[🇧🇩] UN investigation into enforced disappearances /deaths of students/citizens at the hands of security agencies

[Saif]

Police didn't follow int'l standards while using lethal weapons: IGP

Police failed to adhere to the standards in home, which they have maintained during their UN missions, Mainul Islam said

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Police didn't follow int'l standards while using lethal weapons: IGP

Mainul Islam

Inspector General of Police Mainul Islam today said international standards were not followed during the use of lethal weapons by police.

Police failed to adhere to the standards in home, which they have maintained during their UN missions, he said replying to journalists at the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) headquarters.

"We are working on the issue," he added.

After hours-long closed-door meeting at the CMP headquarters, he briefed the media around 6:00pm, reports our Chattogram staff correspondent.

Earlier in the morning, the IGP arrived in the port city and chaired a meeting with senior officials of the Chittagong Range Police at the district police lines in Halishahar.

When asked about police reforms, the IGP responded, "Reforming police is a lengthy process which requires a lot of time. It is a mammoth task. We are having discussions on this issue. Besides the interim government reform committee, police also formed a committee of its own for reform based on a 11-point demand raised by policemen."

"In the reform, we want to emphasise one point which is the use of lethal weapons by police. International standards were not followed in using lethal weapons. Although our police officers maintain such standards when participating in UN missions, this was not done here," he said.

The IGP further said, "After August 5, we changed our course of training emphasising on 'soft skills' to improve public-police relations. We are focussing on areas like communication and attitude, so that police can be recognised as a force for the mass people."

He added, "Each death, whether of a police officer, student, or civilian, will be fairly investigated. In the mass protests, 44 police were killed and around 2,500 others were injured. The police officers who lost their lives will be honored through the works of police in the future."

The IGP said a vested quarter has tried to instigate violence in the CHT by spreading rumours, taking the opportunity of misunderstanding between the hill tribes and Bangali settlers.

The IGP also assured, "We will take all necessary measures to ensure the festive mood for celebrating the puja joyfully and peacefully."

He mentioned, "So far, we have recovered around 75 percent of looted weapons [238 weapons] in joint operations."

Mentioning that police do not have direct involvement in cases, the IGP said, "Not only journalists but also police members were sued in cases. Compared to journalists, a significantly higher number of police officers have been named as accused. Border Guard Bangladesh, deputy commissioners, and divisional commissioners have also been sued in the cases."

"Those who file the cases are part of our society. The cases would have been stronger and easy to investigate if the true culprits or criminals were mentioned in the FIRs. We have instructed police to verify and scrutinise complaints before recording them at the stations. We have formed separate investigation committees. We are collecting, scrutinising, and analysing case data," the IGP added.​

 

[Saif]

All killings, rights abuses must be probed

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk yesterday said perpetrators of all human rights violations before and after August 5 must be tried.

www.thedailystar.net

All killings, rights abuses must be probed
Volker Turk says about crimes committed before, after Aug 5

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk yesterday said perpetrators of all human rights violations before and after August 5 must be tried.

"It is not acceptable to have mob justice of any kind and that's why you need the rule of law. Because otherwise, violence begets violence as we see in so many situations around the world," he told reporters at a city hotel at the end of his two-day visit to Bangladesh.

He was referring to the people killed before and after the fall of the Awami League government in early August.

Hundreds of people were killed during the mass uprising that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. But after she fled to India, many people, including police and Awami League activists, were killed in retaliation. Besides, there were attacks on minority communities.

A UN fact-finding mission is currently investigating the human rights violations that took place between July 1 and August 15.

During his visit, Turk held meetings with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, advisers, civil society members, UN officials, diplomats and Dhaka University students who took part in the July protests.

At least 1,695 murder cases, including 75 against high profile politicians and businesspeople linked to the Awami League, have been filed since the formation of the interim government on August 8.

Many of the cases were filed under the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Act, which has a provision of death penalty.

During his meetings with the advisers, Turk said there were issues in the ICT law that needed compliance with international human rights standards.

"Killings, all killings need to be investigated. That's what human rights demand, because we cannot allow killings to happen with impunity," Turk said.

Bangladesh needs to establish justice, truth and reconciliation, he said, adding that he was visiting the country to see how his office could provide support to the government during the transition process.

About the government decision that no cases would be filed against people who worked to make the mass uprising a success, he said killings should be properly investigated irrespective of the identity of the perpetrators.

