ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Update on Urgent Appeal
4 April 2006
[RE: UA-018-2006: BANGLADESH: Gang rape of a minority woman
in Bagerhat district]
-----------------------------------
UP-068-2006:
BANGLADESH: Four alleged perpetrators of rape walk free due to
their political influence and power
BANGLADESH: Rape; violence against woman; unfair prosecution for trial;
inadequate action by authorities; threat and intimidation; collapse of rule of
law
------------------------------------------------------
Dear
friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the gang rape of a woman belonging to a minority community in Bagerhat district (to see details of the original appeal, please refer to UA-018-2006). Following an investigation having taken place, a charge sheet has been lodged and two persons have been charged. However, of crucial importance is that four persons, who belong to the ruling political party and who are suspected to also be perpetrators of this crime, have not been named and therefore will walk free. The reason for this is that due to their political and social power, and owing to threats and intimidation having already been directed at the witnesses, the witnesses are now refusing to officially name the four suspects and therefore the trial will go ahead without them involved. The same level of threat and intimidation is also being directed at the victim and her family. While the AHRC welcomes the news that a trial will go ahead, without all of the alleged perpetrators having to face court for the allegations made against them, the trial can only be considered partial and falls well short of what is required if justice is to be properly served.
On 31 October 2005, the victim lodged a complaint (Number: 18, Date - 31 October 2005) with the Sharonkhola police station, who placed Sub-Inspector Mr. Nurul Islam in charge of the investigation. On 12 December 2005 the police submitted their charge sheet to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Special Tribunal of Bagerhat.
However, according to information now received, the Investigating Officer, Sub-Inspector Nurul Islam named only two persons, Mr. Kachi Munshi and Mr. Al Amin on the charge sheet despite having identified six persons involved with the crime. Both men were charged and Mr. Munshi was arrested by the police and detained in prison. The court issued an arrest warrant against Mr. Amin, but his whereabouts have remained unknown since the alleged rape occurred. As for the remaining four persons, all are influential leaders of the ruling political party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and perhaps because of this, remain at large. It is believed that the men’s political and social status has resulted in their being omitted from the police investigations.
The nine witnesses in this case have expressed their fear for the repeated threats and intimidation being directed at them from influential political groups. The witnesses have said that for their own safety, the influential people should not be charged. The victim and her family are also living in fear of further attack from those political groups. Although they are not satisfied with the charge sheet and believe that some of the perpetrators will not be brought to justice for their crimes, they hope that at least some sense of justice will prevail with the remaining two offenders.
________________________________________________________________________________
For AHRC suggested Action, contact WUNRN at mosie@infionline.net