deployed army in the year 2003.

STATEMENT:Election conducting Government officials right from the office of Chief Election commission up to Returning officer...

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

 Since after the killing of the father of the Nation Bangabundhu Sheikh Muzibur Rahman on 15 August 1975 the following elections were held in Bangladesh: 1. Referendum of Military ruler Lt. General Ziaur Rahman was held in the year 1977. At best 2 % of voters turned out but the election-conducting officials in the presence of the Military showed 98% casting of the total voters and Ziaur Rahman achieved the peoples mandate to become the president simultaneously holding the post of Chief Staff of Army. There was no role of politicians in that rigging of election.

STATEMENT:De-militarization of Bangladesh for the political stability and implementation of Human Rights

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

 The legacy of militarization was acquired from Pakistan since after 1947, the de-colonization and independence of India from British Empire. Pakistan was partitioned from India on two nation Hindu-Muslim theory not on the basis of strong political institution as was happened in India under Indian Congress. The dictatorial attitude of Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah of Muslim League of Pakistan did not allow making a 2nd man in his absence to run the Government of Pakistan. At the death of Mr. Jinnah just after one year of independence of Pakistan in September 1948 no able political leadership was found to lead the country.

STATEMENT:State of Emergency has become the Main Obstacle in the Path of Protection of Human Rights

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

 The army backed care taker government declared state of emergency on 11 January 2007 at eve of taking power as caretaker government under article 141 of the constitution. As per constitution its duration will be maximum 120 days. The prevailing situation of the country does not demand further extension of the period of emergency in Bangladesh. but the army backed caretaker government under the direction of the invisible government, the directorate general of forces of intelligence (DGFI) might have been unable to lift state of emergency.

STATEMENT:Chief Adviser DR. Fakruddin Ahmed’s Claim of Transparent Trail of Sheikh Hasina in a Normal Court Under Normal Law in His Meeting With U. S.

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

Sheikh Hasina, the President of Bangladesh Awami League (A.L) was elected Prime Minster from 23 June 1996 to 15 July 2001 and was leader of opposition for two terms. During her tenure as prime minister of a poorest, problematic Bangladesh the price index of all day-to-day necessary commodities were stable for 5 years, which was quite unusual in the context of the past experience.

STATEMENT:Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, an invisible Government and Breeding Spot of Fabrication of False Cases

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

 The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) is an intelligence unit of Bangladesh Arm forces is headed by one Maj. General Golam Mohammad with his two closest associates (i) Brig. General Fazlul Bari (ii) Brig. General Amin having head quarter in Dhaka Cantonment. It has countrywide network based on all cantonments in Bangladesh.

STATEMENT:Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), an Invisible Government Within Care Taker Government Has Become Prime Barrier in the Road

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

 Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) is an intelligence unit of Bangladesh Arm forces under the command of Maj. General Golam Mohammad as Director Genaral and Director (i) Brig. General Fazlul Bari (ii) Brig. General Amin. They are based in Dhaka Cantonment with cantonment wise network all over the country. Officially they have no legitimacy to interfere in to politics.

STATEMENT:Democracy & Human Rights Not Safe at the Hand of the Present Unconstitutional Gov’t of Bangladesh Backed by Army not supported by the People

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

 The present Army backed care taker government under Dr. Fakruddin Ahmed took oath on 11 January 2007 under the Constitution of Bangladesh Article 58 (C) with mandatory constitutional binding to hold general election within 90 days and hand over power to the people representative. 90 days time frame already crossed on 11 March 2007 but this gov’t could not yet hold the election.

STATEMENT:Mysterious Steps of the Unconstitutional Caretaker Gov’t Confused the Secular Democratic Future of Bangladesh.

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

 The care taker gov’t took over power on 11.01.07 under Article 58 (c) of Bangladesh constitution .As per the said Article of the constitution the care taker Govt. only task is to hold election within 90 days and to hand over power to the people representative .But this care taker Gov’t keeping away their main objective has engaged its prime efforts to de-estabilize the main two political parities Bangladesh Nationalist Party (B.N.P)and Awami League (A.L) .

