Paris, France; October 7, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is deeply concerned and outraged over the tragic death of Nurul Islam (55), a poultry businessman, due to alleged torture by plainclothes policemen following their raid on his home in Sonargaon, Narayanganj on November 6, 2023.JMBF urges the formation of an inquiry committee, led by a judicial magistrate, to investigate this incident, ensuring the highest levels of integrity and transparency in the proceedings. JMBF also calls for exemplary punishment for the alleged culprits through a fair and transparent trial under the Prohibition of Torture and Death in Custody Law 2013.
According to reports published in various online news media, it is learned that on November 6, Nurul Islam, a 55-year-old poultry businessman, died in his own home following a raid by plainclothes policemen in the village of Burumdi, under the jurisdiction of Jampur Union in Sonargaon Police Station in Naranganj. Deceased family members alleged that the police punched and beat him during the raid, and as he was a heart patient, he couldn't bear that torture and subsequently died. His daughter, Mithila Akter, stated that ASI Elias went to the deceased's house with a constable in plainclothes and demanded BDT 1 lakh.
The ASI threatened to implicate the victim in a political case if he refused to pay. The victim's family agreed to give him BDT 50,000, but ASI Elias demanded the full amount. Then, he handcuffed the victim and attempted to remove him from the house. When the victim resisted, a scuffle took place between them. At one point, the victim fell to the ground. After that, the policemen left the house. The family members then rushed the victim to Araihazar Upazila Health Complex, where the duty doctor declared him dead. The family's claims that Nurul requested an inhaler and water, but the police allegedly denied him these basic necessities, further underscore the urgency of this situation. Later on the morning of November 7, Nurul's body was buried by the family members without an autopsy.
Advocate Shahanur Islam, a prominent human rights lawyer and the founder president of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), stated that the circumstances surrounding this incident have raised serious questions about the conduct of the law enforcement authorities. He emphasized that their alleged behavior is not only unjust but also goes against the principles of justice and human rights.
He urges the concerned authorities to address the allegations of police torture and misconduct and investigate the circumstances surrounding Nurul's death promptly. Those responsible for any wrongdoing must be held accountable under the law.
Furthermore, Advocate Shahanur Islam underscores that Nurul Islam’s death is not an isolated occurrence but rather emblematic of a larger issue of human rights violations and a lack of accountability within Bangladesh's criminal justice system.
Advocate Islam also states that although Article 35(5) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh clearly prohibits all forms of torture, the police continue to employ torture for interrogation in their custody, without respecting the constitutional provision. This has resulted in the frequent deaths of citizens of Bangladesh.
Advocate Shahanur Islam urges the authorities to conduct an independent autopsy on Nurul Islam's body to ascertain the cause of death. The family's consent should be sought in this matter, and the procedure should be conducted with the utmost transparency and professionalism.
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) stands in solidarity with the family of Nurul Islam and the community affected by this incident, and it will closely monitor the developments in this case.
With Best Regards,
Advocate Shahanur Islam
Founder President
Email: saikotbihr@gmail.com
Blog: www.shahanur.blogspot.com
Cell/WhatsApp/Signal: +33 (0)7 83 95 23 15
https://shahanur.blogspot.com/2023/11/statement-jmbf-calls-for-justice-for.html
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