Human rights lawyer and journalist in Bangladesh once again received threats for life along with his family

Advocate Shahanur Islam @ Saikot, founding secretary general of “JusticeMakers Bangladesh”, legal & human rights editor of the monthly Bengali magazine “Doyel” as well as member of the “Bangladesh Bar Council” (Membership # 12766) and district “Bar Association of Dhaka” (Membership # 11177) has been received death threats along with his family. On 7^th December 2012 around at 6.50 pm, he received threats for the life of his wife, mother and him over mobile phone, while he was staying at his home.

A general diary (GD) has been lodged in this connection with Mohammadpur police station under Dhaka metropolitan police (DMP) being general diary number 547, dated 7 December 2012 and Mr. Selim Reja, sub inspector (SI) of the said police station has been assigned for take action, but yet no initiative has been taken to take action against the allege perpetrator.

According to Mr. Islam, one unknown people asked Mr. Islam about his staying place at that moment using the mobile phone on Friday early of the night around at 6.50 pm and threatened him to kill being angry as fire, while Mr. Islam asked the perpetrator about his identity instead of disclosed Mr. Islam's staying place due to security reason. Latter, the alleged perpetrator again phoned him and uttered filthy language toward Mr. Islam. Furthermore, the perpetrator uttered filthy language about Mr. Islam’s mother and wife and later, he threatened Mr. Islam to kill his mother and wife. Meanwhile, the alleged perpetrator identified him as death of Mr. Islam and the said perpetrator assured that he will be appeared before Mr. Islam in due time. Finally, he switched off his phone after making caution that Mr. Islam will be suffered for the effect of his continuing activities immidiately.

Here specially mentions that during the time of his duties, Mr. Islam published many report on abusing law and human rights by the state agencies and state sponsored terrorist including powerful political, social and religious group. He also moved many cases against the perpetrators as a lawyer and some of them have been punished. He also conducted many investigations and fact-finding missions on human rights violations as well as issued local and international urgent appeals requesting attention to concerned authorities.

Mr. Islam received a lot of threats, death threats as well as faced physical attacked, arrest and harassment previously due to his activities on upholding human rights in Bangladesh.

Mr. Islam apprehends that he would be killed in any time and cordially asked to the national and international body for ensuring the security of him and his family.