BANGLADESH: DGFI Tortured to Death Labor Activist Aminul Islam

(HONG KONG) - According to credible intelligence sources, Aminul Islam, who was found dead after apparently suffering grievously... was picked up DGFI officials and taken to Savar cantonment, where he was tortured to death. His body was found outside the Brakhon Sashon Women College, close to the Tangail-Maymanshing highway in Tangail district.

Family members suspect that the members of the law enforcement agencies used a worker named Mustafizur Rahman to draw out Islam- requesting his assistance on a personal matter. Instead, it appears he was taken to an unknown location, and severely tortured to death. The torturer/murderers left his body at the Ghatail area under Tangail District.

On 8 April, his wife Hosne Ara, called BCWS leaders to describe a photograph in a local newspaper that said that an unidentified body had been discovered two days earlier in Tangail district, Islam’s wife and family were sure it was Islam’s body. Police showed them the photos, and the family positively identified Islam. BCWS members told Human Rights Watch that the photographs of the body indicated signs of torture. His right leg had injuries under knee, his toes had been smashed, both knees had coagulated blood, and there were several bruises on the body. Ghatail police chief Mahbubul Haq told journalists, “He [Islam] was murdered. His legs had severe torture marks including a hole made by a sharp object. All his toes were broken.”

Our goal with Eye on the World is to illustrate and highlight politically oriented problems and tragedies that traditional media channels don't have time or interest in covering.

The world has its own set of laws that were agreed upon by the ruling nations in 1948, and many people are not aware of this simple fact. At the root of the concept of world citizenry itself, is the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an overriding and supreme law that ensures many essential human rights that governments today fail to observe. Also central to any hope of human success, is the understanding of the human hierarchy of needs, as defined by Abraham Maslow- more information on this at the conclusion of this entry. We must use the Internet as a tool of justice at every junction, and we need to assist all human beings, everywhere, and not allow cultural, racial or religious preferences as determiners.

In his letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed in Dhaka, Salem-News.com Human Rights Ambassador, Mr. William Gomes, urges the PM to order an immediate, full, and impartial investigation into Aminul Islam’s death and to hold all those responsible—no matter their status or position—to account. He says he is not aware of any official investigation into his allegations about Islam's mistreatment in NSI custody. However, based on his previous detention and the circumstances under which he went missing on April 4 there are serious concerns that government security forces might be responsible for his torture and death.

“

April 13, 2012

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed
Prime Minister’s Office
Old Sangsad Bhaban
Tejagaon
Dhaka-1215
Bangladesh

Re: BANGLADESH: DGFI tortured to death labor activist Aminul Islam

Dear Prime Minister,

I have recently learned that Aminul Islam was found dead after apparently suffering grievous torture under circumstances that raise concerns of involvement by Bangladeshi security forces specifically military intelligence DGFI.

Aminul Islam went missing on April 4, 2012. His body was found on April 6 outside the Brakhon Sashon Women College, close to the Tangail-Maymanshing highway in Tangail district. I urge you to order an immediate, full, and impartial investigation into Islam’s death and to hold all those responsible—no matter their status or position—to account.

According to his colleagues at BCWS, on April 4 Islam came to work around noon at the BCWS center in Baipail. At around 6:30 p.m. he headed out towards the mosque. However, when he saw a police van outside, he became worried about continuing surveillance. He called a colleague, Laboni, and suggested that they close the center. He was heading back home when he received a call from a worker named Mustafizur Rahman, requesting his assistance on a personal matter. Islam then took a rickshaw and headed towards the Baipali bus stop to meet with Rahman.

BCWS officials state that from this point onwards, they had no further contact with Islam. After about 30 or 40 minutes, Laboni received a call from Rahman, saying that he was still waiting for Islam, whose phone was switched off. At around 9:30 p.m. Laboni received a call from Islam’s wife, Hosne Ara, asking about her husband because he had failed to come home and his phone was switched off. Laboni immediately informed BCWS leaders who called the Ashulia police station to check if Islam had been arrested. They made several phone calls to the police, who said they had no information about Islam.

