NHRC issues ordered to investigate the incident of physical attacked on human rights lawyer in police custody.

 National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Bangladesh has been issued an order to investigate the incident of physical assault on Advocate Shahanur Islam, founding secretary general of JusticeMakers Bangladesh and also member of DhaKa Bar Association and Bangladesh Bar Council by the police official in Mohammadpur police custody under Dhaka metropolitan police.

NHRC asked to the senior secretary of home ministry to submit the report after proper investigation forming a three member’s enquiry committee comprising a at least a deputy secretary of home ministry, a high level police official and a representative from human rights non government organization nominated by the aggressive party.  

The ordered was issued under sign of Mrs. Shamim Ahammad, director with endorsement of Mr. Kazi Riyajul Haque, full-time member of National Human Rights Commission on April 24, 2012.

According to complaint, Advocate Shahanur Islam, founding secretary general of JusticeMakers Bangladesh and also member of Bangladesh Bar Council and Dhaka Bar Association received numerous threats for life from different unknown person through mobile phone to withdraw the case filed against nine prison and police officials including jail superintendent of Naogaon district prison centre and officer in charge of Badalgachhi police station with the learned judicial magistrate court in Naogaon district alleging to take bribe, torture in police custody and death due to negligence.

On April 03, 2012 around at 7.30 pm Mr. Islam along with Advocate Mohammd Alamgir, founding vice chairman of JusticeMakers Bangladesh and also member of Bangladesh Bar Council and Dhaka Bar Association went to the Mohammadpur police station under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to file a general diary to ensure his physical security.

Mr. Islam submitted a written application to the duty officer of Mohammadpur police station Mr. Yusuf and requested him to register a general diary stating about his current threats. But, the duty office threw the paper to opposite side of his table mentioning that he would not register any general diary regarding connecting to the police. Then, Mr. Islam requested him again to read the whole statement carefully and again asked him registered the general diary politely. At this stage Mr. Yusuf shouted to Mr. Islam using filthy language including “beyadop” and asked him to get out from the room becoming angry as fire again rejecting to register the general diary. Then, Mr. Islam asked him to give written statement for the reason of rejection to register the GD. Suddenly, Mr. Yusub being violent jumped one side of the table standing up from his chair and pushed Mr. Islam shouting that he would arrest Mr. Islam and the he grabbed the color of the shirt of Mr. Islam and tried to put him in too the lock up of the said police station.

In this time, Mr. Islam released from the sub Inspector Mohammad Yusuf’s ferocious paw by interferes of Advocate Mohammad Alamgir. Finally, the duty officer registered the general diary being Mohammadpur police station GD number 261 dated 03.04.12 and assigned to sub inspector Afjal Hossain to investigate the incident of threats received by Mr. Islam.

Later, Mr. Islam submitted an oral allegation Officer in Charge (OC) of Mohammadpur police station against the SI Md. Yusuf demanding his proper punishment. But the OC did not take any action against the perpetrator. Rather he tried to compromise the matter being apologized on behalf of the sub inspector confessing about the involvement of such heinous incident in presence of Mohd Jahangir Alam, adviser of JusticeMakers Bangladesh and also chief of crime division, united news of Bangladesh (UNB).

On April 04, 2012 Mr. Islam filed a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission demanding the exemplary punishment of the perpetrator who was directly and indirectly involved with this violalation of human rights as well as ensure his physical & psychological integrity

Sued against Sub Inspector of Police alleging to physically attacked on Lawyer and Human Rights Defender at Police Station in Bangladesh

 JusticeMakers Bangladesh has been sued against a sub inspector of police alleging to physically attack on a human rights defender and lawyer in Bangladesh while he went to police station to register a general diary appealing to ensure his and his team members physical security.

Advocate Shahanur Islam founding general secretary of Justice Makers Bangladesh and also a member of Dhaka Bar Association and Bangladesh Bar Council filed the complaint case against Mohammad Yusuf, sub Inspector (SI) of police working at Mohammadpur Police station under 352 and 355 section of penal code with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court, Dhaka on April18, 2012.

