BANGLADESH: Army officer's father threatens to destroy home and establishments of a human rights defender's family

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding death threat to the family of F. M. A. Razzak, a human rights defender, and his well-wishers from the relatives of an officer the Bangladesh Army regarding an illegitimate claim of ownership of a land, which had already been settled by the concerned authorities. The army officer, who has been identified as Major Mustafizur Rahman Bokul is currently attached to the Bogra Cantonment of Bangladesh, has created tremendous influence on the local police and the Rapid Action Battalion, a paramilitary force reputed for extrajudicial killings, to eliminate Razzak and his family. The relatives of the army officer have been demanding money from Razzak’s wife and the withdrawal of the complaints made regarding the military officer’s unlawful involvement in public disputes and affairs. Razzak’s family has been in hiding for security of their lives for many days now.

Please intervene into this case immediately to ensure protection of Razzak’s family and to prevent the ongoing harassment by the law-enforcing agents. The AHRC previously issued several Urgent Appeals on his case and published several articles in its publications (For further details, please see: UA-035-2007; UP-034-2007; AHRC-UAU-065-2008; AHRC-UAU-067-2008; AHRC-UAU-069-2008; and Article2, Vol. 8, No. 1 and Ethics in Action Vol.2 No.6).

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please intervene immediately into the matter and urge the authorities of Bangladesh to initiate a credible investigation before any further harm or damage caused to the families in danger at the moment. The investigation must include the unlawful intervention of Major Mustafizur Rahman of the Bangladesh Army to influence the local police and paramilitary force and must brought to the book. The members of the Rapid Action Battalion must be held responsible for their unlawful actions and having feasts from one of the parties they were obliged to investigate as a State-agent. The lives and properties of Razzak, his relatives and well-wishers must be protected from any further attack by any group or person.

Please note that the AHRC has already written separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteur on Situation of Human Rights Defenders calling for her immediate intervention into this matter.

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