The next day, April 5, Hosne Ara and a senior BCWS organizer went to Ashulia police station to lodge a missing person report, but the police refused to register a case since it was not yet 24 hours since Islam had gone missing. BCWS also contacted various security agencies including the National Security Intelligence, Rapid Action Battalion, Industrial Police, Special Branch, Detective Branch, as well as several hospitals. On April 6 the Ashulia police station registered a missing person case for Islam.

I have been informed by credible intelligence sources that Islam was picked up DGFI officials and taken to Savar cantonment , where he was tortured to death and latter on DGFI officials dumped his body .

On April 8 Hosne Ara called BCWS leaders to describe a photograph in a local newspaper that said that an unidentified body had been discovered two days earlier in Tangail district, which is approximately 100 kilometers north from Baipail. Islam’s wife and other family members said they were certain that it was Islam’s body. When the family reached Tangail district, however, the body had already been buried since officials said it was unclaimed. However, the police showed them photographs, and the family positively identified the body as Islam’s. BCWS members told Human Rights Watch that the photographs of the body indicated signs of torture. His right leg had injuries under knee, his toes had been smashed, both knees had coagulated blood, and there were several bruises on the body. Ghatail police chief Mahbubul Haq told journalists, “He [Islam] was murdered. His legs had severe torture marks including a hole made by a sharp object. All his toes were broken.”

Family members suspect that the members of the law enforcement agencies used Mustafizur Rahman to draw out Islam, took him to an unknown location, severely tortured him and after his death left his body at the Ghatail area under Tangail District.

At the request of Islam’s family, the body was exhumed and moved to a site near his home. Islam’s brother, Rafiqul Islam said he saw apparent torture marks on the body: “We found several marks of wounds from his waist to his foot.” Police are awaiting reports of the autopsy.

Islam, along with his colleagues Babul Akhter and Kalpona Akhter, was previously arrested on the basis of a long list of still unproven charges related to labor protests that turned violent on July 30-31, 2010 in Gulshan, Tejgaon, and Ashulia areas. Those charges include attempted murder, criminal intimidation, violence against civil servants, mischief causing damage and theft connected to violent incidents, and violation of the Explosive Substances Act of 1908. Yet no evidence has been presented to the defendants or their lawyers that indicate the three were involved in any way in planning or inciting violence. In fact, Gulshan and Tejgaon are industrial areas where BCWS states it has had no activities for more than a decade. BCWS leaders maintain that not only did they not incite violence, but they urged workers to peacefully petition the authorities instead of demonstrating in the streets. When he met with a senior Human Rights Watch official in December 2010 in Dhaka, Aminul Islam stated he had witnesses prepared to attest that on July 31 he was nearly 100 kilometers away in Tangail district and that between mid-June and the end of August 2010, he did not step foot in the Ashulia area.

Islam and the others were also accused of criminal intimidation, voluntarily causing hurt, mischief causing damage, house trespass and theft, and unlawful assembly during a protest at a factory operated by the Nassa Group on June 18, 2010. Workers from that factory were protesting the failure of management to meet their demands for pay increases and improvements in working conditions.

Yet Islam told Human Rights Watch in December 2010 that he was not at that Nassa Group factory because he was in hiding, having escaped on June 18 from National Security Intelligence (NSI) detention while being transferred to another location. He stated he was repeatedly tortured and threatened with death while in NSI detention, starting on June 16, 2010, after he was detained when he appeared for a meeting with the government’s director of labor. While in detention, he claimed he was also asked to sign blank documents that he was told would be used to incriminate BCWS leaders. From June 18 he remained in hiding for several months and told Human Rights Watch he had witnesses to attest to this.

I am not aware of any official investigation into his allegations about his mistreatment in NSI custody. However, based on his previous detention and the circumstances under which he went missing on April 4 there are serious concerns that government security forces might be responsible for his torture and death. It is disappointing that the authorities continued to pursue Aminul Islam on what appear to be flimsy charges from 2010 instead of investigating and holding accountable any officials responsible for inflicting the severe injuries he suffered during his detention by the National Intelligence Service.

I strongly urge your government to immediately launch a comprehensive and impartial investigation of the disappearance, torture, and murder of Aminul Islam, and publicly report the findings.

I would appreciate learning what steps you have taken in this regard.

