AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

View Alerts By > Case | Date | Country | Victim

AAAS Human Rights Action Network

View the digitally signed version of this alert.

FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 16 March 2002, the Special Branch of the Bangladesh police force arrested Dr. Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, an economist and a former cabinet member, as he arrived at the airport in Dhaka. Dr. Alamgir was returning to Bangladesh after visiting his son, who lives in Boston. For several days, Dr. Alamgir was held without formal charge at an undisclosed and denied access to his family and lawyer.

According to reports, Dr. Alamgir was detained under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code, for "instigating" government officials and employees into joining a demonstration in Dhaka in 1996. The rally led to the removal of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's Government (BNP) from power. An election was held and the secular democratic party, the Awami League, came to power. Dr. Alamgir, who received his degree in economics from Boston University, served as the Minister of Planning in the new government. The BNP, which returned to power in 2001, has reportedly launched a campaign against all individuals who joined in the demonstrations.

On 24 March, Dr Alamgir was brought into court. During the hearing, he testified that while in policy custody he had been tortured. He reported that every evening at midnight, the police would enter his cell and blindfold him. He was taken to a separate room where masked men interrogated and tortured him. They beat him with lathi (bamboo sticks) and glass bottles filled with water. He reported that he was beaten severely on his buttocks, feet and other muscular parts of his body, and was sodomized with the bottle. In addition, he was denied fresh water and his diabetes medicine. He reported that the police demanded that he sign a typed document. When he refused to sign, they continued to beat him. During the court hearing, the magistrate recorded his statement, but did not order an investigation into the allegations of torture.

On 16 April 2002, an inmate in the prison attempted to stab Dr. Alamgir with a knife. Prison guards managed to stop the man before any physical harm was done. The government claims that the man had no ulterior motive and may be mentally unstable. However, Dr. Alamgir's lawyers have not been allowed to question the man.

On 7 May 2002, the decision on the legality of the detention and potential bail was postponed indefinitely. Dr. Alamgir's family and lawyer have repeatedly petitioned the court to further clarify the legality of Dr. Alamgir's arrest and the charges against him. They remain very concerned for his health, which has suffered greatly while in detention.

(Sources of information for this case include: Amnesty International, World Organization Against Torture, and Dr. Alamgir's son, Jalal, who maintains a website on the case: http://www.banglapolitics.com.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 7: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
• Article 10: All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.
• Article 19(1): Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
• Article 21: The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• Article 12: (1): The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. (2): The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for: (c) The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases; (d) The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
• Article 05: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
• Article 09: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
• Article 20(1): Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Urging the government to take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological safety and integrity of Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir;
• Requesting that Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir be immediately and unconditionally released if there are no valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, that he be brought before an impartial and competent tribunal that guarantees his procedural rights at all times; and
• Demanding a thorough and impartial investigation into the reports of the alleged torture and ill-treatment to which Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir has been subjected and that those responsible be brought to justice.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

The Honorable Khaleda Zia
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Prime Minister's Office
Old Parliament House
Tejgaon, Dhaka,
Bangladesh
Fax: (011) 880 2 8113244, 880 2 811015, 880 2 8113243
ps1@pmo.bdonline.com
Salutation: Dear Mr. Minister

Mr. Morshed Khan
Foreign Minister
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Segun Bagicha
Dhaka
Bangladesh
Fax: (011) 880 2 8617448, 880 2 9562163
pspmo@bangla.net
Salutation: Dear Mr. Minister

Mr. Alhaj Altaf Hossain Chowdury
Minister of Home Affairs
Government of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
Fax: (011) 880 2 8619667
Salutation: Dear Mr. Minister

COPIES SENT TO:

Ambassador Syed Hasan Ahmad
Ambassador of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to the United States
Embassy of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
3510 International Drive, NW
Washington DC 20007
Fax: (202) 244-5366
bdenq@bangladoot.org
Salutation: Dear Mr. Ambassador

Jalal Alamgir, Ph.D.
Watson Institute for International Studies
Brown University
Jalal_Alamgir@brown.edu

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

To verify the contents of this alert and/or the electronic signature, please download the signed file for this alert along with the Program's PGP Public Key.

Main | CSFR Letters | Science and Human Rights Program