Abolish RAB, halt BDR mutiny trial: HRW

[idune]

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Abolish RAB, halt BDR mutiny trial: HRW

Wed, Jul 4th, 2012 3:36 pm BdST

Dhaka, Jul 4 (bdnews24.com) – The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has proposed to form a new non-military force by abolishing Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and halt trial of mutineers of then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on Wednesday.

The New York-based human rights body called on government to establish 'an independent investigative and prosecutorial task force with sufficient expertise, authority, and resources to rigorously investigate and prosecute allegations of human rights abuses after the [BDR] mutiny'.

HRW made the proposals in a report on alleged violation of human rights by RAB and torture on the BDR personnel convicted in mutiny cases.

Asia Director of HRW Brad Adams demanded that authorities form a non-military unit or new force within the police by disbanding the anticrime elite force RAB.

He was speaking at a function at Brac Inn Centre in Dhaka to mark the publishing of the report.

Adams said the new force would consider human rights as its core value to fight against crime and terrorism.

He suggested the government should stop the BDR mutiny trial immediately and go back to the basic norms of fair trial to ensure justice over the mutiny and massacre in 2009.

HRW has alleged that the suspects in the 2009 BDR mutiny have been subjected to widespread abuse, torture, and deaths in custody. "The mass trials of nearly 6,000 suspects raise serious fair trial concerns."

Adams has called the process of trying the border guards in groups "unfair and flawed"

"Those responsible for the horrific violence that left 74 dead should be brought to justice, but not with torture and unfair trials," said Adams.

But he urged Bangladesh authorities to stop the current trial and close all the "unofficial places of detention" for interrogation of the guards "tomorrow".

"The government must close all unofficial and secret places of detention. Everybody knows these places are there, the goverment has the mandate to do (close) this. It has an election pledge to stop torture (in custody)."

Adams categorically mentioned that these places of detention were run by RAB, DGFI and NSI, saying if these places were closed serious violation of human rights involving the border guards facing mutiny charges would stop substantially.

The 57-page report titled "'The Fear Never Leaves Me': Torture, Custodial Deaths, and Unfair Trials After the 2009 Mutiny of the Bangladesh Rifles," provides a detailed account of the mutiny and documents 'serious abuses' in the aftermath.

"The notorious Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has allegedly been involved in many of the abuses," the report said.

Adams said, "The government's initial response to the mutiny was proportionate and saved lives by refusing army demands to use overwhelming force in a heavily populated area. But since then it has essentially given a green light to the security forces to exact revenge through physical abuse and mass trials."

HRW said they interviewed over 60 people, including family members of the victims, prosecutors, defence lawyers, and journalists to prepare the report.

The report said it found at least 47 border guards have died in custody because of torture like beatings and giving electric shocks in custody.

Abolish RAB, halt BDR mutiny trial: HRW | Bangladesh | bdnews24.com

[idune]

HRW alleges BDR mutiny suspects subjected to torture, deaths in custodyAsks to halt trial expressing concerns for 6,000 accused in 2009 violence

Wednesday, 04 July 2012
Author / Source : INDEPENDENT ONLINE REPORT

DHAKA: The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a report released on Wednesday alleged that the suspects behind the 2009 BDR mutiny in Bangladesh have been “subjected to widespread abuse, torture, and deaths in custody.”

The mass trials of nearly 6,000 suspects raise serious fair trial concerns, the HRW said in its report and called on Bangladeshi authorities to halt the trial immediately and establish and “independent investigative and prosecutorial task force with sufficient expertise and authority to rigorously probe the allegations."

“Until such an independent task force is established, existing prosecutors should investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute allegations of unlawful deaths, torture, and mistreatment of mutiny suspects, regardless of the rank or institutional affiliation of the person responsible,” said the 57-page detailed report titled “The Fear Never Leaves Me: Torture, Custodial Deaths, and Unfair Trials After the 2009 Mutiny of the Bangladesh Rifles.”

The HRW provides a detailed account of the mutiny and documents serious abuses in the aftermath, including torture by security forces of people in custody on suspicion of planning the mutiny, and of ongoing concerns about fair trial violations in mass trials of hundreds of suspects at a time. “The notorious Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has allegedly been involved in many of the abuses,” it claimed.

“Those responsible for the horrific violence that left 74 dead should be brought to justice, but not with torture and unfair trials,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

“The government’s initial response to the mutiny was proportionate and saved lives by refusing army demands to use overwhelming force in a heavily populated area. But since then it has essentially given a green light to the security forces to exact revenge through physical abuse and mass trials.”

Human Rights Watch interviewed over 60 people for this report, including family members of the victims, prosecutors, defense lawyers, and journalists.

HRW called on the Bangladeshi authorities to establish an independent investigative and prosecutorial task force with sufficient expertise, authority, and resources to rigorously investigate and prosecute allegations of human rights abuses after the mutiny. The mass trials should be halted.

