On the 28th of April Voice for Justice were officially given the role of acting as the Umbrella organisation that will ensure that Justice is obtained in the ‘Justice for Rizwan Hussain’ campaign.
Voice for Justice have planned a second demonstration at Altab Ali Park on the 18th of May.
Time is yet to be confirmed. Please ensure you all attend to show your support for this campaign.
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Statement of Rizwan Hussain on 9th May 2008
At 02.30am Bangladesh Time, Friday 9th May 2008 my father passed away peacefully at home in Hobigonj.
My trip to Bangladesh on 11th April was for the purpose of being by my father’s side during his last days. This trip was cut short by the brutality committed at Dhaka Airport, forcing my return to the UK on 17th April 2008.
The Bangladesh High Commissioner in London- Shofi U Ahmed was requested by Voice for Justice and Bangladesh Human Rights Coalition to act swiftly to bring the perpetrators to punitive action.
Shofi U Ahmad, has insofar failed to give this matter any importance, despite being reminded that a conclusion was necessary so that I may travel to visit my father. No assurance for my safe journey to and from Bangladesh has been forthcoming. The High Commissioner through various sources has repeatedly attempted to dim down the situation, hoping the public would eventually forget and give up.
Shofi U Ahmad has clearly shown blatant disregard and proven to be incompetent in his role. His role so far in the UK has been limited to receiving dinner invitations as guest of honour at various community events.
I hold Shofi U Ahmed and his incompetent administration liable for preventing me seeing my father or being besides him in his last moments.
I now ask that Shofi U Ahmad’s incompetence should be addressed and if necessary he should be removed.
End Statement.
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The military court headed by a group captain will award tough punishment to the guilty persons “on charge of irregularities and breaking discipline,” said an ISPR press release yesterday.
Immediately after the incident, the Air Force arrested the persons responsible and handed them over to the custody of law-enforcers of the Air Force.
An inquiry committee headed by a group captain has already identified the persons involved in the incident of assault by joint-force personnel and framed charges as per military law, the ISPR said.
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“Justice for Rizwan Hussain” Demonstration
After the arbitrary detaining and torture of British Citizen and prominent humanitarian aid worker Rizwan Hussain, on the 14th Of April at Zia International Airport, Dhaka, a new organisation has formed to raise awareness of the countless human rights violations committed in Bangladesh.
The “Bangladesh Human rights Coalition” is a gathering of established and recognised organisations with the aim of ensuring justice is achieved for Rizwan Hussain - and also to prevent future occurrences of such incidents.
With Bangladesh’s track history for human right violations, an organisation such as this, unique and focussed, is hoping to exert pressure to ensure acts like this do not pass without notice.
The BHRC was created directly after the response garnered to the “Justice for Rizwan Hussain” group on social networking site Facebook. Prior to the group, the filtration of news surrounding the incident was heavily limited and managed.
The group has grown to over 5000 members under a week, and the petition, which was drafted by one of its members on the 19th of April, has now over 8500 signatures (in five days) and is continually increasing in the number of signatories.
The rate of growth of the social networking group and the online petition is an indicator of how Riawan Hussain is seen in the British Bangladeshi and Muslim community, and is a vivid sign that these acts will not be ignored.
To further exert pressure on key individuals, the Bangladesh Human Rights Coalition is organising a demonstration for the 26th of April 2008. Rizwan Hussain, among other high profile individuals will be speaking to show their support for the cause.
The Bangladesh Human Rights Coalition are asking for:
1. An independent enquiry into the matter.
2. An apology from the air force for the barbaric actions of their personnel.
3. An apology from the Caretaker Government for failing to prevent the injustice suffered by this high profile philanthropist.
4. The trial and dismissal of the officers involved in the incident, upon their conviction.
Demonstration Details:
Location: Altab Ali Park, Whitechapel Road (Nearest Tube: Whitechapel Station)
Time: 5pm
Date: 26th April 2008
Press release created by Bangladesh Human Rights Coalition.
Press Contact:
Fatema Khatun
info@bdhumanright.org.uk
www.bdhumanright.org.uk
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We have been inundated with emails. It’s great to see such support for this campaign.
We however need more signatures for the petition. Please do pass it on to all your friends and family.
I can confirm, after a conversation with Rizwan Bhai, that he is feeling better, but still trying to recover from the shock.
An unofficial source has informed us that four air force officers have been arrested in relation to this matter. We are expecting a comment from the British High Commissioner, Anwar Chawdhury, very soon.
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I travelled to Bangladesh on 11th April 2008 to visit my ailing father who is currently at Square Hospital suffering from final stages of Lung Disease.
On 14th April, I travelled to Dhaka to see off my sister, brother in law and baby nephew at Zia International Airport, she was due to fly back to the UK on BA145 at 08.00 hours. I entered the airport with his family through Door 23 having purchased a ticket for 500 taka. I accompanied my sister to the British Airways counter, assisted her to check in and then my sister proceeded on to the departure lounge.
