HC orders govt to explain killings
Tue, Nov 17th, 2009 3:57 pm BdST
Dhaka, Nov 17 (bdnews24.com) – The High Court has given the government and Rapid Action Battalion 48 hours to explain the shooting and killing of two brothers in Madaripur, asking why the deaths should not be ruled extra-judicial.
Brothers Lutfor Khalashi, 40, and Khairul Khalashi, 38, both alleged to be extremists, were killed in what RAB said was "an exchange of gunfire" in Madaripur early on Monday.
The deaths were reported just 36 hours after family members voiced fears that the two might be killed in custody.
The bench of justices AFM Abdur Rahman and Imdadul Haque Azad issued a suo moto rule on the home secretary, director general of RAB and two others on Tuesday following media accounts of the deaths.
Deputy attorney general Kazi Md Izarul Haque Akhand told bdnews24.com after the ruling: "The High Court has issued the suo moto rule following a newspaper report."
Media widely reported that Bablu Khalashi, son of Lutfor, had held a news conference last Saturday saying his father and uncle were arrested from Jatrapur in Narayanganj district on Friday night.
He said the family feared they might be killed in "crossfire".
The family also claims a third brother was killed earlier in a similar incident.
Meanwhile, human-rights organisations have been expressing concern over the rate of extra-judicial killings in the country though the government claims that no such killings are taking place.
The government says law enforcers only fire weapons in defence, and deaths by shooting occur only where the suspect is armed and exchange of gunfire takes place.
Such incidents are often referred to as "crossfire" killings in the media and common parlance, a term that has come to imply suspicious, or extra-judicial, killings.
The High Court on June 29 ordered the government to explain why killings without trial in so-called "crossfire" should not be declared illegal.
It also asked why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who perpetrate such killings of suspects in custody or others.
RAB has said around over 570 people have been killed in encounter/shootout incidents with the elite force around the country in the five years since its formation in 2004.
According to rights group Odhikar, 322 people were killed in "crossfire/encounter/shootout" incidents during the two years of the past caretaker government.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina herself announced in February this year that the extra judicial killings perpetrated during the tenure of the military-installed interim government would be investigated.
Brothers Lutfor Khalashi, 40, and Khairul Khalashi, 38, both alleged to be extremists, were killed in what RAB said was "an exchange of gunfire" in Madaripur early on Monday.
The deaths were reported just 36 hours after family members voiced fears that the two might be killed in custody.
The bench of justices AFM Abdur Rahman and Imdadul Haque Azad issued a suo moto rule on the home secretary, director general of RAB and two others on Tuesday following media accounts of the deaths.
Deputy attorney general Kazi Md Izarul Haque Akhand told bdnews24.com after the ruling: "The High Court has issued the suo moto rule following a newspaper report."
Media widely reported that Bablu Khalashi, son of Lutfor, had held a news conference last Saturday saying his father and uncle were arrested from Jatrapur in Narayanganj district on Friday night.
He said the family feared they might be killed in "crossfire".
The family also claims a third brother was killed earlier in a similar incident.
Meanwhile, human-rights organisations have been expressing concern over the rate of extra-judicial killings in the country though the government claims that no such killings are taking place.
The government says law enforcers only fire weapons in defence, and deaths by shooting occur only where the suspect is armed and exchange of gunfire takes place.
Such incidents are often referred to as "crossfire" killings in the media and common parlance, a term that has come to imply suspicious, or extra-judicial, killings.
The High Court on June 29 ordered the government to explain why killings without trial in so-called "crossfire" should not be declared illegal.
It also asked why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who perpetrate such killings of suspects in custody or others.
RAB has said around over 570 people have been killed in encounter/shootout incidents with the elite force around the country in the five years since its formation in 2004.
According to rights group Odhikar, 322 people were killed in "crossfire/encounter/shootout" incidents during the two years of the past caretaker government.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina herself announced in February this year that the extra judicial killings perpetrated during the tenure of the military-installed interim government would be investigated.
Related:
'Crossfire' is indefensible
... which is a fundamental human right. ZA Khan is a former Director General of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies.
Home Minister Sahara Khatun
Explain legality of 2 siblings' killing: HC
File photoSahara denies 'crossfire' killings
Bangladesh News 24 hours - 7 minutes ago
Dhaka, Nov 17 (bdnews24.com)--Home minister Sahara Khatun on Tuesday said no 'crossfire' took place after the current government took office, ...
HC orders govt to explain killings
Bangladesh News 24 hours - 1 hour ago
Dhaka, Nov 17 (bdnews24.com) – The High Court has given the government and Rapid Action Battalion 48 hours to explain the shooting and killing of two ...
Explain legality of 2 siblings' killings in custody: HC
The Daily Star - 4 hours ago
The High Court on Tuesday issued a suo moto rule upon the government to explain within 48 hours why the killings of Lutfor Rahman Khalasi and Khairul Haque ...
2 brothers killed in 'shootout'
The Daily Star - 17 hours ago
Two brothers, who were operatives of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), were killed during a "shootout" between their cohorts and Rapid Action ...
Two outlaws killed in RAB 'shootout'
Financial Express Bangladesh - 19 hours ago
MADARIPUR, Nov 16 (UNB): Two outlawed party leaders, who are also siblings, were killed in a 'shootout' with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members at ...
Bangladesh
2 brothers killed in Madaripur shootout
Bangladesh News 24 hours - 17 hours ago
Madaripur, Nov 16 (bdnews24.com) – Two brothers, alleged to be extremists, were killed in a reported shootout with RAB in Madaripur on Monday within 48
__._,_.___