Sincerely yours,
William Nicholas Gomes
William’s Desk
http://www.williamgomes.org/?p=772

”

Maslow's hierarchy of needs

And finally, if you care about our efforts, please help us by sending a donation, we seriously need it as ad revenue is very limited, and we aren't doing this to make money. Your support allows our attention to remain with content which is vital. There is a PayPal logo at the top of Salem-News.com. Please help us fight the good fight.

Salem-News.com Writer William Nicholas Gomes is a Bangladeshi journalist, human rights activist and author was born on 25 December, 1985 in Dhaka. As an investigative journalist he wrote widely for leading European and Asian media outlets.

He is also active in advocating for free and independent media and journalists’ rights, and is part of the free media movement, Global Independent Media Center – an activist media network for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate telling of the truth. He worked for Italian news agency Asianews.it from year 2009 to 2011, on that time he was accredited as a free lance journalist by the press information department of Bangladesh. During this time he has reported a notable numbers of reports for the news agency which were translated into Chinese and Italian and quoted by notable number of new outlets all over the world.He, ideologically, identifies himself deeply attached with anarchism. His political views are often characterized as “leftist” or “left-wing,” and he has described himself as an individualist anarchist.

Salem-News.com Top Stories

2025: Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

Two Wars with No Way Out

No One Owns the Future

The Ugly Origins of Trump's America First Policy

A One-State Solution Could Transform the World

Comments Leave a comment on this story.

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

Nadia June 22, 2012 7:57 pm (Pacific time)

Beware of “A Crime Committing Syndicate” don’t be fooled by a so called Local People of ULON West Rampura they in no way represent the Local Neighborhood.

All sorts of roguish misdeed are being done by a crime committing syndicate led by the God-father’s being Self-professed Matabars 3 bros the root of all evil namely Sheeru, Shalluddin and Momean (Pro BNP taking refuge under the shelter with the corrupt Awami Leaguers besides when money talks peoples are bound to listen whatever side of the fence your playing at) in the artful deceit of the olden days as Village Politics would have done, calling themselves: “Alaka Bashi” Local Populace. There isn’t any type of crime they haven’t committed and gotten away with it Who really are they “They are beneficiaries involved with land/home grabbing, lake filling, building code violators, taking illegal sewerage/water/gas/electricity lines specifically to the encroached areas, harboring creating criminals, selling drugs, bribery blackmailing, prostitution, vandalizing, extortion, loan-sharking, oppressing, attacking and ruining a renowned family…. One for all and all for One. If one falls all of them will fall together that’s the reason for forming a pack being expendable. Oh, there also happens to be a Man-in-uniform they have had appointed having the status of their devoted savior, (will obviously not for free though) entitling himself most happily an insulator of crime and an ally of injustice posted to none other than RAB-1 commanding officer Lt. Col. Rashidul Alom brother-in-law of Monir Uddin Ahmead an influential member of the syndicate employed to Shah Cement as the transport pool in charge moktarpool which he evidently obtained using Lt. Col. Rashid who happens to be such a guy that to has on several occasions had the transgressors released from police custody.
So Next Time If anyone has met with Ulon Local people more like thugs don’t be fooled because you might be targeted of being a part to corruption unknowingly. Try to find out their individual identity or whether anyone of them is associated with living in The Grabbed water bodies. Even though you can expect Lt. Col. Rashid of RAB-1 to intervene as he always does call your local Police Station ASAP or to the Hon. Home Minister. Shahara Khatun, would be better if the Print/Electric Media could be informed.

Rajib June 9, 2012 11:51 am (Pacific time)

Army Officer Major Md. Abdul Muttakim Mirpur Staff College Violated a young girl with a bunch of hired hooligans with the main objective of "Home Grabbing" Police was watching with amusement. She and her father got tragically wounded in the event...

