Sued against nine police and prison officials alleging to take bribe, torture in custody and death due to negligence after torture.

A petition case being has been filed on March 21, 2012 against nine (9) police and prison officials including Jail Superintendent & Jailor of Naogaon district jail as well as former Officer in Charge (OC) and present second officer of Badalgachhi police Station under Naogaon district with the Judicial Magistrate Court, Naogaon under section 161/ 164/323/324/304 (KA) 34/506 alleging to take bribe, torture in custody and death due to negligence. The case has been filed by Mrs. Afroza Begum, wife of the victim Abdul Bari Dulu of village South Kanda (Mistripara) in Badalgachhi Police Station under Naogaon district with direct support of the human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh.

The accused were identified as Anwaruzzaman, Jail Superintendent; Faruk Ahmed, Jailer of Naogoan district jail;  Mahfuzul Haque, former Officer in Charge (OC) of Badalgachhi Police Station; District Jail Pharmacist Jahed Nurul Islam; Rafiqul Islam, Sub Inspector;  Touhidul Alam, Sub Inspector;  Karibul Hasan, Sub Inspector; Rabiul Islam, Assistant sub Inspector and  Abdul Razzak, constable of Badalgachhi police station under naogaon district.

The learned No-5 Naogaon Judicial Magistrate Court of Cognizance registered the case being number C.R 34(Badal)/2012. Later, the learned Judicial Magistrate of Mr. Abu Based Mohammad Bulu Miah recorded the statement of the complainant Mrs. Afroza Begum, wife of the victim and pleased to pass an order to submit the report about whether any unnatural death (UD) case had been registered or not previously to the Sodar police station of Naogaon district regarding the death of the victim by May 13, 2012.

According to complaint, the victim Abdul Barik Dulu and the wife of the victim as well as  the complainant of this case Mrs. Afroza Begum had gradually been compelled to give a lot of bribe to the police officer of Badalgachhi police station for not arresting the victim as well as not attaching the goods of their home in connection of an order passed by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court connecting a fraud case filed with the Shahbag police station in Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Continuance of it, Mr. Rabiul Islam, Sub Inspector of Badalgachhi police station demanded 20,000/= BDT for not arresting the victim on December 16, 2011 as well as not attaching the goods of their house. Furthermore, he demanded more 50,000/= Taka for not arresting the victim ad also not attaching the goods of their home by next two months. According to his demand the complainant provided BDT 5000/-  to the accused sub inspector through Mr. Abdul Jalil, Member of Mithapur Union Parishad on December 18, 2011 and also promised to give more 20,000/=BDT by December 28, 2011.

Meanwhile, Touhidul Alam, sub inspector of Badalgachhi police station arrested the victim on December 20, 2011 morning and tortured in Badalgachhi police station using electric shock, kicking with boot, slapping, beating with baton on toe for whole night. Later, the victim was laid down at floor of the police custody while his physical condition was deteriorated feeding oral saline.

Getting news of the deteriorating condition of the victim on December 21, 2011 morning, the wife of the victim went to the police station where Karibul Hasan, sub inspector of the said police station asked her to give BDT 20,0000/= for the proper treatment of the victim. But the wife of the victim failed to meet up his demand due to unavailability of demeaned money. Then two police constables took the victim to the out door of Badlagachhi Upazila Health Complex and moved forward to Naogaon district Magitrate Court after primarity treatment. Then, the victim was handed over the court police of Naogaon district Judicial Magistrate court where the victim was laid down on the bench in to the court custody.

There after the victim was appeared to the Judicial Magistrate of Naogaon district with the help of court police and the learned magistrate pleased to pass an order to send him to jail custody with proper treatment onDecember 21, 2011. But the authority of Naogaon district jail failed to give adequate treatment of the victim providing eye washing treatment by a jail pharmacist. On night of the same date the physical condition of the victim was deteriorated, but the jail authority did not take any initiative to admit him immediately to a hospital with adequate medical facilities out side of the jailon that night, rather he was admitted to Naogaon general hospital on the following day December 22. 2011 morning, kept in bar fetters (danda beri) and hand cuff fastened with bed by thick rope with unhygienic environment.

Being informed about the deteriorating condition of the victim, the wife of the victim rushed the hospital around atnoon and tried to be touch of the unconscious victim for clearing his cloth that was dirty with stool and urine left by the victim. But the jail police did not allow her to be touch with the victim, rather gave advice to bring permission from the jail authority. Finally around at 7.15 pm the victim was dead due to negligence of treatment and some unknown person came and open the bar fetters (danda beri) and hand cuff and escaped immediately.

