STATEMENT: JusticeMakers bangladesh gravely concerned over the threats received by Mr. Shahanur Islam

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 25, 2012 -- JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concerned over the threats received by Mr. Shahanur Islam, a lawyer, human rights defender and journalist of Bangladesh by policemen during a fact finding investigation on death of a businessman in jail custody due to torture and negligence of treatment for bribe.

According to information received on 25 December, 2011 Advocate Sahanur Islam (Saikot), Founding Secretary General of JusticeMakrs Bangladesh, Dhaka and also Country Observer of Global human rights Defence (GHRD), Netherlands along with three members went to the spot to conduct a fact finding investigation mission on the incident of death of a businessman in jail custody due to negligence of treatment: family member alleges of torture for bribe on the December 22, 2011-– taking victim’s family, eyewitness, perpetrators and concerned authorities statements. JusticeMakers Bangladesh is to date the only human rights organization to conduct a first hand investigation into the incident of death due to torture for bribe and negligence of treatment.

The events reported above were just one of the many cases of gross human rights violation in Bangladesh which cannot be tolerated. The right to life is an undeniable human right. The police torture, negligence of adequate treatment, keep the deteriorated conditioned patient in bar fatter and also taking bribe are a clear violation of universal human rights where Bangladesh’s commitments under international human rights treaties.

During the investigation, 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. When the fact finding team contacted the accused policeman Assistant Sub Inspector Rabiul Islam about his statement regarding taking bribe through cell phone, 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”.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concerned over the matter and demands that a full and impartial investigation into the misconduct of relevant official is required and that those responsible are punished.

You can read the full fact finding report along with video statement visiting the following link: http://shahanur.blogspot.com/2012/01/fact-finding-report-death-of.html