3 people were killed, Spot Sundarban, RAB - 8 involvement confirmed!

The daily Stars reporting about Extra Judicial Killing in Bangladesh.

By Bangladesh Media; Three men died in a so called "gun fight" in Sundarban forest, claimed by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The daily Star reported that RAB 8 confirmed their involvement in the operation. The incident took place just after the Human Rights Report 2012 published by the US department of States.

In a report with a caption 3 robbers killed in gunfight in Sundarbans the Daily Star wrote that "One of the deceased was identified as Selim, 37, a member of 'Mortuja Bahini', a notorious gang of robbers. The deceased was a resident of Burburia village in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat."

Experts about extra judicial killings in Bangladesh questioned about language has been used for the news by  the daily Star. "A news paper can not write they were robbers until proven by the court", says a prominent lawyer from Dhaka who wants to remain anonymous. He says -"RAB claimed they were robbers but the daily Star didn't verified anything. It has just reported the press release sent by the RAB. How could the daily Star write that there were a 'Gun fight'? May be they were simply killed!"

US Human Rights Report 2012: Bangladesh a Country of enforced disappearances and extra judicial killing!

By Bangladesh Media; "I am proud to present the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for the first time as Secretary of State. When I served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, my colleagues and I depended on these reports for an accurate assessment of human rights conditions around the world. I know how valuable they are .. " -Says US Secretary of State, John F. Kerry, while he was presenting the country reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012.

Yes, the United State has published the report on human rights practices in different countries around the world for the year 2012. US Secretary of State, John F. Kerry has transmitted the report to the media in an occasion.

In his speech, he says "The pages that follow document the often difficult march forward of human freedom around the world. Significant progress is being made in some places, but in far too many others governments fall short of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ vision of a world where people live “free and equal in dignity and rights.”

Spot: Chandpur, Involvement RAB-11

By Bangladesh Media: In Kochua of Chandpur 2 men were killed by the Rapid Action Battalione (RAB). Report confirmed about RAB-11 involvement. 

As usual RAB demanded that these 2 men were robber. Denying RAB's demand, the local says they were 2 active activists of the opposition political party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). 

The deceased are identified as Choto Jamal (40), son of late Kobbat Ali and Shahparan (35), Son of Golam Mostofa from the village Mogdair in Kochua Upazila of Chandpur district. 

Another Investigation

Report says he was killed in point blank range.

Kazi Imtiaz Hossain Abir was a student of higher secondary level at the Northern College in Dhaka.  

Kazi Mohammad Imtiaz Hossain Abir (16), son  of Kazi Golam Faruk, was a resident of 

Rupnagar residential area at Pollobi in Dhaka. At around 8:30pm on January 10, 2011, he was 

killed by the police forces of Pollobi Police Station. It was alleged by the family members of 

Abir that he was shot dead by the police at Balurmath slum under Beribandh of section 12, 

Block E, Pollobi. 

The family of Abir stated that he was never involved in any crime nor any kind of addiction. 

Despite having no such involvement, he was shot dead by police. But police laid their claim that 

Abir was a drug-addict and he died in crossfire with police.  

Odhikar conducted a fact-finding mission into the incident. During the mission, Odhikar spoke with: 

• Relatives of Abir 

• Witnesses 

• Doctor  

• Morgue assistant 

• Law enforcement agencies

Presented by Bangladesh Media

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Kazi Mohammad Golam Faruk (56) 
Father of Abir.

Kazi Mohammad Golam Faruk told Odhikar that he lives in a rented house (House No. 31, Road No. 21, 2nd floor, Rupnagar Residential Area, Pollobi, Dhaka) with his wife Monoara and three children. He is the Deputy General Manager, Finance Department, of Titas Gas. He said that Abir was a first year student of the Department of Business Studies, Northern College  at Mohammadpur. At around 7:00 pm, on January 10, 2011, Abir went out to watch a badminton game at the nearest playground, located at Road No. 22. At around 8:30 pm, his wife Monoara phoned Abir to come back home.


However, an anonymous person received the phone. His wife wanted to talk with Abir. But the person on the other end of the line did not respond. Moreover, he cross-questioned: "What is the address of Abir's house? Is there any relative of Abir?" Still 9:00 pm, Abir's mother attempted several times to talk with Abir but she failed. Later on, the phone was switched off. As Abir did not come back home that night, he informed their relatives about the incident and told them to search for Abir.

Spot: Sharankhola; Invovment: RAB-8

Two men killed, they were called as robbers!

BY Bangladesh Media; Two men were killed in a 'gunfight' with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) at the Sundarbans in Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat district. The killing incident took place today morning. The Daily Star wrote they were  robbers. But it could not verify  the justification, why they were called as "Robbers"! RAB 8 involvement is clear as it is under the jurisdiction of the battalion. They operated with the Helicopter. Maj Sabbir Rahman Osmani, deputy commander of Rab-8 have commented about the killings.

The daily star changed its caption later saying "Two notorious leaders of forest robbers killed" and wrote that "two alleged forest robbers", including a ringleader, were killed in a shootout with members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Shelarchar area (east circle of Sundarbans) in Sharankhola upazila of the district.

The deceased were identified as Shahidul Sheikh alias `Nut' Shahidul, 40, ringleader of `Shahidul Bahini', and Mujibar, 39, second-in-command of `Bakibillah Bahini'.

Later Rab-8 commander Lt Col M Faridul Islam said that acting on a tip-off, a Rab team conducted drive in Kalam Miah Bharani Khal area of Sharankhola upazila at about 9:15 am yesterday.