I proceeded to leave the airport to return to my car in the car park, just as I was leaving I was approached by an elderly woman (from Loughborough) who informed me of some problems she was facing with her ticket with Emirates. It transpired that this lady was the mother in law of Abdul Mozid Taher (Organising Secretary of the Greater Sylhet Council). Mr. Taher also called at that point from UK and requested me to assist his mother in law and young sister at the airport. On this request, I spoke to the Emirates check-in counter and explained the ladies problem.
The emirates check in officer Jami asked me to wait a little while and he would get back to me if a solution can be found. I stayed a little while to help her. A few minutes later I was approached by security staff and asked how I got in. I explained that I had entered to see off my sister, brother in law, and child and presently was trying to help the elderly lady.
The security officer took me downstairs to an office known as the DSO’s office. At the DSO’s office, the DSO Iftekhar Jahan and two other officers interviewed me and insisted that I make a statement that I got in illegally and had entered with the intention of assisting illegal immigrants. I was unwilling to make a false statement. I was asked to identify myself, and I responded by stating that I was from England and by profession a Barrister. At that point, I was asked to produce proof of British citizenship my certificate of qualifications as a barrister to prove this.
The DSO then picked up the phone and made a call. A few minutes later one police officer was stationed at the door of the security office. At that point, I realised that I was not able to leave. He enquired with the DSO what was happening and he responded by saying that I would have to see a senior officer. A few minutes later five uniformed officers (navy trousers and light blue shirts) arrived and took me to the third floor. As soon as I was out of the view of the departure concourse, they started pushing and dragging me towards a room. The room was empty except three low chairs and a metal tall drum to the left. One officer remained outside to guard the door and four entered. The four that entered were Anwar, Saiful, Mizan and Delawar. The officer outside was Mujib.
In the room the four officers took out one metre long wooden battens about 3 inches in thickness and without any question started beating me. The beating continued for about 55 minutes. The assailants hit on the back, legs and arms. I was asked to stand facing a wall with my arms spread whilst they hit me on the back. After a while the beating stopped, I was then dragged to another room and told to stand in front of another officer sitting behind a desk. The officer enquired whether I signed a statement and then proceeded to instruct that I be taken back to the other room again for a statement.
I was taken back to the room and beaten again by the four officers. This time they asked me to remove my shoes and they beat me on my feet and ankles too. I asked for water as I could feel I was dehydrating. They brought a bottle of water and emptied it on the floor and asked me to drink from the floor. I refused to drink so they continued the beating. After another 30 minutes or so, they asked me again if I would write a statement. I agreed and they then stopped. My hands were shaking and I was unable to write, I was given a few minutes to steady myself then provided with pen and paper and a chair to lean on. I wrote the following statement as it was dictated to me by one of the officers named Delawar;
“I am Rizwan Hussain of Hobigonj entered the airport illegally and entered to help illegal immigrants. I am writing this statement without any mental or physical torture and in the best of health. I am sorry; I will never do this again”
I was the taken back to the other room in front of the senior officer behind the desk and he instructed me to apologies individually to the officers who beaten me. The officer then instructed that I was `taken back to cell to tidy myself up.
I was taken back to the empty room and just as beating was about to start again, Mujib, the fifth officer entered the room and asked the other 4 to leave. Mujib sat with me for a while whilst I regained some strength. He asked me too button up my blazer to hide my shirt that was ripped. I was asked to practice walking around the room. After about half an hour I was taken downstairs and left outside at a back entrance of the airport. I then somehow managed to walk to near the mosque and called my younger cousin & driver to pick me up.
I was very much in shock and did want to remain in Dhaka as I was scared for my security. I was also worried that I had to get some medicine to my father in hospital as soon as possible; hence I immediately left for Hobigonj.
Later in the evening I visited a hospital in hobigonj where I was seen to. I discovered at that point that I had suffered multiple fractures to right leg and a broken right arm. I was in great pain and unable to walk. On my back, arms and legs I suffered severe bruising, some 60% of the upper body was severely bruised. I was x-rayed and was prescribed medicine. Plastering was not available in Hobigonj and I had to return to Dhaka the next day for plastering and then further x-rays at Square Hospital.
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After the incident with Brother Rizwan and taking into account the many other past human rights violation that has occurred and is occurring in Bangladesh, this coalition has formed.
‘Justice for Rizwan Hussain’ will be our first campaign. If you would like to be involved with this campaign, please send your name and details to this email address
info@bdhumanrights.org.uk
We need like minded active individuals to support us through this campaign, as the petition is only the start.
If your organisation, company or charity would like to be affiliated and support this campaign, please also send your details to the email address above.
Reminder Please sign the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/rizwan/petition-sign.html
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Please check and join the Facebook group as communication/updates will occur primarily from there
link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12323537407
Once you have joined please invite all of your friends.
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Sign the online petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/rizwan/petition.html
We are asking for:
1. An independant enquiry into the matter.
2. An apology from the military for the barbaric actions of their personnel.
3. An apology from the Caretaker Government for failing to prevent the injustice suffered by this high profile philanthropist.
4. The trial and dismissal of the officers involved in the incident, upon their conviction.
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