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13.03.2010 News

Impunity for crimers

By Jahangir Alam Akash
Impunity for crimers
13.03.2010 LISTEN

By Jahangir Alam Akash, Impunity has its peak now in Bangladesh. The violations of humanrights are increasing rapidly because of the impunity. Even those who protest, they are harassed. Killing-torture, murder, rape, killings extra judiciary are day to day affairs now. Although Humanrights Commission and Judiciary has been separated, but against those who have violated humanrights, no effective measures have yet been taken. Army is misusing the judiciary. Bangladesh is now very dangerous for the Journalists and Humanrights-workers. Everyday they are intimidated. Even ome learned teachers were not exempted from Army-tortures. Professors were taken from their houses with eyes and faces tied up to the Army camps and how they were tortured there, that has passed the records upheld in 1971 war of liberation!

After 11 January change of government, bails were very much hard to obtain from the courts. But since few days, granting of the bails have been increased from the same courts.

It seems from the situation that the crisis of image which existed during the reign of terror under the BNP-Jamat qualition government, attempts are being made again from the highest level of the present government to restore (!) that! The editor-publisher of progessive national daily Jonokontho Mr. Atiqullah Khan Masud has been detained in a dark cell of a Jail. Without fare-trial, this brave freedom fighter was sentenced on more than one cases, it is complained. National and international appeals were made for his release but the interim Govt. did not pay any heed. Although they have acquitted many big corrupts. Aremy controlled govt. has not taken any decision about Mr. Atiqullah Khan Masud. After the present democrativ govt. came into power Mr.Khan Masud was released.

Killers and torturers are not tried here. In the last 15 years about 29 Journalists, writers and humanrightsworkers have been murdered. No fare enquiry or trial was happened! Real killers and their Godfathers are still out of touch and catch. Army officers accused of killlings extra Judiciary are impuned! Journalists and humanrights-defenders are in great risk here. The Army or the govt- Officers who had arrested them and threatened them or tortured them, they are imouned by the state. Complains are not even enquired. So the state-tortures are increasing. From the 12 January 2007, the Emergency was for about 24 months. In Emergency, the basic human rights are postponed. So there is nothing like humanright in Bangladesh then. In the name of interim govt., actually Army has rulled under the curtain. Many torture incidences happened on the Journalists and humanrights-workers by Army, DGFI and RAB members as they had made investigating reports. Many have left the country, others are passing days in nightmares inside the country. No action was staken against the torturers. Rather some of them were sent to UNO Peacemission abroad.

Their crimes are awarded!
Impunity and Indemnity are nothing new in Bangladesh. After the killings of Father of the nation, Sk. Mujibar Rahman on 15 August 1975, the army personals who were responsible for this hinious murders, were freed through the Indemnity Act of the state. Not only that, the confessed army officers were rewarded and given higher posts and diplomatic jobs abroad. This was the beginning. The process is still going on.

As per Bangladesh constitution Para 35 (5) and through the UNO universal decree no. 5 tortures are totally prohibited. Not only torture, nobody could be treated inhumanly or cruelly. Each year on 26 June in Bangladesh and all over the world, in support of the torture-victims an international day is observed. Compensations for the physical and mental victims of torture are ensured by every country's constitution. But in reality the victims are passing days with untold and undescribable miseries.

For my investigating reports, as a professional Journalist and humanrights-worker, I was also the victim of Army elite force, Rapid Action Batellion/RAB. Besides the complains against me under the charges of 16(2) of 2007, three fake cases on ‚extortions' were filed against me. I was not only physically assaulted. I and my family had been under constant mental harassments.

