A Prominent Human Rights Defender & Journalist at Rajshahi in Bangladesh Arbitrary Arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Without Warrant of Arrest
Name of the Victim: Mr. Jahangir Alam Akash, the coordinator of the Task Force against Torture (TFT), Rajshahi city; the regional coordinator of the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) in Rajshai Region; the bureau chief of the TV news channel CSB News and the daily Bengali news paper Daily Sangbad & also general Secretary of Journalist.
Address of the victim: 55/2, Housing Estate, Upashahar, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Date & Time of Arrest: 23 October 2007 (Mid-nights, ) around 02.00am (24 October 2007)
Arrested by: Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5 personnel, Rajshahi region, (Civil dressed).
Fact in Brief:
On 23 October 2007 midnight at 1.30.am, a group (10/12 members) of civil dressed Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5 personnel came to rented house of Mr. Jahangir Alam Akash at 55/2, Housing Estate, Upashahar in Rajshahi and pressed the switch of all calling bell in that building. Hearing the sound of calling bell, the son of the owner of the building named Ripon (26) came out and said the RAB personnel and asked their identity and causing their coming the building? But they refused to disclose their identity and cause of coming, rather busted in angry and shouted to open the main collapsed door quickly as well as urging filthy language. Being afraid, when he opened the main collapsed door they entered in to the building and started to beat him for his being late to open door. Thereafter they knocked at the door of Jahangir Alam Akash. When wife of Mr. Akash named Farhana Sharmin asked their identity and cause of their coming, at first they refused to disclose their identity and cause of coming. When the wife of Mr. Akash, Farhan Sharmin said them if they did not disclose their identity and cause of coming, she would not open the door then they try to break the door lock to enter the flat. Thereafter they disclosed that they are the members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5. Thy also said that they came in to knowledge through reliable source that there are some arms in this house and they would search the house. When Mr. Akash's wife again asked them to show search warrant they replied they have search warrant issued by the concern court. Then his wife called around 6 numbers of her neighbors as witness and opened the door. When she opened the door they stormed the room and grabbed Mr. Jahangir Alam Akash and started to slap him as well as using filthy language and directed him to go with them. Their after they put him hand cap and tied his head (Eye, nose, ear, mouth) with black cloth and lifted him in their van and took at their cam.
Cause of Arrest:
Farhana Sharmin, wife of Mr. Jahangir Alam Akash think that due to broad casting news on different abuses of power by the RAB-5 and other corrupted persons on private TV channel and daily news paper the alleged RAB personnel and other persons were aggrieved with him. For this reason to take revenge and give punishment they arrested him.
Previous incident:
On 02 may 2007, a team of the Rapid Action Battalion went to the alleged criminal house in city of Rajshahi. The RAB shot at the person in the bedroom in front of his wife and young daughter. The CSB News a private TV channel broadcasted the news of this attempted extra-judicial ki9lling by the RAB tem in the news bulletin at 1.00 am and at 2.00 am on May 03, of 2007. The wife of the bullet-injured person accused the RAB for shooting on her husband before the TV camera.
On the evening of May 03 of 2007 at 5 9.33 pm, a person called to Mr. Akash on his cell phone from another cell phone (Number+88017140494 31). The caller introduced him himself as Major Rashidul Hasan Rashid, an officer of the rab-5that works in Rajshahi region and asked why Mr. Akash broadcasted the news of RAB's operation over the TV channel. The RAB officer warned Mr. Akash, that if he failed to give an appropriate answer to his question then he must not forget the possible consequences for the job. The roaring army officer also asked whether Mr. Akash new a reason why the other TV channels, except the CSB News avoided the report on the particular incident. Major Rashid also accused MR. Akash broadcasted the report intentionally and threate3nded that if any person representative the CSB News or Mr. Akash himself makes any further attempt to enter in to the area of RAB's activities, then the RAB will take action against him and his colleagues. The army officer termed the news broadcasting as an "anti-state activities". Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Hong Kong issued Urgent Appeal regarding this on 05 May and 24 July 2007. For further details please see- (www.ahrchk . net) UA-149-2007 & Re: UA-149-2007.
Beside this, on 28 August 2007, Mr. Akash was been implicated in an extortion charge lodged by Mr. Mahfuzul Alam Loton, the vice president of the Awami League of the Rajshahi City Unit, at the Boalia police station of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) on 20 June 2007 (Reference: General Diary No. 1160). In his complaint, Mr. Loton alleges that Mr. Akash extorted Taka 20,000 (USD 300) from him in presence of his two friends through intimidation and threats of broadcasting news on CSB News channel.