STATEMENT: Enactment of Emergency Rule Has Authorized Law Enforcing Agency to Abuse Human Rights

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Lrgal & Human Rights 

On 11 January 2007, the army backed caretaker Government declared state of Emergency of Emergency under Article 141A (Proclamation of Emergency) 141B (Suspension of provisions of certain articles during emergencies) of Bangladesh Constitution. Under the said article during state of Emergency Article-36 (Freedom of movement) , Article-37(freedom of assembly) , Article-38 (Freedom of association) , Article-39(Freedom of thought and conscience, and of speech) , Article-40(Freedom of profession or occupation) , Article-42(Rights to property) remain suspend.

STATEMENT:Patronization of Fundamentalist Militant by The Lt. General Masud Uddin Chowdhury is Being Hailed by The Top Leaders of Those Militants

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

 On 13 August 2007, the daily Inquilab and many others daily Newspaper published exciting news item that Lt. General Masud Uddin Chwdhury the second senior most Army officer of Bangladesh Army and principal staff officer (p s o) to the Chief adviser stated that there is no fundamentalist terrorist in Bangladesh while he was speaking as a chief guest in a session of developing rule of engagement and combating terrorism held in Dhaka cantonment on 12 august 2007.

STATEMENT:The Present Army Backed Caretaker Gov’t Desiring to Institute a fabricated Case

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

 On 21 August 2004, there was massive grenade attack upon the Sheikh Hasina while she was addressing a mammoth gathering at the Bangabundhu Avenue in Dhaka. About 24 persons died on the spot and a few hundred received severe injuries. Sheikh Hasina escaped from death because she was immediately pushed in to her bullet proof Jeep by her party men. But her bulletproof jeep was seriously damager by her bullet shots and grenade splinters.

STATEMENT:Human Rights Abuses against the Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and President of Bangladesh Awami League Sheikh Hasina

Adv. Shahanur Islam saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

 Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister and President of Bangladesh Awami League was arrested on 16 July 2007 on a false and concocted charge of extortion of money in year of 2000. She is imprisoned in a sub jail and remaining out of contact from outside world. In such situation the anticorruption commission has asked to submit her property statement. As a president of the biggest political parties she was to open several Bank Accounts in various Banks.

STATEMENT:The Continuing Policy of Reforming Political Party by the Present Caretaker Government is Nothing but Eyewash

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights 

 The present caretaker government’s administration is applying double standard using the same law for opposite purposes. The people of Bangladesh asked to the present gov’t ‘How can a political party be launched when all political activities are banned under a state of emergency?” We want to say that the same law could not be used for different purposes—favoring some while suppressing others. Now we are doubt if general elections would be held within the timeline announced by the Election Commission. In previous President of Bangladesh Awami League Sheikh Hasina expressed her doubt whether the polls would be held in time.

STATEMENT:Immediate Withdrawal of Restriction on Political Activities is the Demand of the Moment to Control the Increasing Trend of Fundamentalist

Adv. Shahanur Islam Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights A fundamentalist terrorist leader

 Mufti Mansurul Huq has been distributing a booklet Captioned “Afghan Zihad” with the call to organize Islamic militants to capture state power like Taliban of Afghanistan (See: Daily “Amader Shomoy” dated 10th July, 2007). Due to the imposition of restriction of secular political activities by the present Caretaker Govt., a political vacuum has been created. This has opened the doors to underground terrorist activities of Taliban-trained Islamic militants in Bangladesh. If the restriction of normal political activities is prolonged and election is delayed the militants will spread their domination among Madrasha students and masses of orthodox rural people. The Taleban of Afghanistan adopted the same tactics to dominate the Madrasha student and rural orthodox mass people.