”During the mutiny, 74 people were killed, including 57 army officers, and a number of army wives were allegedly subjected to sexual violence. The mutiny, believed to be triggered by long-standing grievances of the lower-ranking guards, broke out during the BDR’s annual celebrations on February 25, 2009, at its central Dhaka headquarters in Pilkhana Barracks. The newly elected government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chose to negotiate a settlement rather than send in a heavily armed response, as demanded by the army, to quell the mutiny.

”After the mutiny ended, though, the army and other security agencies immediately began to round up thousands of suspects. Family members of detainees and the media soon reported allegations of torture and custodial deaths.

”At least 47 suspects have died in custody. Detainees were subjected to beatings, often on the soles of their feet or palms of their hands, and to electric shock. Some victims described being hung upside down from the ceiling. Many of those who survived the torture suffered long-term physical ailments, including kidney failure and partial paralysis. Several family members told Human Rights Watch that the victims seemed psychologically destroyed and depressed as a result.

”One man whose father died in custody told Human Rights Watch that his father had been in good health until he was arrested: “My father was trying to hide from me what had happened to him, but I could see he had trouble walking, he was almost staggering, couldn’t stand.”

”Human Rights Watch raised these concerns with the government in Dhaka as early as March 2009, and has raised them frequently since. Human Rights Watch knows of no cases in which the government has ordered investigations into custodial torture or deaths related to the mutiny. Instead, official statements have claimed that many of the accused died of heart attacks, or other natural causes, even in cases in which there is substantial evidence of serious bodily harm while the person was in custody.

”Torture is routinely used by security forces in Bangladesh, even though it is a state party to the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Human Rights Watch and others have long documented the systematic use of torture in Bangladesh by its security forces, including the army, the Rapid Action Battalion, and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, the country’s main intelligence agency."

“The failure of the government to investigate allegations of custodial torture and death makes it appear that it does not care about what happens to victims or about the conduct of government forces,” Adams said. “The government talks a good game about human rights and the rule of law, but it has done nothing to end the culture of abuse and impunity among its security forces.”

”Human Rights Watch expressed serious concern about the enormous number of people convicted after mass trials before specially created military tribunals and civilian courts. Most of the accused have not had recourse to adequate counsel, adequate time to prepare a defense, access to the evidence against them, or even made aware of the charges. Although the prosecution has assured Human Rights Watch that testimony obtained under duress would not be used against the accused, defense lawyers told Human Rights Watch that such coerced statements were part of their clients’ dossiers.

”Human Rights Watch is particularly concerned that these trials are being conducted en masse, with as many as more than 800 of the accused being tried at once. About 4,000 people have already been found guilty by military tribunals, all in mass trials. A specially appointed civilian court, established under the Bangladesh Criminal Procedure Code, is hearing a case against 847 people accused of serious criminal conduct such as murder. Some of the charges in this case carry the death penalty as a possible sentence.

“Families of victims and survivors of the mutiny deserve justice. It is impossible to hold fair trials unless the prosecution prepares a case against each person accused and that person’s defense counsel has the time and documentation to prepare a proper defense,” Adams said.

“Mass trials like these simply cannot provide justice for victims, or real answers about who was responsible for the terrible crimes committed during the mutiny,” HRW said.

http://www.theindependentbd.com/onli...stody-hrw.html

[idune]

These BDR soldiers are key witness (regardless of their involvement) to what happened inside Peelkhana. Awami League regime systematically killed these witness to destroy key evidence that implicate Awami League involvement in peelkhan massacre.

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III. Abuses against Suspected Mutineers

After the mutiny, there was strong disagreement between the security forces and the government about what to do with the mutineers. The army argued that the mutineers should be prosecuted under the Army Act, which carries much heavier penalties than those allowed under the BDR Act. Others, including the chief prosecutor, argued for a two-pronged approach: to try mutiny under the BDR Act, and to try the murders and other serious crimes under the Bangladeshi Penal Code.[60] In the end, the prime minister agreed to the two-pronged approach.

However, before BDR members were arrested and charged, many of them were detained and interrogated by different security forces. The BDR soldiers who returned to Pilkhana after the mutiny were forced to remain outside in a field near the Pilkhana barracks where they were kept under effective detention for several days. According to witnesses, some reportedly were beaten, slapped, and verbally abused by army officers. Others said that there was not enough food or water but that there was initially no physical mistreatment.[61]

A combination of security forces, including the army, DGFI, RAB and NSI, sometimes working together and sometimes separately, questioned the BDR soldiers. Initially, all were allowed to return to work.

Detentions and interrogations began a few days later as part of an investigation into the main perpetrators of the mutiny. Mass arrests began shortly thereafter.

Torture and Custodial Deaths

Reports quickly emerged of severe torture of those detained and a high number of custodial deaths. A study conducted by Odhikar, a leading and reputable human rights NGO based in Dhaka, states that at least 47 BDR personnel died while in custody.[62] While some died of natural causes, many appear to have died from torture. Odhikar conducted its own fact-finding into these cases, and interviewed family members and consulted medical documentation when available in each of these cases.

