Terrorist attack on Bangladeshi Human Rights Activist Lawyer Shahanur Islam at Court

 On 26th of August 2020 around at 1:25 pm, Mr. Shahanur Islam, a human rights lawyer in Bangladesh was attacked by a group of politically-motivated terrorists at the court premises of Naogaon district in the northern part of Bangladesh.

Mr. Islam was taking part in the hearing against Md. Jahurul Islam, Member of District Parishad (district level highest local government unit), Naogaon alleging forgery of court document (forgery of signature of court issued summons) at the learned Judicial Magistrate Cognizance Court No. 05, Naogaon and the learned court ordered him to jail custody. The police then took him out from the court room.

As soon as Mr. Islam had left from the court room and reached the veranda, suddenly Md. Jahurul Islam attacked Mr. Islam. Some 10 to 12 terrorists, lead by Jobayer Hossain, son of Jahurul Islam, attacked Mr. Islam with the clear intention of killing or abducting him. Jobayer Hossain hit the head of Mr. Islam resulting in a serious injury under his left eye and the frontal side of his head. The others repeatedly beat Mr. Islam all over his body.  Some of the lawyers and lawyers clerks in the vicinity arrived at the scene and rescued Mr. Islam from the terrorists. 

Jahurul Islam

Observing the matter, the learned Judicial Magistrate Mr. Sohel Rana asked the court police to detain the terrorists.  Therefore the court police detained one terrorist, Jobayer Hossain, and sent him to jail custody.

Mr. Islam was then admitted to Naogaon Modern Sadar Hospital in the Emergency Department where he received primary treatment. Later he lodged a criminal complaint (FIR) with Naogaon Sadar Police Station, Case No. 53/20, GR no. 424/20(Naogaon) under 143/323/325/325 of the Penal Code. 

The UK based human rights organization Rights First International has expressed deep shock about the incident. In a statement, Advocate Shah Alam Faruk, Coordinator of the organization demanded a neutral investigation and that the attackers be prosecuted under the law.

Mr. Islam has previously received threats, death threats, physically assaults as well as been repeatedly implicated in false and fabricated cases due to his strong advocacy against social injustice and religious extremism as well as ensuring human rights, the rule of law, good governance and social justice.

The attack on Mr. Shahanur Islam is not an isolated incident in Bangladesh, rather killings, harassment, intimidation and physical attacks against lawyers are common phenomena in Bangladesh.