The learned Metropolitan Magistrate-7 of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Dhaka Mr. Ismail Hossain has been taken the statement of the complainant Mr. Islam and pleased to issue an order to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of police, Tejgaon Zone under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to submit the investigative report by 13 June 2012 after proper investigation.

Advocate Shahanur Islam, founding secretary general of JusticeMakers Bangladesh and also member of Bangladesh Bar Council and Dhaka Bar Association received numerous threats for life from different unknown person through mobile phone to withdraw the case filed against nine prison and police officials including jail superintendent of Naogaon district prison centre and officer in charge of Badalgachhi police station with the learned judicial magistrate court in Naogaon district alleging to take bribe, torture in police custody and death due to negligence.

On April 03, 2012 around at 7.30 pm Mr. Islam along with Advocate Mohammd Alamgir, founding vice chairman of JusticeMakers Bangladesh and also member of Bangladesh Bar Council and Dhaka Bar Association went to the Mohammadpur police station under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to file a general diary to ensure his physical security.

Mr. Islam submitted a written application to the duty officer of Mohammadpur police station Mr. Yusuf and requested him to register a general diary stating about his current threats. But, the duty office threw the paper to opposite side of his table mentioning that he would not register any general diary regarding connecting to the police. Then, Mr. Islam requested him again to read the whole statement carefully and again asked him registered the general diary politely. At this stage Mr. Yusuf shouted to Mr. Islam using filthy language including “beyadop” and asked him to get out from the room becoming angry as fire again rejecting to register the general diary. Then, Mr. Islam asked him to give written statement for the reason of rejection to register the GD. Suddenly, Mr. Yusub being violent jumped one side of the table standing up from his chair and pushed Mr. Islam shouting that he would arrest Mr. Islam and the he grabbed the color of the shirt of Mr. Islam and tried to put him in too the lock up of the said police station.

In this time, Mr. Islam released from the sub Inspector Mohammad Yusuf’s ferocious paw by interferes of Advocate Mohammad Alamgir. Finally, the duty officer registered the general diary being Mohammadpur police station GD number 261 dated 03.04.12 and assigned to sub inspector Afjal Hossain to investigate the incident of thrteats received by Mr. Islam.

Later, Mr. Islam submitted an oral allegation Officer in Charge (OC) of Mohammadpur police station against the SI Md. Yusuf demanding his proper punishment. But the OC did not take any action against the perpetrator. Rather tried to compromise the matter being apologized on behalf of the sub inspector confessing about the involvement of such heinous incident in presence of Mohd Jahangir Alam, adviser of JusticeMakers Bangladesh and also chief of crime division, united news of Bangladesh (UNB).

News published on different following newspaper regarding the incident:

http://www.jjdin.com/?view=details&archiev=yes&arch_date=20-04-2012&type=single&pub_no=103&cat_id=1&menu_id=38&news_type_id=1&index=6

http://www.bangla.se/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7968:2012-04-19-17-12-34&catid=34:bangla-news&Itemid=50

http://www.purbanchal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1560:2012-04-05-17-54-44&catid=2:national&Itemid=1

http://www.parisvisionnews.com/2011-07-14-13-36-49/69-political-news/3160-2012-04-19-18-24-21.html

http://www.bdnews24.com/bangla/details.php?id=191690&cid=2

http://www.banglanews24.com/detailsnews.php?nssl=2c02ccd7522a596eaf2900ed053ccd60&nttl=20120419102319105394

http://dinerkhobor.com/index.php/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%A4

http://www.jjdin.com/index.php?view=details&archiev=yes&arch_date=06-04-2012&type=single&pub_no=90&cat_id=1&menu_id=13&news_type_id=1&index=9

http://bedepressed.org/blackwavesource/bangladesh-human-rights-advocate-has-physically-been-harassed-at-mohammadpur-police-station-justicemakers-bangladesh-gravely-concerned

http://bpi-icb.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=881%3Ahuman-rights-advocate-has-physically-been-harassed-at-mohammadpur-police-station&catid=44%3Abpicb-noticias&Itemid=127&lang=en

REPORT of GHRD: Symposium on Grass root protection of minority rights

 JusticeMakers Bangladesh – Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founding Secretary General

Representing his newly established organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh, Advocate Shahanur Islam discussed the organization’s target groups: ethnic, religious, social and sexual minorities, and victims of torture and extra‐judicial killings.

