United News of Bangladesh

Strongly protesting the killing of a Jubo Dal leader in ‘custody through torture,’ BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has demanded that the offenders be brought to justice to prevent the repetition of extrajudicial killings. “We had long been speaking out against extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests, and custodial deaths during Hasina’s rule. Unfortunately, it is deeply saddening that one of our Jubo Dal leaders was killed by the joint forces after being picked up yesterday (Friday),” he said. Fakhrul demands justice for killing of Cumilla Jubo Dal leader Fakhrul made these remarks while speaking at a clothes distribution programme for the destitute at a playground in Uttara’s 13-No sector, organised by the Dhaka North City unit of BNP.  “We want to make it clear that we don’t want to see any more extrajudicial killings in the country and such incidents should not be repeated, and those who committed this heinous crime must be brought to justice,” he said. Towhidul Islam, 42, convener of Panchthuri union Jubo Dal in Cumilla Sadar upazila, was allegedly picked up from his home by the joint forces early Friday and later died at Cumilla Medical College Hospital. Family members have claimed that he was tortured to death, as physicians found torture marks on his body. The BNP leader mentioned that many of their party’s leaders and workers, including former MP Ilias Ali and Uttara Chhatra Dal leader Munna, were victims of enforced disappearance. “We don’t want to witness such incidents. We want to see a peaceful situation in the country, the rule of law, and justice. We don’t want to see any more injustice towards the people,” he said. Fakhrul also called on BNP leaders and workers to refrain from hooliganism, land-grabbing, extortion and other wrongful activities. “Those who indulge in such activities are the enemies of the country and the party.” He urged the party leaders and workers to earn the trust and love of the people, aiming to gain public support and come to power through the next election. Earlier in the day, Mirza Fakhrul had alleged that people in plainclothes had killed Cumilla Jubo Dal leader Towhidul Islam through torture. In a statement, Fakhrul also called for an urgent investigation to determine whether associates of the Awami League, lurking within the government and administration, played a role in the incident. Following the fall of the fascist Awami League government, the BNP leader said the occurrence of extrajudicial killing under the interim government, supported by political parties involved in the democratic movement, is deeply unfortunate. Anti-Discrimination Student movement condemns BNP leader's death in joint forces' custody He said the extrajudicial killing of the Jubo Dal leader has shocked the nation and created renewed fear among the people. “No government force has the right to take the law into its own hands. No matter how powerful the criminal is, they must be brought under the law and given exemplary punishment. But state forces have no right to torture and kill someone unlawfully,” Fakhrul said. He strongly protested and denounced the extrajudicial killing of Towhidul Islam and demanded that the true perpetrators behind the killing be brought to justice. "If the fascist misrule of Awami League is repeated, the country will again plunge into chaos. People will live in constant fear. Extrajudicial killings can never bring peace and order to society," the BNP leader said. Fakhrul also prayed for the salvation of Towhidul Islam’s departed soul and expressed his sympathy to the bereaved family members. On his verified Facebook page on Saturday morning, Fakhrul posted a photo card with the message, "Jubo Dal leader Towhidul Islam Hottar Bichar Chai" (We demand justice for the murder of Jubo Dal leader Towhidul Islam). Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi slammed the Dr Muhammad Yunus-led interim government over the ‘extrajudicial killing’ of Towhidul, saying that it occurred in the same manner as during the Awami League government. He also lamented that the incident occurred amid ongoing conspiracies both at home and abroad against the country and the interim government. Top criminals roam around Dhaka as law enforcement remains inactive: Rizvi "Our fears are growing day by day. A Jubo Dal leader, who was picked up in Cumilla, was returned by law enforcers as dead. Why is this happening during Dr Yunus' tenure?" Rizvi said. He said Dr Yunus, who is admired by various human rights organisations across the globe including Western democratic countries, is also liked by the people of Bangladesh. “If the various evil deeds and atrocities of the Sheikh Hasina government are repeated during his tenure, the people will be shocked.” He made the comments while addressing the introduction meeting of the central convening committee of "Thikana Bangladesh", a newly formed pro-BNP platform, at Nayapaltan Bhashani Auditorium in the capital. Rizvi strongly condemned the killing of the Cumilla Jubo Dal leader, stating that if Towhidul was a criminal, he should have been arrested and brought to justice. “But why would he be arrested, tortured to death, and then returned to his parents during this government's rule?" He said the people of the country forced a terrible and bloodthirsty government to leave as it had indulged in such extrajudicial killings. "Why would extrajudicial killings, like those during Sheikh Hasina's regime, be repeated in this country again?" The BNP leader said if there had been any allegations of crime against the Jubo Dal leader, it was the responsibility of the court to judge that crime. Rizvi said the democratic parties and democracy-loving people of the country had extended their support to the Dr Yunus-led government, even though it was not an elected administration. “But if Hasina's rule is repeated during this government, then the bloody movement, the bloodshed on the streets, and the supreme sacrifices of a five-year-old child like Ahad, and young souls like Mughdo and Abu Sayed, who fearlessly accepted the bullets of Sheikh Hasina's police during the July mass uprising, will be completely in vain,” he bemoaned.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said both enemies and pressure keep rising on a country when it demonstrates better performance in terms of overall development. “A country makes some enemies when that particular country achieves development. Pressure also keeps growing in that country. The same thing happens if you do better than some of your colleagues,” he told reporters after attending a function in the city. Asked whether the government is feeling pressure from the US, Dr Momen said they (US admin) are functioning as per their rules and there is no problem at the government level. “They’re doing their job and we’re doing our job.” The Foreign Minister said there are some people in the USA while some people here who do not like the development of Bangladesh -- why the Awami League government is doing so well and why people in the country are living happily. Dr Momen said some people have continuously been discussing with the US lawmakers and providing false information and making videos. Read: Early repatriation of Rohingyas lead priority, FM tells UN expert When someone is killed here it is termed as “extrajudicial killing” and when someone is killed in the USA, it is described as “died in the line of duty”. Commenting on those who are providing false information, Dr Momen said many of them possibly are paid for that (provide false info).”