Human Rights Watch knows of no cases in which the government has ordered investigations into deaths in custody. Soon after the mutiny, the government was on notice about allegations of torture and killings in custody. Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, made their findings public, doctors at hospitals raised concerns to human rights groups (albeit anonymously), and family members gave interviews to the media describing wounds consistent with physical abuse on the bodies of those who died.[63]

A cable dated May 4, 2011, shows that the US ambassador, James Moriarty, raised concerns with government officials. According to the cable, the ambassador stressed the importance of“credible”investigations and a“transparent legal process.” His government interlocutor, Minister for Local Government Syed Ashraful Islam, responded that he“shared these concerns and… had argued in cabinet for a civilian trial for these accused.” Moriarty also raised concerns about reports of deaths in custody.[64]

Torture is used routinely by security forces in Bangladesh[65], even though Bangladesh is a state party to the international Convention Against Torture. Human Rights Watch and others have long documented the systematic use of torture and deaths in custody in Bangladesh by its various security agencies, including by RAB, DGFI, and army intelligence. Sheikh Hasina’s government, which claims in public fora to have a “zero tolerance” policy towards torture, has allowed it to continue, either unwilling or unable to confront the security forces. In spite of prima facie evidence that torture was used against BDR soldiers and personnel in the early months after the mutiny, including an admission by the chief prosecutor himself to Human Rights Watch, we are aware of no government investigations into these allegations.

A draft bill to criminalize torture and bring Bangladeshi national law into conformity with its international obligations lies dormant. Although it was drafted in early 2011, the bill has not been tabled in parliament, and no time has been set aside to discuss it.

Human Rights Watch interviewed 29 family members of arrested BDR soldiers, including the families of some of the deputy assistant directors alleged to have plotted the mutiny. Many said their loved ones recounted horrifying torture at the hands of various security agencies, including RAB, Army Intelligence, DGFI, and NSI. Defense lawyers for some of the accused told Human Rights Watch that their clients had told them about torture at the hands of different branches of the security forces.

The following are cases documented by Human Rights Watch primarily through interviews with family members during interrogation.

Case of Mohammad Abdul Rahim

Rahim, a DAD in the Signals Sector at Pilkhana barracks, was on duty the morning of the mutiny, organizing the arms and ammunition show for the celebrations. His family heard the firing when the mutiny started but was unable to reach Rahim until later that afternoon. His son managed to talk to him briefly on the phone: “My father couldn’t talk for long, he just said that he wasn’t in a good situation, and that if he managed to remain alive, he would meet us somewhere outside the barracks. He said ‘just get out, get out.’” His family managed to leave the barracks the next day, when the home minister negotiated safe passage out for the army and others stranded inside the compound.

His family did not hear from Rahim for a few days, but they did briefly see him on the TV news when some BDR DADs were taken to negotiate with the prime minister. Rahim later told his family that he had been arrested directly after that, and taken for interrogation by the DGFI and Military Intelligence. He also said that at one point he had been taken to RAB-1 or RAB-2, he wasn’t sure. He did not tell his family details about his treatment, but described sleep deprivation, and being forced to give a statement under pressure and threats.

Rahim was transferred to Dhaka Central Jail in March 2009, where he remained until his death in custody on July 29, 2010. His son used to visit him regularly in prison, and described those visits:

My father was trying to hide from me what had happened to him, but I saw he had trouble walking, he was almost staggering, couldn’t stand. Some of the other detainees told me he was in terrible pain, and I should bring some painkillers.

Rahim’s family said he had been in good health prior to this time.[66]

A post-mortem report indicated that Rahim had died of a heart attack. A police investigation came to the same conclusion, but the final police report is not yet public. A human rights observer from Ain-O-Sailish Kendra, who saw Rahim’s body, said Rahim looked like he weighed no more than 40 kilograms at the time of his death and that there appeared to be torture marks on his body.[67]

Case of Mozammel Hoque

Mozammel Hoque was stationed at Pilkhana barracks at the time of the mutiny. His younger brother, Ayub Hossain Chan, made a point of speaking regularly to Mozammel from the beginning of the mutiny until February 28 when his brother’s phone was taken away from him by BDR authorities. Even after his phone was confiscated, Mozammel managed to phone Ayub one or two times a day by borrowing other people’s mobile phones. Ayub said that during these conversations Mozammel used to tell him he was being tortured and mistreated and asked Ayub to pray for him.

The last phone call Ayub had from Mozammel was at around 1:30 pm on March 5, 2009. Mozammel told Ayub that he had been asked to provide his full address and the address of his next of kin, which both Ayub and Mozammel found mysterious as the BDR had Mozammel’s entire file, which would contain that information. Mozammel’s wife, Rahima Begum, talked to him for the last time on March 6, around 7:00 in the morning.