In his first information report, Mr. Loton's allegation against Mr. Akash, on 13 April 2007, Mr. Loton was talking with his two friends, one businessman Mr. Ziaul Haque Tuku and one Bangladesh Awami League leader Mr. Asaduzzaman Asad, while sitting in an open field near the "Safawang Chinese Restaurant" at Kadirganj area of the city. The restaurant is located in the same building where the CSB News channel's office is in. Mr. Akash accompanying two unknown persons then approached him and claimed Taka 50,000 (USD 750) through intimidation. Mr. Loton then finally gave him Taka 20,000 (USD 300). Mr. Loton alleged that Mr. Akash claimed Taka 30,000 (USD 450) more in exchange for not publishing news against Mr. Loton regarding his corruption in "Delwar Hossain Waqf Estate; his father was the caretaker of this property. Mr. Loton also alleges that Mr. Akash however broadcast a report about his family property after this and on 6 June 2007, he requested Mr. Loton to pay the remaining Taka 30,000 at the same place.
However, Mr. Akash strongly insists that Mr. Loton's complaint against him is completely false and Mr. Loton made such complaint against him because he had published a number of reports in the media detailing the misdeeds of Mr. Loton.
On 4 March 2000, Mr. Akash published a report in the Daily Sangbad regarding the alleged harassment of a family by Mr. Loton and his men due to a family feud. The family members were allegedly confined in the house, while receiving continuous threats from Mr. Loton's men. The article revealed that the police have not taken any action against Mr. Loton and his men regarding this incident.
Mr. Akash also reports that due to this report, Mr. Loton's men attempted to kill him on 6 March 2006, but killed another journalist Mr. Uttam Kumar Das by mistake. The killing took place in front of a commercial telefax shop in Rajshahi city from where Mr. Akash and other journalists used to send their news to their respective media. Mr. Akash then lodged a General Diary (GD) No. 310 with the Boalia police station on 7 March 2000 against Mr. Loton regarding this incident.
Mr. Akash also reports that Mr. Loton extorted Taka 30,000 (USD 450) from a businessman using his (Mr. Akash) name in 2003. Mr. Akash published a report regarding this incident in the Daily Sangbad on 19 January 2003.
Besides, Mr. Akash recently broadcasted another report on the alleged illegal and malpractices in "Delwar Hossain Waqf Estate" property of which Loton's father late Mr. Abdus Samad was the caretaker for a long time. As a result, the government's concerned department changed the caretaker of the said property.
Also, on 25 April 2007, Mr. Akash broadcasted a report in the CSB News regarding the alleged grabbing of the estates of the trusted boards. This report also covered the story of Mr. Loton's father's trusted properties.
At that time Mr. Akash suspected that the RAB might use Mr. Loton to harass him, as his news channel has been broadcasting on the alleged torture and extrajudicial killings committed by the RAB personnel. For example, on 16 May 2007, a report was aired in the CSB News on the RAB's brutality on jail police Mr. Shahebul Islam in the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, while on May 18, the CSB News aired another report on the death of Mr. Kamrul Islam Majnu Sheikh, who was allegedly tortured to death by the RAB personnel after being kidnapped.
After knowing the information of filing case against him, Mr. Jahangir Alam Akash suited an ad-interim bail petition before the high court of the supreme court and On 16 October 2007, after hearing the petition, the learned justice Mr. A.F. M. Abdur Rahman of vacancy timed bench granted an ad-interim bail of Mr. Akash till 28 October 2007 and also order after Eid vacancy while the High court will begin its regular activities, the regular hearing of this petition will be held before the regular bench of High Court Bench of the Supreme Court.
In the mean time on 23 October 2007, Mr. Akash submitted a petition before the Chief of the army and Secretary of the home ministry appealing to conduct impartial investigation regarding to extortion against him.
Here especially mentioned that Mr. Loton and his two friends Mr. Asad and Mr. Tuku have been working as the RAB's source. As far as we confirmed with local sources, Mr. Loton goes for fishing along with Major Mr. Rashid of the RAB-5, who allegedly intimidated Mr. Akash on phone for broadcasting the news of the attempted extrajudicial killing of one terrorist suspect Mr. Benazir Ahammed at his home on 2 May 2007.Asian Human Rights Commission issued Urgent Appeal in this regards. For details of this case, please see urgent appeals: UP-101-2007, UA-149-2007
Name of the Victim: Mr. Jahangir Alam Akash, the coordinator of the Task Force against Torture (TFT), Rajshahi city; the regional coordinator of the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) in Rajshai Region; the bureau chief of the TV news channel CSB News and the daily Bengali news paper Daily Sangbad & also general Secretary of Journalist.
