FIRST PAGE ALEART:Bangladeshi lawyer Shahanur Islam receives death threats

The International Observatory for Lawyers expresses its deep concern regarding the situation of Shahanur Islam, a lawyer and human rights defender who has received death threats in Bangladesh.

Description of the situation:

Mr. Islam is a lawyer and the executive director of the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights. He has accomplished extensive human rights work notably relating to minorities’ rights in Bangladesh.

In January 2011 Mr. Islam undertook a fact-finding mission on the violation of minorities’ rights in Jharbhanga, in the Thakurgaon district. During this mission Mr. Islam and his two fact-finding officers were physically attacked, threatened by arms and all their belongings were looted. In February 2011, one of the perpetrators of this attack, Mr. Hamidur Islam, was arrested and imprisoned, but  he was released on bail after five months.

On July 24 2011, Mr. Shahanur Islam received a phone call from Mr. Hamidur Islam who threatened to kill him if he did not immediately withdraw his case. Mr. Shahanur Islam informed the police about the received threats, but no action was undertaken to ensure his safety or to start an investigation on the death threats.

Throughout the procedure Mr. Shahanur Islam has encountered great difficulties in obtaining support and assistance from the police. When he tried to file a complaint for the aggression, Mr.  Shahanur Islam faced the refusal of a police officer. The police also failed to promptly arrest the perpetrators and to recover all the stolen goods, despite ensuring that it would be possible. There is a total failure of the police and governmental authorities to ensure Mr. Shahanur Islam’s safety and physical integrity. There are therefore strong suspicions of political interferences in Mr. Shahanur Islam’s case.

Mr. Shahanur Islam has thus been fearing for his life and has been hiding since he received these death threats.

Appeal of the International Observatory for Lawyers:

The Observatory would like to reiterate that the independence of lawyers is one of the core principles of democracy and of the effectiveness of the rule of law. The Observatory would like to draw Bangladeshi authorities’ attention to the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers which were adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held in Havana (Cuba) from 27 August to 27 September 1990.

Principle 16

“Governments shall ensure that lawyers ( a ) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; ( b ) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and ( c ) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics”.

Principle 17

“Where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities”.

Principle 18

“Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions”.

The International Observatory for Lawyers urges:

-The Bangladeshi authorities, to urgently take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of Mr. Shahanur Islam, and to order a prompt and objective investigation of both: the death threats and the attack he has faced.

The Observatory also urges Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the protection, freedom and independence of Mr. Shahanur Islam and of all lawyers in all circumstances.

-The United Nations, the European Commission and other international organizations, to prompt the Bangladeshi government to urgently take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of Mr. Shahanur Islam, and to guarantee all lawyers’ independence and physical integrity in Bangladesh.

-Bar Associations and lawyers’ organizations, to assist and support Mr. Shahanur Islam, and to use all their available means to draw Bangladeshi authorities’ attention to the necessity of ensuring lawyers’ freedom and independence in Bangladesh.

Contacts :

1/ Prime Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Mrs. Sheikh Hasina
Office of the Prime Minister
Tejgaon, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 811 3244 / 3243 / 1015 / 1490
Tel: +880 2 882 816 079 / 988 8677
pm@pmo.gov.bd or ps1topm@pmo.gov.bd or psecy@pmo.gov.bd

2/ Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Mr. Md. Mozammel Haque
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 956 5058 /+880 2 7161344
Tel: +880 2 956 2792
chief@bdcom.com or supremec@bdcom.com

3/ Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs
Barrister Shafique Ahmed, Minister
Bangladesh Secretariat ,Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 7160627 (O)
Fax: +880 2 7168557 (O)
info@minlaw.gov.bd

4/ Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations
820 2nd Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212-867-3434
Fax: 212-972-4038
bangladesh@un.int

5/ Delegation of the European Union in Bangladesh
House 7, Road 84, Gulshan 2
Dhaka 1212
Bangladesh
Phone: +880(2) 882 4730
Fax: +880 (2) 882 3118, 988 8622
delegation-bangladesh@ec.europea.eu

This document is a product of The International Observatory for Lawyers (IOL). It may not be reproduced except in its original form. The IOL disclaims all responsibility in the case of alteration of falsification made to this document.