Spot: Kushtia, Involvement RAB - 6

Another person killed! Police says 'Outlaw' ...

Police has narrated its own known story! Same format, which describes, -Acting on a tip-off .... Sensing police presence...they Opened fire ... which Triggered Gunfight .... and after one hour ... Police found the dead body.

By Bangladesh Media, Quoting assistant superintendent of police Chokdar Abdul Halim in Kushtia the Daily Star's Kushtia correspondent reports that 'a top cadre of Janajuddho, a faction of the outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party, was killed in a "shootout" between his cohorts and police at Mirpur upazila of Kushtia early yesterday.'

Referring to the police the Daily Star reports 'Police said the deceased Enamul Haq alias Ena Mondol, 35, was a member of the outfit's killing squad and was accused in nine cases.'

Like as usual, the Police has narrated its own known story! Same format, which describes, -Acting on a tip-off .... Sensing police presence... They opened fire ... Which triggered 'Gunfight' .... and after one hour ... Police found the dead body.

Force Disappearence:

Handcuffed dead body of opposition leader found

Police recovered the handcuffed dead body of a BNP leader from Kushtia on Saturday night, around three hours after he was allegedly picked up by Rab members from Jhenidah. Rab denies as usual.
 Spot: Jhenidah/Kushtia and RAB Operation Zone: RAB-6

By Bangladesh Media; Police recovered the handcuffed body of a BNP leader from Kushtia on Saturday night, around three hours after he was allegedly picked up by Rab members from Jhenidah.

The dead, Rafiqul Islam Mazumdar, was the general secretary of BNP's ward-56 unit of Dhaka City Corporation, reports our Kushtia correspondent. He was also vice-president of Bangabazar Super Market in Dhaka and a resident of Shanir Akhara in the capital.

“The handcuff read "police". But we are not sure what actually happened as this type of handcuff is available in the market,” said Zoynul Abedin, additional superintendent of police in Kushtia.

“He [the victim] might have been killed over past enmity in the capital,” added Zoynul.

Earlier on June 25, 2010, president of ward-56 BNP Chowdhury Alam disappeared never to be seen again in public.

Force Disappearence:

Al Jazeera reports about the Forced Disappearance in Bangladesh.

Enforced disappearances are growing in Bangladesh. Many times it has been reported in media that government's law enforcement agencies are involved in these disappearances, but it was not possible to establish any link. As tensions escalate, Al Jazeera's 101 East team investigates Bangladesh's disappearing activists.

By Bangladesh Media; We have reported about the escalating number of forced disappearances, that are growing in Bangladesh. But it was totally impossible to establish any link between the government law enforcement agencies and among these disappearances. Now news channel Al Jazeera reports about the Forced disappearances in Bangladesh. 

In its report Al Jazeera says -Political turmoil escalates in Bangladesh amid growing calls for an independent investigation into the mysterious disappearance of scores of opposition activists.

Spot Narshingdi: Follow up Report.

"RAB Shot them from Point Blank Range": Eyewitness.

The three-inch deep hole, apparently created by a bullet fired from point-blank range, at the spot where one of the six bodies was found on the road.

We have reported about the latest extra judicial killing in Narsinghdi, that caused 6 lives in Bangladesh. We have tried to avoid reporting on the basis of Rapid Action Battalion's press release. Our report was based on the facts and analyzing news that was reported in the national media in Bangladesh. Considering the fact, analyzing information and based on our experience, we were confirmed that -this was the continuation of cool headed extra judicial killing by the Rapid Action Battalion in Bangladesh.

By Bangladesh Media; Today, the online daily from Bangladesh BD News 24 published a follow up report, referring to an eye witness, a farmer who was working at the moment beside the scene states that the victims were killed in a planned way and it was a cold blooded extra judicial killing! BD News 24 reporter Abu Sufian and Benzir Ahmed Benu reports from Bangladesh.

In a report with a heading "RAB shot from point-blank range: eyewitness", BD News 24 report that "at least one of the six killed in the Monday's 'gunfight' with Rapid Action Battalion at Narshingdi was shot from point-blank range, suggests account of an eyewitness."

Spot Narsinghdi and Dhaka:

7 people died in Extra Judicial Killing in Bangladesh.

By Bangladesh Media; 7 people were killed in Bangladesh by the Para military force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). As usual Rapid Action Battalion demanded "they were criminal and died in a gun fight, where the criminals opened fire first against RAB and RAB returned fire back for self defense". 6 people were killed in Narsinghdi and 1 man in Dhaka district. In case of Narsinghdi RAB 11 and in Dhaka RAB 4 Battalion's involvement were confirmed by their press release.

RAB-11 demanded that "at least six ,suspected muggers, were killed and two others injured in a 'gunfight' with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Narsinghdi Sadar Upazila on Monday". In another press release RAB-4 claimed that "on a tip-off, they had waylaid on the street behind the Krishi Bank branch at Mirpur-13 where a criminal and his accomplices were preparing for committing crime."  

Contrary to RAB's demand, in both cases, eye witnesses and relatives demanded that there were no gun fight. referring to an eye witness the daily New Age reports that the deceased were trapped in Narsinghdi, it reports that "the RAB team had rushed to bridge-5 near Shalidha helipad, blocked the Narsingdi-Madanganj road and shot the people traveling in a micro bus." And relatives of the deceased in Dhaka demanded that the man was picked up earlier by the civil clothes law enforcers and later killed by the Rapid Action Battalion.