Address of the victim: 55/2, Housing Estate, Upashahar, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Date & Time of Arrest: 23 October 2007 (Mid-nights, ) around 02.00am (24 October 2007)
Arrested by: Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5 personnel, Rajshahi region, (Civil dressed).
Fact in Brief:
On 23 October 2007 midnight at 1.30.am, a group (10/12 members) of civil dressed Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5 personnel came to rented house of Mr. Jahangir Alam Akash at 55/2, Housing Estate, Upashahar in Rajshahi and pressed the switch of all calling bell in that building. Hearing the sound of calling bell, the son of the owner of the building named Ripon (26) came out and said the RAB personnel and asked their identity and causing their coming the building? But they refused to disclose their identity and cause of coming, rather busted in angry and shouted to open the main collapsed door quickly as well as urging filthy language. Being afraid, when he opened the main collapsed door they entered in to the building and started to beat him for his being late to open door. Thereafter they knocked at the door of Jahangir Alam Akash. When wife of Mr. Akash named Farhana Sharmin asked their identity and cause of their coming, at first they refused to disclose their identity and cause of coming. When the wife of Mr. Akash, Farhan Sharmin said them if they did not disclose their identity and cause of coming, she would not open the door then they try to break the door lock to enter the flat. Thereafter they disclosed that they are the members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5. Thy also said that they came in to knowledge through reliable source that there are some arms in this house and they would search the house. When Mr. Akash's wife again asked them to show search warrant they replied they have search warrant issued by the concern court. Then his wife called around 6 numbers of her neighbors as witness and opened the door. When she opened the door they stormed the room and grabbed Mr. Jahangir Alam Akash and started to slap him as well as using filthy language and directed him to go with them. Their after they put him hand cap and tied his head (Eye, nose, ear, mouth) with black cloth and lifted him in their van and took at their cam.
Cause of Arrest:
Farhana Sharmin, wife of Mr. Jahangir Alam Akash think that due to broad casting news on different abuses of power by the RAB-5 and other corrupted persons on private TV channel and daily news paper the alleged RAB personnel and other persons were aggrieved with him. For this reason to take revenge and give punishment they arrested him.
Previous incident:
On 02 may 2007, a team of the Rapid Action Battalion went to the alleged criminal house in city of Rajshahi. The RAB shot at the person in the bedroom in front of his wife and young daughter. The CSB News a private TV channel broadcasted the news of this attempted extra-judicial ki9lling by the RAB tem in the news bulletin at 1.00 am and at 2.00 am on May 03, of 2007. The wife of the bullet-injured person accused the RAB for shooting on her husband before the TV camera.
On the evening of May 03 of 2007 at 5 9.33 pm, a person called to Mr. Akash on his cell phone from another cell phone (Number+88017140494 31). The caller introduced him himself as Major Rashidul Hasan Rashid, an officer of the rab-5that works in Rajshahi region and asked why Mr. Akash broadcasted the news of RAB's operation over the TV channel. The RAB officer warned Mr. Akash, that if he failed to give an appropriate answer to his question then he must not forget the possible consequences for the job. The roaring army officer also asked whether Mr. Akash new a reason why the other TV channels, except the CSB News avoided the report on the particular incident. Major Rashid also accused MR. Akash broadcasted the report intentionally and threate3nded that if any person representative the CSB News or Mr. Akash himself makes any further attempt to enter in to the area of RAB's activities, then the RAB will take action against him and his colleagues. The army officer termed the news broadcasting as an "anti-state activities". Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Hong Kong issued Urgent Appeal regarding this on 05 May and 24 July 2007. For further details please see- (www.ahrchk . net) UA-149-2007 & Re: UA-149-2007.
Beside this, on 28 August 2007, Mr. Akash was been implicated in an extortion charge lodged by Mr. Mahfuzul Alam Loton, the vice president of the Awami League of the Rajshahi City Unit, at the Boalia police station of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) on 20 June 2007 (Reference: General Diary No. 1160). In his complaint, Mr. Loton alleges that Mr. Akash extorted Taka 20,000 (USD 300) from him in presence of his two friends through intimidation and threats of broadcasting news on CSB News channel.