Mr Islam mentioned key future goals to be: building a strong network for minorities in Bangladesh and building up the networking capacity of the organization and the minority communities. He also discussed work he had begun in collaboration with GHRD with a new minority target group: sexual minorities in Bangladesh and the nature of discrimination against this group, often in the form of societal stigmatization but also in the form of sexual violations, violence and torture. Mr Islam also highlighted the need for advocacy on legal reform, to remove the criminalization of homosexual acts in the Bangladeshi Penal Code.

Questions and dialogue from other participants centred on the right to information, particularly in remote areas, and questions around how JusticeMakers Bangladesh are working with sexual minorities currently and the goals for future operations in this area. Mr Islam responded that he has begun interviewing sexual minority individuals and organizations in order to discover the rights and violations involved and how LGBT rights are viewed in Bangladesh. 

Ms Lundström formally announced the intention of GHRD to start including sexual minorities (LGBT communities) in its work as they belong to the most marginalized groups in South Asia. She expressed the position that LGBT rights essentially are human rights, and as such sexual minorities should be included into the mainstream human rights community. She finally announced that GHRD has submitted programs for funding with the Dutch Foreign Ministry in this regard.

To read full report please click here

Human rights advocate has been physically harassed at Mohammadpur police station: JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concerned

Advocate Shahanur Islam, founding secretary general of JusticeMakers Bangladesh and also member of Bangladesh Bar Council and Dhaka Bar Association has tried to been arrest after physically harassment at Mohammadpur police station under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) by the then duty officer and sub inspector Mr. Yusuf on April 03, 2012 while Mr. Islam went to the said police station for registering a general diary (GD) regarding threats received by him to withdraw the case filed with the learned judicial magistrate court in Naogaon district against nine prison and police officials alleging to take bribe and death due to negligence after torture at police custody.

On April 03, 2012 around at 7.30 pm Mr. Islam along advocate Mohammd Alamgir, founding vice chairman of JusticeMakers Bangladesh and also member of Bangladesh Bar Council and Dhaka Bar Association went to the said police station to file a general diary regarding the said matter. Then, Mr. Islam submited a written statement to the duty officer Mr. Yusuf for register a general diary describing about his current threats. But the duty office threw the paper opposite side of his table mentioning he would not register any general diary regarding taking bribe, torture and death due to negligence. Then, Mr. Islam requested him to again read the whole statement carefully. At this stage Mr. Yusuf calling to Mr. Islam “beyadop” became angry as fire again rejecting to register the general diary. Then Mr. Islam asked him to give written statement for rejection to register the GD. Suddenly Mr. Yusub being violent jumped one side of his table from his chair and grabbed the color of the shirt of Mr. Islam and tried to put him in too the lock up of the said police station. In this time Advocate Mohammad Alamgir managed the duty officer not not put Mr. Islam in to the lock up humbly requesting him. Then the duty officer register the general diary being Mohammadpur police station GD number 261 dated 03.04.12 and  assigned to Sub inspector Afjal Hossain to investigate the incident of general diary.

Later, Officer in Charge (OC) of Mohammadpur police station confessed about the involvement of such heinous incident by the duty officer and apologized on behalf of the alleged police officer in presence of Mohd Jahangir Alam, adviser of JusticeMakers Bangladesh and also chief of crime division, united news of Bangladesh (UNB).