During BNP-Jamat qualition government, on the independence day of Bangladesh, 26 March 2004, the Elite Force, Rapid Action Batellion or RAB has started its operations. After itst birth, RAB has been killing persons in the name of Crossfire or Encounter. From the beginning to March 2008, only by RAB 540 were victims of killings extra Judiciary. In a Humanrights-report it is said that from January 2008 to June, through crossfires and encounters, the law and order authorities have killed 68 persons. At the same time 15 have died under police custody. At the end of May 2008 government through Army and Police organised special operations and within one month, arrested 50 thousands and 215 persons. Government did not take care of any rules or regulations and underwent with this massarrests. Another Report says, in 2007 within the custodies of RAB. Police and other law and order agencies, 184 persons were killed in so-called crossfire or encounter. From 16 October 2002 to 9 January 2003, through the operation ‚cleanheart', 58 were killed and 11,000 persons were injured by the tortures of the joint forces. Out of these 11 thousands, eight thousands were innocents! But there was no trial for this indiscrepency! In 2003, in Parliament through Indemnity, the accused Army officers on the charges of tortures were acquitted by state. Against many Army officers of Bangladesh now working in UNO Peace Forces, there are allegations of direct tortures and distinct complains of the violations of humanrights. Dr. Mijanur Rahman Tutul, President of banned Purbo Bangla Communist Party (M L-L red flag) was killed in crossfire by Police on the morning of 27 July 2008 at Raninagar, Naogaon. On 25 July, Dr. Tutul was arrested from a house in Uttora, Dhaka by RAB-1 members. In the evening of 26 July the old mother (80) of Dr. Tutul appealed to the President of Bangladesh through the Journalists for the life of her son. She demanded if her son had done any crime, he should be treated under the existing laws of the country.

DGFI-members, much discussed during this government have caused the violation of humanrights shamelessly through the tortues on Journalists. Journalist-humanrights worker Tasnim Khalil wrote some reports on the violations of humanrights. DGFI arrested and took him to the Army Camp. He was mercilessly tortured. Being compelled, leaving the country, he is now living in Sweden. About the killing of Indigenious Cholesh Richil and Municipality Commissioner of Char Fashon Khabirul Islam Dulal who was killed under the custody of the Army, the assaults on NGO worker Shahidul Islam, Govt. did nothing, and took no action against the persons responsible. Who from the Army have tortured Journalist Tasnim, to identify them, is no difficult matter. But for the impunity, govt. will take no action against the Army. On 20th August on a triffle matter which started with a football game in Dhaka Stadium, Army took drastic actions and because of their exaggerations, cuntry-wide agitations and studetnts-movements began. It turned into people's upheaval quickly. On the charges of breaking Emergeny Acts, more than one dosen teachers of DU and RU, and a huge number of students were arrested and cases were lodged against them. On the teachers and students, RAB Army members tortured with unparallel degree. Many teachers, students were sentenced without any fare trial. Teachers were released on peoples demands. But against some DU teachers, still some cases are hanging.

The chief witness of much discussed murder of Ahsanullah Master of Ghazipur, Shumon Ahmed was killed in crossfire. There was no trial. RAB members in Rajshahi beat and killed Ward-President of Workers Party Kamrul Islam alias Majnu Sk on the complain of so-called kidnapping. As Shorbohara terrorist, Chatraleague leader Ahsan Habib Babu was killied by RAB openly through brushfire. They killed the prominent businessman, Ali Jafar Babu of Rajshahi in his office. No RAB officer was tried although 2 separate cases to killl Ahsan Habib and Majnu Sk. Were filed. RAB has killed many AL, BNP, Shorbohara, Terrorists, Chatraleague and workers party workers but till today no Militant terrorist (Islamist) has been reported to be killed in crossfire or encounter by them. It shows, law of the country is not for all. State is creating willingly disparity to somebody. Police is also impuned like RAB and Army. On 16 April in Chittagong Stadium while a Cricket game was going on, without any provocation, Deputy Police Akbar and his Police force attacked journalists. Including the aged photographer journalist (65) Zahirul Hoq, Shah Shamsul Hoq Tenku, 19 journalists were wounded. No action was taken agaist the police. There are hundreds of such examples!

If any one dies under the law and order-custody, it is a great default for the state. If humanrights is violated, victims demand justice from the state. But when state itself violets? Through impunity makes the responsible for the murders extra Judiciary free from justice. Including Impunity ordinance all other such indemnity Acts must be abolished. So justice can be guaranteed for all sorts of crimes. Against Militants severe actions must be taken to ensure social harmony.Terror can't stop terror. (December, 2009)

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