A report by Adv. Rabindra Ghosh
I, Advocate Rabindra Ghosh, President-Executive Director of the Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW) and other HR activists have been assaulted by the Police Officer in Charge of Nababgonj PS on 15.07.2016 within Dhaka District in Bangladesh.
Advocate Rabindra Ghosh, Founder President of Bangladesh Minority Watch and his accompanying HR activists Salam Newaz, Dasharat Chandra Sarkar were verbally and physically assaulted by Md.Abul Bashar –Second Officer of Nababgonj Police station on July 15, 2016 when we were on a fact-finding mission at Nababgonj. This fact-finding mission was with regard to a riot on Hindu (Dalit Communities 1) Ms.Bedena Das, 2) Ms.Malancha Rani Das,3) Arun Das, 4) Laskhan Das, 5) Kanta Das who were physically tortured by higher class Hindus instigated by some Muslim land grabbers. Md.Abul Bashar S.I. of Police arrested innocent/tortured Hindus after mercilessly assaulting on their heads and body put them into jail, while they approached police for legal assistance on 13th July, 2016. Police recorded false case No.4 (7)16 under section 143/448/379/307/323/325/506 of penal code against persecuted Hindus, but they did not record case against real perpetrators & suppressed the facts jeopardizing the interest of victims.
It has come to light that the said police officer Md. Abul Bashar –Second Officer of Nababgonj Police Station tried to snatch the BDMW team’s camera from hands of Salam Newaz, there was scuffling with the help of local Awami League leaders within the room with instigation of O.C. Nababgonj Police station at Dhaka District making the situation worse. I was trying to convince O.C Nababgonj with legal point of view but he did not listen to request.
As soon as I entered into room of Officer in Charge (who newly joined as O.C.) along with the injured minority victims local powerful leaders of Awami League started to rebuke me with filthy languages said “ you are tarnishing the images of our country and you are liable to be prosecuted under the law” & started abusing me in filthy language and attempted to physically assault me and my cameraman Salam Newaz. This attitude of the Bangladesh police, who at most times are hand-in-glove with the perpetrators of jihadi crimes against the country’s minority Hindus, clearly reveals that they do not want any peace in the country and also do not want to let minority communities live in peaceful co-existence.
The Bangladesh Minority Watch has stated its serious concern about the life threat to Adv. Rabindra Ghosh and his human rights activists. The highest police officers when contacted over their mobile phones said they could not take any substantial action against the perpetrators responsible for assault on me and Salam Newaz. I also communicated with Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal-Home Minister of Bangladesh over his mobile number 01711541569 who also said “why you were taking pictures of the police officers within police station” Minister however said he will look into the matter later on. I also communicated with the Chairman of National Human Rights Commission at Dhaka, but unfortunately the mobile of Dr.Prof. Mizanur Rahman was switched off.
The Bangladesh Minority Watch is too much shocked at the criminal attitude of Officer-in-Charge of Nababgonj Police station and has demanded the immediate withdrawal of this police officer responsible for abetting jihadi crimes against Bangladesh’s minorities. BDMW demand the arrest of this police officer for being an accomplice in crime along with the perpetrators. URGENT ACTION NEEDED.
This is not the first assault on the BDMW activists but several instances of attacks on HR defenders documented as follows:-
http://www.lrwc.org/ws/wp- content/uploads/2012/03/2003_ Biennial_Report.pdf
http://www.haindavakeralam.com/police-attack-bangladesh-hk21646
http://www.interfaithstrength.com/Attack2.htm
http://www.indiatomorrow.co/nation/2806-bangladesh-mp-threatens-human-rights-defender-rabindra-ghosh
http://www.indiatomorrow.co/ nation/3923-bangladesh-human-rights-activist-rabindra- ghosh-assaulted
http://www.newsgram.com/%EF% BB%BFbangladesh-continues-its- war-on-human-rights/
http://hindtoday.com/Blogs/ViewBlogsV2.aspx?HTAdvtId= 9335&HTAdvtPlaceCode=BGD
https://www.scribd.com/ document/248421484/Bangladesh- Ghosh-Backgrounder-Advocacy- 2014-ENG