A Feni court on Tuesday ordered the district’s police chief to investigate a case filed against 11 policemen, including the former officer-in-charge of Chhagalnaiya Police Station, and two informants.   They allegedly tried to kill a pickup driver and implicate him in a false drug case last year. The victim had lost a leg during the incident and has been living an inhuman life since then.   Feni Judicial Magistrate Quamrul Hasan took the case into cognisance and ordered the police superintendent to conduct an investigation by an additional superintendent level police officer and submit the report within 15 days.   Gias Uddin Dulal filed the case on Tuesday at Feni Judicial Magistrate Court against former Chhagalnaiya Police Station in-charge SM Murshed and 10 others for implicating him in a Yaba case and attempting to kill him, said Giasuddin Nannu, a counsel of the plaintiff.   The other accused are— sub-inspectors Shahidul Islam, Delwar Hossain, Khorshed Alam, assistant sub-inspectors Firoz Alam and Mahbubul Alam Sarkar, constables Sukanta Barua, Main Uddin, Nurul Amin, Sirajul Islam, Nurul Amin and informers Abul Hashem and Abul Khayer.   The police officers are now posted at different police stations.

The Incidents of extrajudicial killings declined significantly in the country over the last three months, according to rights group Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK).   A report compiled by ASK and presented at a virtual discussion on Thursday noted that only nine incidents of extrajudicial killings took place in three months -- three each in August, September and October.   ASK assistant co-coordinator Tamanna Hoq said extrajudicial killings fell considerably since the killing of Maj (retd) Sinha on July 31.   As per their report, Tamanna said 50 incidents of extrajudicial killings took place in the country alone in July and 28 in June.   She said 219 persons were killed by law enforcers either in custody or in so-called gunfights till October 25.   Besides, Tamanna said 63 people died in different jails of the country for various reasons, including illness, during the same period.   She said 1,307 women were raped across the country till October 25 this year. “Of them, 326 were violated alone in October.”   Of the total victims, 270 were subjected to gang-rape while 45 were killed after rape and 13 committed suicide.   Tamanna said 1,398 children were tortured in different ways while 474 were killed over the last 10 months.   Of the total victims, she said 824 children were subjected to rape while 25 boys were molested at different educational institutions.   She said 41 Bangladeshis were killed along the border until October 25 this year. Of them, 35 were gunned down by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) while six others were tortured to death.   The report was prepared based on news published in different national dailies, online news portals, and the rights body’s own findings.   Speaking at the programme, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Nasima Begum said the extrajudicial killing cannot be supported in any way.   “It’s an extreme violation of human rights. No person having conscience can support such killings,” she said.   She said their commission is very vocal against the extrajudicial killings.   Nasima said their commission is very worried over the rise in rape of women and children and molestation of boys. “There’s no alternative to ensuring prompt trial for these incidents,” she said.   Also read: ASK seeks trial of disappearance incidents

BNP on Sunday urged the international community to take steps for carrying out an investigation into the incidents of enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing in Bangladesh.

BNP standing committee has voiced deep concern over the growing incidents of killing in police firing in the country.

Alongside an increase in incidents of rape, the country saw 388 cases of extrajudicial killings in the year of 2019, said a new report on Tuesday.