Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) has expressed strong condemnation and demanded a neutral investigation into the incident of the death of Shamsuzzaman Dabloo, General Secretary of Chuadanga’s Jibannagar Municipal BNP, while in army custody.
ASK has said that it views this incident as a serious violation of human rights.
“The death of a person in state custody is not only a loss for a family but also a direct blow to the constitution, the rule of law, and the state’s responsibility towards human rights,” it said in a statement.
According to media sources, the victim’s wife, Jesmin Nahar, and relatives have alleged that around 10:15pm on 12 January, army members arrested Dabloo from a pharmacy and took him to the BNP party office about 50 metres away, where he was tortured for about two hours.
Later, when he was taken to the hospital in critical condition, the doctor declared him dead. According to information from Jibannagar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Makbul Hossain, Dabloo was brought dead to the Jibannagar Health Complex at 12:16am on 13 January.
According to Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, ensuring every citizen’s right to life and personal liberty is a fundamental duty of the state. Furthermore, the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013 clearly prohibits torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and provides for punishment against those responsible for incidents like torture or death in custody.
“Additionally, Bangladesh is a state party to international covenants such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention Against Torture (CAT), which obligate ensuring a prompt, impartial, and effective investigation into incidents of torture and death in state custody and accountability of those responsible,” the statement goes on to read.
“At the same time, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) wants to emphatically state that no member of law enforcement or security forces is above the law. If immediate effective measures are not taken to prevent the abuse of state power and ensure the security of citizens’ lives, there remains a risk of such incidents occurring again in the future.
Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) believes that a transparent, independent, and impartial investigation into this incident is urgent. It also called upon the state to take immediate action to ensure justice.