In his first information report, Mr. Loton's allegation against Mr. Akash, on 13 April 2007, Mr. Loton was talking with his two friends, one businessman Mr. Ziaul Haque Tuku and one Bangladesh Awami League leader Mr. Asaduzzaman Asad, while sitting in an open field near the "Safawang Chinese Restaurant" at Kadirganj area of the city. The restaurant is located in the same building where the CSB News channel's office is in. Mr. Akash accompanying two unknown persons then approached him and claimed Taka 50,000 (USD 750) through intimidation. Mr. Loton then finally gave him Taka 20,000 (USD 300). Mr. Loton alleged that Mr. Akash claimed Taka 30,000 (USD 450) more in exchange for not publishing news against Mr. Loton regarding his corruption in "Delwar Hossain Waqf Estate; his father was the caretaker of this property. Mr. Loton also alleges that Mr. Akash however broadcast a report about his family property after this and on 6 June 2007, he requested Mr. Loton to pay the remaining Taka 30,000 at the same place.
However, Mr. Akash strongly insists that Mr. Loton's complaint against him is completely false and Mr. Loton made such complaint against him because he had published a number of reports in the media detailing the misdeeds of Mr. Loton.
On 4 March 2000, Mr. Akash published a report in the Daily Sangbad regarding the alleged harassment of a family by Mr. Loton and his men due to a family feud. The family members were allegedly confined in the house, while receiving continuous threats from Mr. Loton's men. The article revealed that the police have not taken any action against Mr. Loton and his men regarding this incident.
Mr. Akash also reports that due to this report, Mr. Loton's men attempted to kill him on 6 March 2006, but killed another journalist Mr. Uttam Kumar Das by mistake. The killing took place in front of a commercial telefax shop in Rajshahi city from where Mr. Akash and other journalists used to send their news to their respective media. Mr. Akash then lodged a General Diary (GD) No. 310 with the Boalia police station on 7 March 2000 against Mr. Loton regarding this incident.
Mr. Akash also reports that Mr. Loton extorted Taka 30,000 (USD 450) from a businessman using his (Mr. Akash) name in 2003. Mr. Akash published a report regarding this incident in the Daily Sangbad on 19 January 2003.
Besides, Mr. Akash recently broadcasted another report on the alleged illegal and malpractices in "Delwar Hossain Waqf Estate" property of which Loton's father late Mr. Abdus Samad was the caretaker for a long time. As a result, the government's concerned department changed the caretaker of the said property.
Also, on 25 April 2007, Mr. Akash broadcasted a report in the CSB News regarding the alleged grabbing of the estates of the trusted boards. This report also covered the story of Mr. Loton's father's trusted properties.
At that time Mr. Akash suspected that the RAB might use Mr. Loton to harass him, as his news channel has been broadcasting on the alleged torture and extrajudicial killings committed by the RAB personnel. For example, on 16 May 2007, a report was aired in the CSB News on the RAB's brutality on jail police Mr. Shahebul Islam in the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, while on May 18, the CSB News aired another report on the death of Mr. Kamrul Islam Majnu Sheikh, who was allegedly tortured to death by the RAB personnel after being kidnapped.
After knowing the information of filing case against him, Mr. Jahangir Alam Akash suited an ad-interim bail petition before the high court of the supreme court and On 16 October 2007, after hearing the petition, the learned justice Mr. A.F. M. Abdur Rahman of vacancy timed bench granted an ad-interim bail of Mr. Akash till 28 October 2007 and also order after Eid vacancy while the High court will begin its regular activities, the regular hearing of this petition will be held before the regular bench of High Court Bench of the Supreme Court.
In the mean time on 23 October 2007, Mr. Akash submitted a petition before the Chief of the army and Secretary of the home ministry appealing to conduct impartial investigation regarding to extortion against him.
Here especially mentioned that Mr. Loton and his two friends Mr. Asad and Mr. Tuku have been working as the RAB's source. As far as we confirmed with local sources, Mr. Loton goes for fishing along with Major Mr. Rashid of the RAB-5, who allegedly intimidated Mr. Akash on phone for broadcasting the news of the attempted extrajudicial killing of one terrorist suspect Mr. Benazir Ahammed at his home on 2 May 2007.Asian Human Rights Commission issued Urgent Appeal in this regards. For details of this case, please see urgent appeals: UP-101-2007, UA-149-2007
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