The family had no further news of Mozammel until March 8, when Ayub received a phone call from an acquaintance asking him to contact the officer in charge of the Naogaon Police Station. Ayub immediately called the police station and was told to go to Mitford Hospital in Dhaka to receive his brother’s body. At around the same time, several radio and TV channels started broadcasting the news of Mozammel’s death.

Ayub said that when he received his brother’s body from the hospital, he could see that the soles of his brother’s feet and the palms of his hands looked wrinkled and tender. His neck and chin were covered in mud. Khorshed Alam, the person who conducted the bathing ritual for Mozammel before the funeral, said that Mozammel’s hands and feet looked “decomposed…bloodless and shattered.”

In response to journalist’s questions at the time of Mozammel’s death, a senior police officer with the CID stated that they would investigate the death. Neither Odhikar nor his family have been able to find out any information about the investigation.[68]

Case of Habildar Mohiudin Ahmed

Habildar Mohiudin Ahmed was stationed at Halishore BDR barracks in Chittagong at the time of the mutiny. His family lived in rented quarters in Dhaka near Gate 5 of the Pilkhana barracks. His wife and children say they heard the commotion when the firing broke out. They called Ahmed, who said things were fine in Halishore, but advised them to go to her maternal home in Noakhali with the children.[69]

Ahmed continued working at Halishore barracks until he was arrested on March 22. His wife Dolly learned of his arrest only by talking to people present during his arrest. They told her that he had been taken by RAB-7, but no one could tell her where he had been taken. She went to BDR headquarters, the police, and Dhaka Central jail, but she was unable to obtain information about him. Dolly tried to reach Ahmed on his two mobile phones, but both phones were switched off.

Dolly recounted to Human Rights Watch how she found out where Ahmed was:

A neighbor told me on May 4 at night that there was a news item on TV saying Ahmed was in the hospital, and maybe I should go. Then at midnight, about an hour later, I heard on the news that he had died of a heart attack. I didn’t know what to believe so we rushed to the hospital, and found him dead.

According to Dolly, Ahmed had been in good health until his arrest. When she and her brothers went to Dhaka Medical College to collect his body, she said it looked terribly bruised. Her brother, who looked at the body more closely, said that the back area by the hip was completely black and blue, and there were severe lacerations on the legs and his upper back.

According to his family, a post mortem report from Dhaka Medical College stated that Ahmed had been beaten on the lower half of his body. The family filed an unlawful death case with the police. According to his family, the police investigation stated that Ahmed’s body had been found near New Market on May 4, and that he had died of a heart attack.[70]

Case of Nurul Amin

Nurul Amin was stationed at the BDR barracks in Rangapur. He was a deputy assistant director (DAD) in the 34 Rifle Battalion at the time of the mutiny. His wife and children were living in Dhaka at the time. His wife, Shahnaz Amin, said she phoned him on February 25 many times to find out how things were in Rangapur after the event in Pilkhana started. He told her all was calm, and that nothing had happened there. The next day, he said things were a bit tense because there were rumors that the army was coming to attack the BDR barracks. Because senior army officials had left the Rangapur barracks for fear after the news from Pilkhana, Amin was effectively the senior soldier there.

Amin told his wife that because of the rumors, BDR soldiers at Rangapur raided the armory and armed themselves. Some of them fired wildly trying to warn the army off. When Amin found out this was happening, he told his wife he had ordered the arms to be returned to the armory, an order which was obeyed. When his wife talked to him later that day, he said things had returned to normal at Rangapur. He continued to work there normally for another month.

Around 10 p.m. on the night of April 2, 2009, Shahnaz says she received a call from one of her husband’s colleagues saying that Amin had been detained, and taken for questioning to Kotoali Thana. According to Shahnaz, her husband was taken by RAB to their cantonment in Rangapur. He said he was not told anything. They put him in handcuffs and blindfolded him for five days. He was then taken to RAB headquarters in Dhaka, a place he recognized from his earlier visits when he was allowed to take off his blindfold when going to the toilet. Six other BDR men were detained in the same room with him at this time.

Shahnaz claims Amin was severely tortured during this time in custody at RAB headquarters. She described what he told her:

He was almost incoherent when he described to me what had happened to him: electric shock to his genitals and ears, nails were pulled off his toes. He is almost blind now from what happened, and I think he is brain damaged.

Amin told Shahnaz that all six of the men were treated similarly. He said that one of them died from the torture.

Around April 14 Amin and the other remaining detainees were taken to the New Market Thana, or police station. Amin’s family learned this from one of the cleaners at the thana. The family rushed to the thana, and could barely recognize Amin because he was so badly injured. Shahnaz told Human Rights Watch:

He was lying bleeding on the floor, his face so swollen that he looked disfigured, I could hardly recognize him. He wasn’t even receiving any treatment, I had to run out to buy bandages and antibiotics for him.

Shahnaz said the detainees in the other beds looked similar.

