STATEMENT: Bangladeshi lawyer, human rights defender and journalist received threats from policeman during the fact finding investigation.

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founding Secretary General of JusticeMakers Bangladesh, Executive Director of Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), Country observer of Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), Netherlands, Legal & Human Rights affairs editor of the Monthly Doyel and also member of Dhaka Bar association and Bangladesh bar Council received threats from a sub inspector of police during a fact finding investigation on December25, 2011. You are requested to read the full investigation report visiting the following link: Full Fact Finding Report

According the statement received from Mr. Islam and his associate, during the fact finding investigation on the incident of death of a businessman in jail custody due to torture as well as negligence of treatment for bribe at Badalgachhi Upazila under naogaon district, some civil dressed people (it is assumed by the fact finding team that they were security personnel dressed as civilians) were continuously following the investigation team intend to create scaring atmosphere.  When the fact finding team contacted the accused policeman Assistant Sub Inspector Rabiul Islam about his statement regarding taking bribe through cell phone, he refused to talk rather he handed over the phone to Sub Inspector Rafikul Islam and Mr. Islam threatened to Mr. Shahanur Islam, head of the fact finding team stating proudly that “we are entitled to take money from accused person for our cost of fuel, tea and cigarette. So, you can not do anything against our activities, rather you will face trouble to further continue your activities.” He also told that “We want to see your power, show us your power, if you have any power to stop our activities, you can exercise it; otherwise go to hell”.

This is not any isolated instance of such kind of threats on human rights defenders, lawyer and journalist in Bangladesh. It is a very common phenomenon for the professionals like human rights defenders of Bangladesh facing attacked, harassment, ill treatment, death threats from the terrorist, law-enforcing agencies and security forces. It is well-known that Bangladesh has cultivated one of the best cultures of impunity to alleged perpetrators of human rights abuses despite the nation’s presence in the UN Human Rights Council since May 2006. Instead of improving the country’s human rights records the government of Bangladesh has paved the ways to degrade the rights of the citizens through various means of violations.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh, Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) deeply concerned over the treats received by human rights defender, lawyer & journalist Mr. Shahanur Islam from Sub Inspector of police Mr. Rafiqul Islam and demanded a full and impartial investigation into the misconduct of relevant official is required and that those responsible are punished.