BANGLADESH: JMBF Condemns the Alleged Death of Afroza Begum Due to Torture in Abhaynagar Police Station, Jashore

Paris, France – JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses profound concern and outrage over the tragic and brutal death of Afroza Begum, a 40-year-old housewife from Jessore, who allegedly died due to torture while in police custody at Abhaynagar Police Station, Jashore, on June 2, 2024.

According to reports published in various newspapers in Bangladesh, Afroza Begum was forcibly taken from her home by a police team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Silon Ali on the night of June 1, 2023. Despite no incriminating evidence found during the initial search, she was subjected to severe physical abuse. ASI Silon Ali beat her until she fell to the ground and then tortured her further by tying her hair to a fan. The police also demanded a bribe of Tk 2 lakh for her release. When the family could not pay, she was allegedly tortured to death.The police claim that Afroza Begum was arrested with 30 pieces of yaba and that she died of natural causes. 

BANGLADESH: JMBF Condemns the Death of Suraiya Khatun in RAB Custody Allegedly Due to Torture and Demands Justice and Accountability

Paris, France; May 26, 2024: France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is deeply concerned and outraged over the tragic death of Suraiya Khatun, a 45-year-old woman in the custody of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) allegedly due to torture on Friday, May 17, 2024, in Bhairab, Kishoreganj.

JMBF calls for exemplary punishment for those responsible, in a fair trial according to the Torture and Death in Custody (Prevention) Act 2013, by forming a judicial committee to investigate the incident and identify the perpetrators free from any interference by RAB or other law enforcement agencies involved in the incident.

Statement:JMBF Expresses Grave Concern Over Alleged Police Torture Deaths in Sunamganj and Thakurgaon

Akram Hossain 

Paris, France; April 24, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expressed deep concern regarding the deaths of two individuals, including a leader of Jubo Dal, allegedly due to brutal torture by police in Sunamganj and Thakurgaon on April 16 and 8, 2023, respectively.

Demanding exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of these alleged gross human rights violations, JMBF calls for the establishment of an inquiry committee led by a judicial magistrate to ensure integrity and transparency in the investigation process.

According to report published in different new media in Bangladesh, JMBF learned that On April 16, 2024, Tuesday evening, Ramiz Mia (50) from Burungamara village in North Sreepur Union of Tahirpur, Sunamganj, allegedly died in police custody during his arrest by members of the Tahirpur Police Station.

On April 17, his body was buried after a post-mortem examination at Sunamganj General Hospital. Ramiz Mia's family members allege that he died due to police beating and demand punishment for those involved. However, the police denied the allegations of beating and claimed that he ran away from the shop and they could not catch him again. After searching for some time, they left the place.

Statement: JMBF Calls for Justice for the Death of Faruk Hossain Hossain Due to Alleged Torture in Police Custody at Dhaka!

Paris, France; February 02, 2023: France base human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is gravely concerned and outraged over the tragic death of Faruk Hossain Hossain, a bodybuilder and former Mister Bangladesh, as well as the personal bodyguard of the former chairman of City Bank Limited, Mohammad Shoaib, due to alleged torture by the police at Bangshal Police Station under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) following arrest for possession of cannabis.

JMBF urges the formation of a judicial inquiry committee, headed by a justice of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, to investigate this incident, ensuring the highest levels of integrity and transparency in the proceedings. JMBF also calls for exemplary punishment for the alleged culprits through a fair and transparent trial under the Prohibition of Torture and Death in Custody Law 2013.

প্রেস বিবৃতি: জামালপুর ও হবিগঞ্জে পুলিশ হেফাজতে শারীরিক নির্যাতনে দুই আসামী নিহতের অভিযোগের ঘটনায় জেএমবিএফ বিচার বিভাগীয় তদন্তের আহ্বান জানিয়েছে।

প্যারিস, ফ্রান্স; ২৮ ডিসেম্বর ২০২৩: গত ২৬ ডিসেম্বর মঙ্গলবার বাংলাদেশের জামালপুর জেলার অন্তর্গত সরিষাবাড়ী থানায় এবং হবিগঞ্জ জেলার অন্তর্গত বানিয়াচং থানায় পুলিশ হেফাজতে নির্যাতনের কারণে আনোয়ার হোসেন ও গোলাম রব্বানী নামক দুইজন গ্রেফতারকৃত আসামীর কথিত মৃত্যুর অভিযোগের ঘটনায় ফ্রান্স ভিত্তিক মানবাধিকার প্রতিষ্ঠান জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ইন ফ্রান্স (জেএমবিএফ) গভীর উদ্বেগ প্রকাশ করেছে।