Referring to the large number of cases, he said, "We cannot have the filing of cases on charges that are not properly done and it is therefore extremely important to resolve this and there is a commission set up precisely to address this issue.

"It is important in such a period that we don't repeat the past, that justice is properly served ... which means cases are properly investigated and charges are brought against precisely those who have committed crimes and they are also entitled to fair trial."

About the ban on Bangladesh Chhatra League under the anti-terrorism law, he said, "The world has seen the consequences of the so-called global anti-terrorism campaign …. Often, people who opposed the authorities were labelled as terrorists.

"We often see labelling of the terrorists to stifle the dissent. It is important to learn lessons from this country in the way terrorism label was used to stifle the dissent."

The UN fact-finding mission is investigating the attacks on the minorities after August 5.

"Protection of minorities is absolutely key. It is part of the human rights framework. We need to ensure that the reported attacks against minorities are investigated.

"There is also a lot of misinformation and disinformation, which is [why it is] all the more important to go to the facts, to identify the perpetrators."

The situation in Bangladesh is unique and unprecedented, he said, adding that human rights and social justice are the core demands of the youth.

"Despite the grief and sense of loss, there is palpable hope that this time, through this transition, things will be different. Thus, this time, there must be justice, reforms must be sustainable and durable, so that the abusive practices of the last decades are not repeated."

He proposed setting up an office of the UN Human Rights Office here to support the transition and promote human rights in areas where reforms are being made.

After meeting Turk, Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain told a press briefing that the government was examining the UN proposal to set up its office in Bangladesh.

Turk welcomed the steps to repeal the Cyber Security Act, and to withdraw old cases of speech crimes under this law and the Digital Security Act.

Women are at the heart of social justice movements, including the protests in July, and they must be at the forefront during the transition and beyond. The participation of ethnic and religious minorities and indigenous peoples is also crucial, he said.

The reform initiatives can be a powerful step towards easing decades of intense political division.

Criminal cases should not be filed against individuals solely on the basis of their previous political affiliations, Turk added.

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the UN fact-finding mission would finalise its report in the first week of December.

Turk urged the chief adviser to make the National Human Rights Commission independent and fully functional.

Prof Yunus said his government was committed to upholding the rights of every citizen.​

 

[Saif]

Ensuring fair and inclusive justice is crucial

Suggestions by the UN rights chief deserve consideration

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Ensuring fair and inclusive justice is crucial
Suggestions by the UN rights chief deserve consideration

VISUAL: STAR

At the end of his two-day visit to Bangladesh, the UN human rights chief has sent a message that resonates in these challenging times: that justice must be fair, comprehensive, and aimed at breaking the cycle of violence that plagued the nation both before and after the ouster of the Awami League government. As Bangladesh initiates the process of establishing justice for those killed in the uprising, Volker Turk's emphasis on following due process and broadening the scope of justice to include victims of all killings and human rights violations is worth serious reflection in today's charged climate.

The importance of justice for the killings of protesters and innocent bystanders during the uprising cannot be overstated. At the same time, the post-August 5 period also witnessed significant retaliatory violence as well as mob justice which demand investigation, too. It's essential to avoid the trap of selective justice, where certain victims are overlooked and charges weaponised against certain others. Since the formation of the interim government on August 8, at least 1,695 murder cases related to the uprising have been filed, many targeting politicians and businesspeople linked to the former regime. Referring to the concerns about dubious and politically motivated cases, Turk said, "We cannot have the filing of cases on charges that are not properly done; it is therefore extremely important to resolve this and [that] there is a commission set up precisely to address this issue."

Turk also talked about other issues that deserve equal consideration, including compliance with international standards throughout the justice process, from investigation to trial to sentencing. The call for unbiased investigation is particularly relevant. Turk also proposed several measures that could prove pivotal in guiding Bangladesh towards stability and a more just society. He advocated for the UN Human Rights Office to set up a branch in Bangladesh to support the government in its reform drive. He called for the National Human Rights Commission to be independent and fully functional so that it can safeguard human rights more effectively. He also emphasised that women and minority groups should play a central role in the transition process.