According to Shahnaz, Amin was produced before a court on April 16. He needed to be lifted by four other people because he could not support himself. The magistrate who saw him was overwhelmed when he saw his condition, and immediately ordered that Amin be taken to the hospital at Dhaka Central Jail, where he remained for more than a year.

Amin was cleared of charges against him in the BDR court. The trial in the criminal case against him, where he faces charges of betraying the nation, began in mid-2011. His lawyer has applied for bail many times, but the application has been rejected each time.[71]

Case of Mohammad Abdul Jalil Sheikh

Sheikh was promoted to the rank of DAD in 2004, and was the hospital quartermaster at Pilkhana barracks at the time of the mutiny. He lived with his family in the Pilkhana family quarters. When the mutiny broke out, he was attending the ceremony at Durbar Hall. He was injured during the mutiny, and was taken to Pilkhana barracks hospital that day. He told his family that he had been severely beaten by other BDR soldiers who wanted him and other DADs to negotiate with the prime minister on their behalf. Sheikh was hospitalized for nine days. During that time he said he was treated well.

According to his wife, Rubiya Begum, after his recovery he “disappeared.” After two months, the family discovered that he had been taken by RAB and Army Intelligence to the offices of RAB-1 in Dhaka. His son, Mohammad Rahibul Islam, told Human Rights Watch that Sheikh was severely tortured during those two months:

My father had trouble talking to me about it, it was still too painful for him to remember. He told me that they hung him upside down from the ceiling and he was beaten regularly, all the nails were ripped out of his fingers and toes, and he was subjected to electric shocks.

Sheikh reported being kept largely blindfolded. He said he figured out he was at RAB-1 when going to the toilet or to the barber. Sheikh told his family that there were about 10-12 other BDR soldiers detained with him, and who were treated similarly.

At the end of April, Sheikh was charged under the criminal code as being one of the planners of the mutiny. Following the charges, he was transferred to Dhaka Central Jail, where he remains. Both of his legs have been paralyzed since then. Due to his torture, he has no control over his bladder or bowel movements. According to his relatives, he is suffering from memory loss and severe depression.[72]

Full HRW report:
“The Fear Never Leaves Me� | Human Rights Watch

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

So Mr. idune what do you think how should all these bastards be treated for killing fellow army man, raping womans and young childs, doing robbery??

[idune]

So Mr. idune what do you think how should all these bastards be treated for killing fellow army man, raping womans and young childs, doing robbery??

Straight answer is those who are responsible and those who conspired should be brought to justice, but not with torture and killing and unfair trials.

But offcourse you have come up with Awami League branded line of lie where BDR solders are tortured and killed even before establishing that they are guilty. Awami League regime systematically killed these witness to destroy key evidence that implicate Awami League involvement in peelkhaa massacre.

[Loki]

So Mr. idune what do you think how should all these bastards be treated for killing fellow army man, raping womans and young childs, doing robbery??

What sort of a cuckoo world do you live in?

It was the masterminds who incited them to carry out the murders. There's simply no other explanation. And they are still out there.

And as far as RAB is concerned, I see no benefit from this organization other than extra-judicial killings. Law & order ain't good either so that point it moot.

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

What sort of a cuckoo world do you live in?

It was the masterminds who incited them to carry out the murders. There's simply no other explanation. And they are still out there.

And as far as RAB is concerned, I see no benefit from this organization other than extra-judicial killings. Law & order ain't good either so that point it moot.

Who ever the master minded was we do not know for sure their identity. But it is a fact those people did not give order to these bastards to rape woman and children and commit robbery.

It is you who lives in fool's world thats why try to think yourself some sort of intelligent person in reality that you are not. So try to remain in your hole and dnt try to lecture me.

*** Side note: Your intelligent level is so high thats why you assumed Anug is a Burmese name and so the person who is using it is also a Burmese. Is it not something like if I use the name Richard I will turn british??? Some pathetic fools.

Straight answer is those who are responsible and those who conspired should be brought to justice, but not with torture and killing and unfair trials.

But offcourse you have come up with Awami League branded line of lie where BDR solders are tortured and killed even before establishing that they are guilty. Awami League regime systematically killed these witness to destroy key evidence that implicate Awami League involvement in peelkhaa massacre.

Dnt try to bring BAL and BNP issue in every place. Those who were the main master mind they were outsider and left the place after the incident. Ordinary soldiers had nothing to do about that or clue. We have heard about both party's involvement so far (Example: Taj and Pintu).

N you are posting about RAB. This same RAB was created by your BNP.

[idune]

Dnt try to bring BAL and BNP issue in every place. Those who were the main master mind they were outsider and left the place after the incident. Ordinary soldiers had nothing to do about that or clue. We have heard about both party's involvement so far (Example: Taj and Pintu).

N you are posting about RAB. This same RAB was created by your BNP.