A high level fact finding mission of Justice makers Bangladesh comprising three members, led by Advocate Shahanur Islam, founding secretary general of JusticeMakers Bangladesh had been conducted regarding the incident of this gross violation of human rights visiting the spot, taking statement of the witness, alleged perpetrators and concerned authorities. During the fact finding investigation, the Second officer of Badalgachhi police station confessed about taking bribe from the victim and proudly announced that they were entitled to take illegal money from accused person for the cost of fuel, tea and cigarette and also threatened to Mr. Shahanur Islam, chief of the fact finding team not to move forward about that matter in future. Furthermore, he made alert to Mr. Islam stating if Mr. Islam would not stop his activities connecting the incident gross violation, he would face more problems in future.

As Mrs. Afroza Begum, wife of the victim was a poor man with no ability to bear cost regarding legal battle to get justice bringing the perpetrators before the book, she sued the case with the direct assistant of human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh.

Advocate Shahanur Islam, founding secretary general of JusticeMakers Bangladesh and Advocate Ashik Al Imran Hillol moved the case on behalf the complainant.

You are requested to visit the following links to read news published in difference English and Bengali news media regarding the case:

http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=8d47aebdb84e4e7eaf27978a8fd00fe8&nttl=2012032236620

http://www.banglakhobor24.net/2012/03/21/bangladesh/rajshahi/news/13099/

http://www.eidgongnews.com/?p=3860

http://www.bdreport24.com/archives/69156

http://www.unitednews24.com/2012/03/21/%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%81-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AA/

http://www.rtnn.net/details.php?id=44559

http://www.dailyjanakantha.com/news_view.php?nc=14&dd=2012-03-22&ni=90684

http://www.bangla.se/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7753:2012-03-21-18-49-01&catid=34:bangla-news&Itemid=50

http://www.sylheteralo.com/%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%81%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%B8/

http://www.ajkalerkhabarbd.com/pages/details/2012/03/22/40369

http://www.jjdin.com/?view=details&type=single&pub_no=75&cat_id=3&menu_id=16&news_type_id=1&index=5

JusticeMakers Bangladesh & Manab Unnayan Kendra celebrates the International Women Day 2012

JusticeMakers Bangladesh & Manab Unnayan Kendra jointly celebrates the International Women Day 2012 under the theme of Connecting Girl: Inspiring Future.  As the part of celebration of this day it has organized a Human Chain followed by the Rally at in Meherpur district, the southern region of Bangladesh to raise more awareness about rights and opportunity for the women & girl to show support to those women & girl who are often victimized in violence in Bangladeshi society.

The Human Chain took place in front of the Shahid Smsujjaha Pak at Meherpur district town around at 9.00 am with participation of more than five hundred peoples of different ethnic, religious, race, profession, sex, institution, age including women victim of domestic violence, member of ethnic, sexual & religious minority group as well as people from socially marginalized dalit group. Then the rally moved forward to district ShilpaKola Academy square passing most of the main road of the said district town.

By doing this much attention was given to the cause and our banner was seen by more than twenty thousands of people passing by. In addition to this many photographers and other electronic and print media journalists were exposed to our event. After the group got big enough the rally marched down the street stopped at district ShilpaKola Academy square, where again the human chain took place around at 9.40.am to 9.50 am. 

Later, a discussion meeting was held at district ShilpaKola Academy auditorium in Meherpur from 10.00 am to 12.45 pm where Mrs. Nazma Yeasmin, district officer of women and children affairs was present as chief guest. The meeting was presided over by Mr. Asaduzzaman Selim, chief executive officer of Manab Unnayan Kendra. Moreover, Prof. Saidur Rahman of Gangni Degree College, Meherpur and Mr. Abdul Hannan, chairman of Trinomul Unnoyan Jot of Meherpur were also present at the meeting as special guest. All of them delivered the speech mentioning 8 March, 2012 is international women day, sanctioned by the United Nation to raise even more awareness about our cause and bring the message to the people of the Meherpur. Finally, the meeting was ended up swearing to work effectively to stop all kind of discrimination, harassment and violation against women.

Overall the program implemented by JusticeMakers Bangladesh and Manab Unnayan Kendra was a huge success, many media was present, and most importantly the people were present. By having events like this we continue to raise awareness about the rights of people and challenge the norms of society to make it a more fair and just place for all.