All such proposals deserve careful consideration not only to foster national healing and reconciliation but also to prevent a repeat of the abuses that have fractured the nation for so long.​

 

[Saif]

Commission links DGFI, RAB, DB, CTTC, CID and police to enforced disappearances

Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance in its primary investigation has found the involvement of DGFI, RAB, DB, CTTC, CID and general police with the enforced disappearances and it is going to interrogate the security personnel concerned from November 7. "We cannot tell you the exact numb

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Commission links DGFI, RAB, DB, CTTC, CID and police to enforced disappearances
Published :
Nov 05, 2024 18:38
Updated :
Nov 05, 2024 22:32

Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance in its primary investigation has found the involvement of DGFI, RAB, DB, CTTC, CID and general police with the enforced disappearances and it is going to interrogate the security personnel concerned from November 7.

"We cannot tell you the exact number of security personnel, whose involvement was found so far, but we have found the involvement of DGFI, RAB, DB, CTTC, CID and general policemen. We are going to interrogate the relevant security personnel from November 7 and we have already issued summons on seven people for the first day of questioning.

We may summon three personnel the next time, then seven, then five more, and this will continue," commission chairman Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury said at a press briefing at its commission's auditorium in Dhaka.

Justice Chowdhury said the commission so far received more than 1,600 complaints, of which 400 have already been scrutinised, according to a BSS report.

"We have so far scrutinised 400 complaints and interviewed 140 people in this regard. There is a detailed guideline on how to arrest an accused, but that was not followed. They were supposed to produce the accused before the court within 24 hours of the arrest, but the accused were kept confined for days, months, even year after year," he added.

The commission chairman further said most cases of enforced disappearances had political motives. But many became victims of enforced disappearance because of the personal decision of security personnel, he continued.

Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury said the commission has failed to identify more than 200 victims of enforced disappearance.

The government on August 27 had formed the five-member commission to identify and find the people made disappeared forcibly by law enforcement agencies from January 6, 2009, to August 5, 2024.

Led by retired judge of the High Court Division Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, the other members of the commission are Justice Farid Ahmed Shibli, human rights activists Nur Khan and Sazzad Hossain, and BRAC University teacher Nabila Idris.​

 

[Saif]

Enforced disappearances: Inquiry commission finds 8 detention centres

The inquiry commission on enforced disappearances found eight secret detention centres in Dhaka and its surrounding areas.

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Enforced disappearances: Inquiry commission finds 8 detention centres

File illustration: Biplob Chakraborty

The inquiry commission on enforced disappearances found eight secret detention centres in Dhaka and its surrounding areas.

At a press briefing at its office yesterday, it refused to disclose which agencies ran most of those centres "for the sake of investigation".

"We found a cell operated by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) measuring just 3.5 feet by 4 feet. There was no source of light, except a small peephole, and no sanitation system except an open drain, forcing the detainee to perform all basic functions there. People had been confined to such cells for years," said Nur Khan Liton, a member of the commission.

The cell is so small that a person would not have been able to lie down or even sit properly, said Liton.

"We found evidence of extended durations of confinement. For example, those held captive had kept count of days by etching on the walls," he said.

The detention rooms were well-hidden and, in some instances, separate from the holding cells meant for other detainees or arrestees.

"We believe that we will find many more detention centres," said Nabila Idris, another member of the commission.

"We have not found any detainees held at the detention centres we visited. They were empty," she added.

After August 5, lawyer Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, army official Brig Gen (retd) Abdullahil Amaan Azmi, and rights activist Mikel Chakma were released from captivity.

Grameen Telecom Workers' Union General Secretary Firoz Mahmud Hasan - Aynaghar secret prisons victim

Quasem and Azmi, sons of convicted war criminals Mir Quasem Ali and Ghulam Azam, were both picked up in August 2016 and forcibly disappeared for eight years.

Mikel was confined in 2019 and released after five years.

Liton said since August 5, "one or two" more people, who were being held, were released.

Commission Chairman Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury said they had scrutinised 400 complaints and interviewed 140 people. In total, the commission has received approximately 1,600 complaints.

Of the allegations, 172 were linked with Rab, 37 with the police's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit, 26 with the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, 55 with the Detective Branch of police, 25 with the police, and 68 with "others", said commission member Sazzad Hossain.

The commission raised concerns about "attempts to destroy evidence" linked to these secret cells.

"Law enforcement agencies are destroying cells and their walls. Those involved in this destruction will likely be unwilling to cooperate. Current officers may become complicit in the crimes of their predecessors," said Nabila.

The commission described how they found detention centres that were defaced, repainted and stripped of equipment used for torturing people.

"For example, we were taken to a large room. But upon further inspection, we learnt that the room had actually been three cells, but the walls were later torn down, and the room was plastered again," said Liton.​