জেএমবিএফ বিচারিক ম্যাজিস্ট্রেটের নেতৃত্বে একটি তদন্ত কমিটি গঠন করে নিরপক্ষে তদন্তের মাধ্যমে উল্লেখিত মানবাধিকারের চরম লঙ্ঘনজনিত ঘটনার সাথে জড়িত ব্যক্তিদের খুজে বের করে দ্রুত স্বচ্ছ বিচারের মাধ্যমে অভিযুক্তদের দৃষ্টান্তমূলক শাস্তি প্রদানের জোড় দাবি করেছে।

বাংলাদেশে প্রকাশিত একাধিক সংবাদ মাধ্যম সূত্রে জানা গেছে, জামালপুর জেলার সরিষাবাড়ী থানাধীন চাপরকোনা গ্রামের আনোয়ার হোসেনকে (৪৫)গত ২৬ ডিসেম্বর বিকেলে চাঁপারকোনা বাজার থেকে একটি মামলায় গ্রেপ্তার করা হয়। সরিষাবাড়ী থানার ভারপ্রাপ্ত কর্মকর্তা (ওসি) মুশফিকুর রহমান জানান, মঙ্গলবার সন্ধ্যায় আনোয়ারকে থানায় আনার পর অসুস্থ হয়ে পড়ে। মধ্যরাত ১টার দিকে সরিষাবাড়ী উপজেলা স্বাস্থ্য কমপ্লেক্সে নেওয়ার পথে তার মৃত্যু হয়। পরে জামালপুর জেনারেল হাসপাতালে ময়নাতদন্ত শেষে তার লাশ পরিবারের কাছে হস্তান্তর করে পুলিশ।

STATEMENT: JMBF Calls for Justice and Accountability for the Alleged Two Deaths Due to Torture under Police Custody in Jamalpur & Habiganj

Paris, France; December 28, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is gravely concerned and outraged over the alleged death of Anwar Hossain and Golam Rabbani due to torture in police custody at Sarishabari Police Station under Jamalpur district and Baniachang Police Station under Habiganj district in Bangladesh, on December 26, 2023.

JMBF demands exemplary punishment for the culprits involved in the alleged gross human rights violation, investigating by forming an inquiry committee led by a judicial magistrate to ensure the highest levels of integrity and transparency in the proceedings.

Multiple news sources reported that Anwar Hossain (45) of village Chaparkona under Sarishabari police station in Jamalpur district was arrested on December 26 in the afternoon in connection with a case filed on December 25 for locking into an altercation with one Firoz Mia in Chaparkona market on December 10. Mushfiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sarishabari police station, said Anwar fell ill after being brought to the police station on Tuesday evening. He died while being taken to Sarishabari Upazila Health Complex around 1 am. Mehedi Hasan, the duty doctor of Sarishabari Upazila Health Complex, said Anwar was brought dead to the hospital. An ECG was also performed to confirm his death. Police later handed over his dead body to his family after the completion of the autopsy by Jamalpur General Hospital. However, the deceased’s family claimed that Anwar died due to torture in custody. Anwar's wife, Alpana Begum, said that her husband was completely sound when he was picked up by the police, and her husband was killed due to torture by police in Sarishabari police station. His sister, Nurjahan Begum, demanded justice for the killing of her brother. Meanwhile, Sub-Inspector Sohel Rana, the investigating officer of the case, denied the family’s torture and murder allegations.

Statement: JMBF Calls for Justice for the Death of Nurul Islam Due to Alleged Police Torture in Narayangan

Paris, France; October 7, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is deeply concerned and outraged over the tragic death of Nurul Islam (55), a poultry businessman, due to alleged torture by plainclothes policemen following their raid on his home in Sonargaon, Narayanganj on November 6, 2023.

JMBF urges the formation of an inquiry committee, led by a judicial magistrate, to investigate this incident, ensuring the highest levels of integrity and transparency in the proceedings. JMBF also calls for exemplary punishment for the alleged culprits through a fair and transparent trial under the Prohibition of Torture and Death in Custody Law 2013.

Statement: JMBF Calls for Justice and Accountability for the Death of Habibur Rahman due to torture in Police Custody in Bogura

Paris, France; October 06, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deepest concern and outrage over the tragic death of Habibur Rahman Habib due to torture in police custody in Bogura, Bangladesh, on October 3, 2023.

JMBF states that Habib's death in police custody has cast a dark shadow on the state of human rights and the rule of law in the country. It calls for the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate this incident, led by a judicial magistrate, to ensure the highest levels of integrity and transparency in the proceedings.

Multiple news sources reported that Habibur Rahman Habib, a lawyer’s assistant to the Bogura Judge Court, suffered torture during his time in police custody and was taken to the hospital only after he had passed away. He was taken from the court premises in the afternoon of October 3, around 5:45 pm, without a warrant or any FIR, and subjected to alleged torture at the DB police office, ultimately leading to his untimely demise.