Awami League is ruling correction misrulling the country. With that there comes responsibility. For all the law enforcement related torture, death, disappearance and instigation Awami leage has to bear responsibility. Awami League can not wash its hand and shift blame on others, that deception tricks way oversold and no takers. So camptain of closet Awami fanboy club, smell the reality.

[MBI Munshi]

Royena Matin

এই বিষয়ে আমি কিছু বলতে চাই ...... ২৫ -- ২৬ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০০৯, পিলখানায় যা ঘটেছিল তা নিষ্ঠুরতার কোন পর্যায়ে পরে, আমার জানা নেই। আমি সেই ভয়াবহতার বর্ননা দিতেও চাই না। আমাদের ৫৭ জন পরিবারের জন্য সময়টা কতটা বিভিষীকাময় ছিল তা শুধু আমরাই জানি। ঐ ঘটনার পর যখন বিডিআর সৈনিকদের arrest করল, তখন media র মাধ্যমে দেখেছি সৈনিকদের পরিবারের আহাজারী । এটাই normal feelings র বহিঃপ্রকাশ। কিন্তু যখন আমাদের husband দের হাত-চোখ বেঁধে কপালে গুলি করল, গুলি করার পর তিনতলা থেকে নিচে ফেলে দিল মৃ্ত্যু নিশ্চিত করার জন্য, বাসা লুট করে টাকা, গহনা সৈনিকদের পরিবারের হাতে তুলে দিল ব্যবহার করার জন্য তখন কি এই পরিবার একটিবারও চিন্তা করেছিল আমাদের কি হবে ?? আমাদের সন্তানদের কি হবে ?? ওদের কান্না দেখে human rights দৌড়ে এসেছিল !!!!! মাত্র একটি গুলিতে আমাদের সন্তান বাবাহারা হয়ে গেল। এখনও আমাদের সন্তানরা ঘুমাতে পারে না, ভয়ে চিৎকার করে উঠে। অনেকে বাবা শব্দের অর্থই জানবে কোনদিন। কেন এমন হল ?????? এসব প্রশ্নের উত্তর দিতে পারবে human rights watch ??? ২ দিন পর এক কাপড়ে পিলখানা থেকে বের হয়ে এসে জেনেছি আমাদের বাসা পুড়িয়ে দেয়া হয়েছে। ২৫/৩০ বছরের সংসার পুড়ে ছাই। Human rights তখন কোথায় ছিল ??? শুধু সৈনিক পরিবারের জন্যই human rights র অনুসন্ধান করা ??? আমরা কি human না ??? আমাদের কি এই অন্যায়ের বিচার চাওয়ার অধিকার নাই ???????? এমনও দিন নাই, রাত নাই আমাদের চোখের পানি ঝরে না। ৩ বছর যাবত প্রতিনিয়ত কি অমানুষিক সংগ্রাম করে যাচ্ছি জীবন চালানোর জন্য, সন্তানদের ভবিষ্যত তৈরী করে দেয়ার জন্য !!!! বিদ্রোহের বিচারের সময় media কিছু প্রকাশ করত, ধীরে ধীরে সেটা বন্ধ হয়ে গেল। কেন ??? সবাই ঘটনাটা যেন ভূলে যায় ?? এটা কি ভোলার মত ??? এখন হত্যা বিচার শুরু হয়েছে, সবাই কি জানে ?? Media কি কিছু জানাচ্ছে ???? অথচ human rights বিচার বন্ধের দাবী নিয়ে আসল। আমাদের দাবীর কি কোন মূল্য নেই ????? দেশের মানুষ কি আমাদের সাথে থাকছে না ??? এই শহীদ officer রা যে institution এ ৩০/৪০ বছর শ্রম দিল, দেশের ভালর জন্য কাজ করল, সেই bangladesh army তাদের আত্মার শান্তির জন্য human rights র বক্তব্যের প্রতিবাদ করবে না ???? ২০০৯ র পর থেকে এই ৫৭ জন পরিবারের মনে অনেক প্রশ্ন .... দিন দিন আরও প্রশ্ন জমা হচ্ছে ..... আমাদের পাশে দাঁড়িয়ে উত্তর দেবার কেউ নেই ... শুধু জানি মহান সৃষ্টিকর্তা আমাদের পাশের আছেন, তাই আল্লাহ র কছে এই নিষ্ঠুর হত্যার বিচার চাই .... আমিন

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bdarmyfan/

[baldFish]

Awami League is ruling correction misrulling the country. With that there comes responsibility. For all the law enforcement related torture, death, disappearance and instigation Awami leage has to bear responsibility. Awami League can not wash its hand and shift blame on others, that deception tricks way oversold and no takers. So camptain of closet Awami fanboy club, smell the reality.

