Sunday, January 2, 2011

Bangladesh Police physically assaulted and harassed Human Rights Defender - Advocate Rabindra Ghosh and his collegues at Dinajpur district:

Human Rights Defender physically assaulted and harassed by two Additional Superintendent of Police, (Crime) and O.C. Fulbari P.S.,Dinajpur in Bangladesh on 19th and 20th of December, 2010.

I, Advocate Rabindra Ghosh along with Mr. Ganesh Rajbangshi and Mr.Apurba Roy of Global Human Rights Defence and Bangladesh Minority Watch went to investigate an abduction case of a minority girl – Ms. Nipa Banarjee (17) and also for an investigation of attack on Adibashi women and children, churches, houses at Fulbari Upazila of Dinajpur District on 19th of December. We went to Fulbari police station at about and wanted to know why the kidnappers in connection with Fulbari P.S. case No.05 dated 06.12.2010 was not arrested and why the victim was not recovered and why counter case against innocent Adibashi was started without any valid reason. Our video cameraman Mr.Ganesh Rajbangshi was trying to film the proceeding of our discussion between me and the Mr. Showkat Ali -officer in charge of Fulbari police station. Mr.Mohammad Showkat Ali became more furious and jumped over Mr.Ganesh Rajbangshi and tried to snatch away our video camera. Mr. Mohammad Showkat Ali called some police constables and dragged us to go out from the police station in presence of the Mr.Shymol Banarjee – elder brother of Ms.Nipa Banarjee.

Thereafter I informed the matter to Mr. Phani Bhusan Chowdhury- Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Bangladesh over his telephone number: 01714295748 and also informed this matter to Deputy Inspector General of Police, Rajshahi Range for our protection. But unfortunately no action has been taken against the officer in charge of Fulbari police station.

Thereafter we went to the office of Mr Md..Jamaluddin Ahmed –Deputy Commissioner of Dinajpur district on the next day dated 10.12.2010 who assured us for our protection and he requested us to file a complain at the office of Superintendent of Police, Dinajpur.

Accordingly we went to the office of Mr.Siddique Tanzilur Rahaman, S.P. who did not allow us to meet with him initially despite waiting for half an hour out the office, but Mr.Mohammad Shafiqul Islam – Additional Superintendent of Police and Mr.Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman – Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) called us in a room and started to rebuke in a filthy languages because of taking pictures of our discussion. The video camera was at that time in the hands of Mr. Shymol Banarjee who was trying to take picture then Mr. Mohammad Shafiqul Islam with angry mood pushed Mr.Shymol and snatched away the camera and I protested this ugly harassment and requested him not to repeat this in future and to return the camera. But in the meantime Mr.Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman started to rebuke me with ugly mood saying “ I know you since long, you a terrorist and black-mailing police department and rendering us in a great difficulties, you should restrain from doing such black mailing ; otherwise you will be thrown out in the ocean, now  get out from our room” I became helpless and asked our accompanying human rights activist to note down the names of the perpetrators.

During our detention period in a room of Mr.Mohammad Shafiqul Islam half an hour we have been harassed and physically assaulted by Mr. Mohammad Shafiqul Islam and Mr. Mohmmad Mustafizur Rahman. I immediately again contacted with Mr.Phani Bhusan Chowdhury now posted as Additional Secretary to the Home Ministry over his telephone (  and appraised the situation. He also requested us to contact with the DIG of police, Rajshahi Range for taking necessary action.


When we were about to be coming out from the room of Mohammad Shafiqul Islam then a police constable came and requested us to enter into the room of Mr.Siddique Tanzilur Rahman-Superintendent of Police, Dinajpur and accordingly we entered into the room and made a complain against those two delinquent responsible police officers responsible for physical assault and harassment made on 19th and 20th of December, 10.  Mr. Siddique Tanzilur Rahman tried to pacify us and took some photographs in presence of other human rights defenders and tried to make out a case against us to suppress the material facts. Practically he tried to suppress the incident of harassment by two police officers in his adjacent office room.

I had already spoken with Dr.Mizanur Rahman- Chairman of National Human Rights Commission over his cell number (Cell No.01916700848) who patiently heard the incident and requested me to lodge allegations against the delinquent police officers.

Mr.Biswanath Singh-Chairman of Bangladesh Adibashi Samitee, Mr. Dui Tudu, Mr. Jagna Maddy, Mr. Apurba Roy and Shymol Banarjee witnessed the incident of harassment and attack on date of occurrence on 20.12.2010.

Mr.Biswnath Singh- Chairman of Adibashi Samity in Bangladesh filed a separate written allegation/appeal against the delinquent Additional Superintendents of police namely Md. Shafiqul Islam and Md. Mustafizur Rahaman and Mohammad Showkat Ali addressed to Chairman GHRD Headquarters is attached herewith.

We have also made a press release at Dinajpur Press Club expressing our deep concern over this unfortunate incident of attack on human rights defenders. ( Copy of press release attached)

It is disheartening to note that previously also the police authority tried many times intimidating me and our human rights activists to abandon our humanitarian jobs for the minorities in this country. This repeated attack on human rights defenders might be continued if those machineries are not restrained from doing such mischievous activities on life and prestige of human rights defenders.

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