JusticeMakers Bangladesh deeply concerned over physical harassment of Mr. Islam by the police official of Mohammadpur police station and demanded prompt action against the alleged perpetrators after a judicial enquiry as well as ensures the adequate physical integrity of Mr. Shahanur Islam and JusticeMakers team.

মোহাম্মদপুর থানা পুলিশ কর্তৃক মানবাধিকার আইনজীবীকে শারীরিকভাবে লাঞ্চনাপূর্বক গেফতারের চেষ্টা

ঘুষ গ্রহন, নির্যাতন ও নির্যাতন পরর্বর্তী অবহেলায় মৃর্ত্যুর অভিযোগে নওগাঁ জেল সুপারিনটেডেন্ট, জেলার  ও বদলগাছী থানার সাবেক ভারপ্রাপ্ত কর্মকর্তা সহ নয় কারা ও পুলিশ সদস্যের বিরুদ্ধে দায়েরকৃত মামলা অবিলম্বে প্রত্যাহার করে নেওয়ার জন্য হুমকি প্রদানকারী এক অজ্ঞাত ব্যক্তির বিরুদ্ধে ঢাকা মহানগর পুলিশ এর মোহাম্মদপুর থানায় সাধারন ডায়েরী (জিডি) করতে গেলে উক্ত থানার ডিউটি অফিসার সাব ইন্সপেক্টর ইউসুফ কর্তৃক মানবাধিকার সংগঠন জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ এর প্রতিষ্টাতা মহাসচিব, বাংলাদেশ বার কাউন্সিল ও ঢাকা বার এসোশিয়েশনের সম্মানিত সদস্য এডভোকেট শাহানুর ইসলামকে শারীরিকভাবে লাঞ্চনাপুর্বক গ্রেফতাররের চেষ্টা করে। এসময় ঘটনাস্থলে উপস্থিত জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ এর সম্মানিত সহসভাপতি বাংলাদেশ বার কাউন্সিল ও ঢাকা বার এসোশিয়েশনের সম্মানিত সদস্য এডভোকেট মোহাম্মদ আলমগীর এর হস্তক্ষেপে তাঁকে ছেড়ে দেন এবং সাধারন ডায়েরী নথিভুক্ত করেন। পরবর্তীতে, জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ এর সম্মানিত উপদেষ্টা ও নিউজ এজেন্সী ইউ এন বি এর প্রধান ক্রাইম রিপোর্টার মোহাম্মদ জাহাংগীর আলম এর উপস্থিতিতে মোহাম্মদপুর থানার ভারপ্রাপ্ত কর্মকর্তা অভিযুক্ত পুলিশ কর্মকর্তার পক্ষ থেকে ভুল স্বীকার করে ক্ষমা চেয়ে দায় এড়ানোর চেষ্টা করে।