you sir seem to be blinded by awami hate

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Royena Matin

এই বিষয়ে আমি কিছু বলতে চাই ...... ২৫ -- ২৬ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০০৯, পিলখানায় যা ঘটেছিল তা নিষ্ঠুরতার কোন পর্যায়ে পরে, আমার জানা নেই। আমি সেই ভয়াবহতার বর্ননা দিতেও চাই না। আমাদের ৫৭ জন পরিবারের জন্য সময়টা কতটা বিভিষীকাময় ছিল তা শুধু আমরাই জানি। ঐ ঘটনার পর যখন বিডিআর সৈনিকদের arrest করল, তখন media র মাধ্যমে দেখেছি সৈনিকদের পরিবারের আহাজারী । এটাই normal feelings র বহিঃপ্রকাশ। কিন্তু যখন আমাদের husband দের হাত-চোখ বেঁধে কপালে গুলি করল, গুলি করার পর তিনতলা থেকে নিচে ফেলে দিল মৃ্ত্যু নিশ্চিত করার জন্য, বাসা লুট করে টাকা, গহনা সৈনিকদের পরিবারের হাতে তুলে দিল ব্যবহার করার জন্য তখন কি এই পরিবার একটিবারও চিন্তা করেছিল আমাদের কি হবে ?? আমাদের সন্তানদের কি হবে ?? ওদের কান্না দেখে human rights দৌড়ে এসেছিল !!!!! মাত্র একটি গুলিতে আমাদের সন্তান বাবাহারা হয়ে গেল। এখনও আমাদের সন্তানরা ঘুমাতে পারে না, ভয়ে চিৎকার করে উঠে। অনেকে বাবা শব্দের অর্থই জানবে কোনদিন। কেন এমন হল ?????? এসব প্রশ্নের উত্তর দিতে পারবে human rights watch ??? ২ দিন পর এক কাপড়ে পিলখানা থেকে বের হয়ে এসে জেনেছি আমাদের বাসা পুড়িয়ে দেয়া হয়েছে। ২৫/৩০ বছরের সংসার পুড়ে ছাই। Human rights তখন কোথায় ছিল ??? শুধু সৈনিক পরিবারের জন্যই human rights র অনুসন্ধান করা ??? আমরা কি human না ??? আমাদের কি এই অন্যায়ের বিচার চাওয়ার অধিকার নাই ???????? এমনও দিন নাই, রাত নাই আমাদের চোখের পানি ঝরে না। ৩ বছর যাবত প্রতিনিয়ত কি অমানুষিক সংগ্রাম করে যাচ্ছি জীবন চালানোর জন্য, সন্তানদের ভবিষ্যত তৈরী করে দেয়ার জন্য !!!! বিদ্রোহের বিচারের সময় media কিছু প্রকাশ করত, ধীরে ধীরে সেটা বন্ধ হয়ে গেল। কেন ??? সবাই ঘটনাটা যেন ভূলে যায় ?? এটা কি ভোলার মত ??? এখন হত্যা বিচার শুরু হয়েছে, সবাই কি জানে ?? Media কি কিছু জানাচ্ছে ???? অথচ human rights বিচার বন্ধের দাবী নিয়ে আসল। আমাদের দাবীর কি কোন মূল্য নেই ????? দেশের মানুষ কি আমাদের সাথে থাকছে না ??? এই শহীদ officer রা যে institution এ ৩০/৪০ বছর শ্রম দিল, দেশের ভালর জন্য কাজ করল, সেই bangladesh army তাদের আত্মার শান্তির জন্য human rights র বক্তব্যের প্রতিবাদ করবে না ???? ২০০৯ র পর থেকে এই ৫৭ জন পরিবারের মনে অনেক প্রশ্ন .... দিন দিন আরও প্রশ্ন জমা হচ্ছে ..... আমাদের পাশে দাঁড়িয়ে উত্তর দেবার কেউ নেই ... শুধু জানি মহান সৃষ্টিকর্তা আমাদের পাশের আছেন, তাই আল্লাহ র কছে এই নিষ্ঠুর হত্যার বিচার চাই .... আমিন

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bdarmyfan/

Thats what I was trying to say. But these idiots are trying to defend such activities. One such bs even said that they were incited to carry out the murders as if these criminals were newly born child as they did not have any sense. There are numerous report that they even raped child of age as low as 11-12. I do not know whether you know it or not they even gang raped the then IGP's daughter and if I am not wrong she died later. Not to mention even murder of many of such innocent womans an children that was not covered in the media. These criminals should be given most tough punishment.

Bangladesh slams HRW report for "falsehood"

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)

DHAKA, July 5 (BSS) - The government today slammed Human Rights Watch (HRW) for "falsehood" smelling rat in the New York based rights group's statement as it demanded dismantling of the elite anticrime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and halt of 2009 BDR mutiny suspects' trial.

"It (HRW report) is completely false and baseless," Law minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed told newsmen after the HRW's Asia Director Brad Adams called on him along with a delegation of the watchdog.

Ahmed termed the HRW report as "interference in internal matter of the country" and asked HRW to not publish "such report in the future" while "they were convinced about our concern against their allegations".

Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun, however, smelled a plot to have worked behind the rights group report saying some vested local and foreign quarters could be behind it to expose the government to a difficult state.

"A section with an ill motive is hatching such conspiracies to make questionable the law enforcement agencies, particularly the RAB, which has been playing vital role in fighting militancy," she told the first founding anniversary of 11 Armed Women Police Battalion (APBN).

The law minister said he outlined the role and activities of the RAB and other law enforcement agencies to the HRW alongside the trial process of the suspects of 2009 carnage at the headquarters of the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).

"We told them the RAB and other law enforcement agencies perform their duties within their legal framework . . . one or two isolated incidents (of rights violation) often are reported which witnesses appropriate enquiries and actions," Ahmed said.

The minister said he also told the HRW the ongoing trials of crimes against humanity at the International Crimes Tribunal, Pilkhana carnage are run under the complete purview of the law of the land.

"We believe in rule of law and work for establishing democracy in the country," the minister said.

State Minister for Law Advocate Qamrul Islam, who too was present in the meeting with HRW, later told newsmen that the people, who wanted to make the country dysfunctional, have links with the HRW report.

"Now the time has come to take action against such of this initiative through a proper investigation," he said.

Talking to newsmen Adams, however, said their report was based on adequate information and asserted that it was not "motivated or biased".

"Our findings showed that RAB takes people on detention unlawfully . . . we also want justice for 800 BDR jawans which the court tried them to give punishment shortly," he said.

On Wednesday, the HRW demanded dismantling of the elite anticrime RAB and asked the government to halt trial of mutiny suspects of 2009 rebellion in the frontier force that saw deaths of 74 people.

"Disband RAB and create a non-military unit within the police or a new institution, which puts human rights at its core to lead the fight against crime and terrorism," the rights group said in a 57-page report titled "'The Fear Never Leaves Me': Torture, Custodial Deaths, and Unfair Trials After the 2009 Mutiny of the Bangladesh Rifles".

It also asked Bangladesh to "take genuine and meaningful steps to address the longstanding epidemic of torture and mistreatment" by RAB, Directorate general of Counter Intelligence (DGFI), and other security services.

"The Bangladeshi authorities should immediately halt mass trials of proceedings . . . mass trials like these simply cannot provide justice for victims, or real answers about who was responsible for the terrible crimes committed during the mutiny," the report read.

The report alleged that the suspects in the 2009 BDR mutiny have been subjected to widespread abuse, torture, and deaths in custody and "the mass trials of nearly 6,000 suspects raise serious fair trial concerns".

In line with a Supreme Court directive, the core suspects of the mutiny were exposed to trial under civil Penal Code for killings, lootings, torching and firing gunshots during the carnage at the Sessions Judge's Court which could hand them down the death penalty, which however, must be reviewed by the higher courts.

The ordinary mutineers were being tried under BDR Act at paramilitary court that can award them the highest seven years of
imprisonments for breach of discipline.

The HRW statement came as prosecutors at the civil sessions judge's court said they expected the trial to be completed by the yearend while frontier force officials said the trial of the ordinary mutineers was also likely to be completed in next few months.

[Loki]

Who ever the master minded was we do not know for sure their identity. But it is a fact those people did not give order to these bastards to rape woman and children and commit robbery.

So, you are just going to let the high levels go off like that?

If you want true justice, it is the higher levels you need to take into account. Reigning in the low levels is only part of the process. Otherwise, it's all pointless.

It is you who lives in fool's world thats why try to think yourself some sort of intelligent person in reality that you are not. So try to remain in your hole and dnt try to lecture me.

Irrelevant.

*** Side note: Your intelligent level is so high thats why you assumed Anug is a Burmese name and so the person who is using it is also a Burmese. Is it not something like if I use the name Richard I will turn british??? Some pathetic fools.

And again irrelevant.

[MBI Munshi]

What the HRW report does not reveal is that many BDR soldiers were probably killed to hide the involvement of certain political masterminds behind the mutiny and massacre.

[kalu_miah]

What the HRW report does not reveal is that many BDR soldiers were probably killed to hide the involvement of certain political masterminds behind the mutiny and massacre.

This is what the real issue is. RAWami's trying to hide their tracks, probably. Hasina and Moeen both need to be on trial for withholding order for the Army to go in ASAP, which could be done within 10-30 minutes from the first break of information. At minimum they are incompetent fools and at worst, they are enemy-agent traitors, both are punishable by law.

[baldFish]

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This is what the real issue is. RAWami's trying to hide their tracks, probably. Hasina and Moeen both need to be on trial for withholding order for the Army to go in ASAP, which could be done within 10-30 minutes from the first break of information. At minimum they are incompetent fools and at worst, they are enemy-agent traitors, both are punishable by law.

the army to go in asap and create even more damage, it was in the middle of a residential cum commercial area collateral damage would have been even higher

i dont see you guys demanding trails of zia and co horts who killed so many army officers, kinda ironic isnt it