ঘটনায় প্রকাশ, গতকাল ০৩ এপ্রিল ২০১২ ইং তারিখ আনুমানিক রাত ৭.৩০ ঘটিকার সময় এডভোকেট শাহানুর ইসলাম ও এডভোকেট মোহাম্মদ আলমগীর একটি সাধারন ডায়েরী (জি ডি) নথিভুক্ত করার জন্য ঢাকা মহানগর পুলিশ এর মোহাম্মদপুর থানায় যান। সেখানে কর্তব্যরত ডিউটি অফিসার সাব ইন্সপেক্টর ইউসুফকে লিখিতভাবে বিষয়টি প্রদান করে তা জিডি হিসেবে নথিভুক্ত করার অনুরোধ করলে তিনি সম্পুর্ন বিষয়টি না পড়ে পুলিশ কর্তৃক ঘুষ গ্রহন, নির্যাতন ও নির্যাতন পরবর্তী অবহেলায় মৃর্ত্যুর বিষয়ে কোন সাধারন ডায়েরী নথিভুক্ত করতে পারবেন না বলে লিখিত কাগজটি টেবিলে অপর পাশে ছুড়ে ফেলেন। এসময় এডভোকেট শাহানুর তাঁকে আবারো বিষয়টি ভালভাবে পড়ার অনুরোধ করলে তিনি রাগান্বিত হয়ে এডভোকেট শাহানুরকে বেয়াদপ বলে চলে যেতে বলেন। তখন এডভোকেট শাহানুর জিডি টি নথিভুক্ত করতে পারবেন না মর্মে লিখিত দিতে অনুরোধ করলে তিনি তার চেয়ার থেকে লাফিয়ে উঠে টেবিলের সাইডে এসে এডভোকেট শাহানুরের জামার কলার ধরে তাকে টানতে টানতে লকাপে ঢুকানোর চেষ্টা করেন। এসময় এসময় ঘটনাস্থলে উপস্থিত এডভোকেট মোহাম্মদ আলমগীর তাঁকে ছেড়ে দেওয়ার অনুরোধ করলে কিছুক্ষন পর তাঁকে ছেড়ে দেন এবং পরবর্তীতে মোহাম্মদপুর থানার সাধারন ডায়েরী নং ২৬১ তাং- ০৩/০৪/২০১২ নথিভুক্ত করে এস আই আফজাল হোসেনকে তদন্তভার অর্পন করেন। এ বিষয়ে প্রতিকার চেয়ে এডভোকেট শাহানুর ইসলাম জাতীয় মানবাধিকার কমিশন ও ঢাকা বার এসোশিয়েশন বরাবর পৃথক দুটি আবেদন করেছেন।

বিষয়টি মানবাধিকারের লংঘন ও একজন আইনজীবী ও মানবাধিকার কর্মীর পেশাগত স্বাধীনতার প্রতি হুমকিস্বরুপ এবং অভিযুক্ত পুলিশ অফিসার কোনভাবে দায় এড়িয়ে যেতে পারে না বলে জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ মনে করেন। জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ঘটনাটির নিরপেক্ষ বিচার বিভাগীয় তদন্তের মাধ্যমে অভিযুক্ত পুলিশ কর্মকর্তার বিরুদ্ধে অবিলম্বে যথাযথ ব্যবস্থা নেওয়ার জোড় দাবী জানাচ্ছে।

REPORT of GHRD: Hearing at Dutch Parliament ( Socialist Party & Party for Freedom

 Mr Shahanur Islam, Founding Secretary General of JusticeMakers Bangladesh

Mr Islam, a human rights defender and founder of the newly established organisation JusticeMakers Bangladesh, discussed the situation of ethnic and sexual minorities in Bangladesh – two minority groups particularly vulnerable to human rights violations and discrimination.

Mr Islam addressed the human rights situation of the ethnic minority people living in Bangladesh. Key issues included: a lack of constitutional recognition of their indigenous status and their rights to land, land disputes which makes them targets of violence, eviction, rapes, killings and sexual assaults. He addressed the conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tract region, and claimed that the government of Bangladesh has failed to implement integral clauses of the 1997 Peace Accord.

He further highlighted the situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people living in Bangladesh, stating that they face discrimination in all areas of society and often become the targets of sexual crimes, torture, harassment and violence, in the public and private spheres. Mr Islam discussed societal discrimination of LGBT people, stating they are constitutionally not recognized, stigmatized and socially not accepted ‐ exemplified by the criminalisation of homosexual acts.

Mr Islam ended his presentation by urging the Dutch Parliament to take initiatives to ensure protection of human rights defenders through intergovernmental dialogue and direct support, and he referred to his personal situation. He underlined a number of recommendations beginning with the full implementation of 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, and the need to ratify the UN declaration of the rights to indigenous people, decriminalize homosexual acts, and ratify the ILO Convention – including sections 107 and 169 (referring to the rights of indigenous peoples).

Mr Islam ended his presentation by urging the Dutch Parliament to take initiatives to ensure protection of human rights defenders through intergovernmental dialogue and direct support.

To read full report please click here