Name of the perpetrators: Major Md. Abu Muttakim (Mirpur Staff Student College), Majharul Siddique Robin, Shamol, Tarick, Ranu, Tamanna Shultana, Nargis, Kanis*husband (19#ulon) Monir Uddin Ahmed, Mosabber Uddin Ahmed, Lt. Col. Rashidul Alom( 212#Ulon) Liton, Sujon (15#Ulon) Abu Hossain Monirul-Fat Mouina, Shimul, Gholam Faruk-Dhonu, Nahid-(Dhonu’s Son) Sumon, Shajitha’s husband (17#Ulon) UNB PRO: Zakir Hossain (313ulon) Misir Ali Lackey, of the Matabars, Sheeru, Shalludin, Momean and off springs (Matabars) Shalluddin Matabar’s Brother-in-Law Shoriful Islam (Ripon)
Paradise Developers (3/1 Ulon) A section of corrupt police staff from Rampura Thana. etc-mostly nondescript outsiders...

Details of the incident Army officer Major Muttakim, violating a young girl with a bunch of hired Hooligans.
Police sided with them were watching out with Brutal Satisfaction. She along with her father got tragically beaten up and wounded.

The Victims of a mass attack:

1) Father: Mizanur Rahman Sikder.

2) Mother: Momtaj Begum.

3) Daughter: Nadia Sikder.

This issue is regarding an innocent family comprising of 3members, had been for yrs. been subjected to inhuman persecution by an influential crime committing syndicate fulfilling their lust for "GREED."

On 5/11/2011, 10:00pm. at 211/2 Ulon Rd., West Rampura a staged Mob Attack was cold bloodedly devised by the local self-proclaimed Matabars for disintegrating a distinguished family comprising 3individuals with the clandestine motive of Grabbing their dwelling Home for nearly 40 years..., at the first stage of the ploy, they were conned into coming out from their semi-pucca bungalow. They could sense an oddness with the cold periphery, but little did they know in the nick of time what was to come! A lot of outsiders mostly nameless faceless individuals jammed up in front of them. 19Ulon "Chapal" descendants acted noticeably in great anticipation. Right at that exacting split second a vehicle rode up stationing in front. Muttakim, jerked down demonstrating enragement amongst his relatives of Chapal, indicated his Brother-in-Law Robin, (a drug addict) to launch forth into an argument with the father and daughter airing them with repulsive abuses to instigate a fight. Paradise Developers inner recesses at that phase innumerable hired mob were patiently paused until Robin give the first strike with fist full of punches onto the face of the father, the girl was shocked trying to release the entanglement but he aimed a sharp blow heavily also on her resisting to fall unconscious Major grabbed hold of her vehemently putting her down under hurtful duress spraining her body on top practically molested her even though her screams hysterically, were shattered away by those inhumane hoodlums rioting boisterously with the attempt to subside the agonizing tremor. Were by this time the vicinity was overpoweringly surrounded by the hired mobsters so that unwanted witnesses are unable to spy the reprehensibly huge deadly scene that lurked nearby. Her father was pushed further at bay tackling a sizable amount of injuries lashing at his exposure of in-defensibility struck through the heart by a cold thrill of terror the mother was crying her eyes out in a helpless fit for "Help" unexpectedly out of nowhere Monster-Man-Monir, like a raging bull from the palm of his enormous hands slapped an outrageous bruise onto her face. Shouting audibly for everyone to hear Daughter and Mother\'s Chastity would be abused to such an extent by all that a mere dog wound never set eyes on them he then spat on their faces. Now, take the girl\'s pants off stepping aside Muttakim he took over who was ushering a seemingly Military Jeep to frisk her inside. Monir pulled her legs towards him fumbling with her body even hitting hard to stop her exasperated commotion for release. Police piled thru watching with hilarity for sometime advising them to let go at once or it would be quite bitter for them cause the Ocand higher up are on there way...As a lighting was struck by Zeus, then they were freed for scuttling into their home\'s safety closing the Gate. They were robbed in between the Attack by Major Muttakim's unacceptable behavior of snatching their belongings consisted of mobile phone, a century old priceless antic stick (carried around for fleeing way street dogs for the safety of the Sikder's pet dog "Hachiko") from the girl he tortured ripping off her worn garments in places tearing away patently her costume jewelry and handing over to his in-laws Shamol, Tarick, Robin. Time of running inside their gate to safety her slippers fell, were not even returned back. Still Mob was not to be put off that easily, in front of police that was sided with them aired stones/bricks at all four sides at em. Trying to break open the gate by declaring out aloud "we will all burn you alive...tonight is you last night to live.......

A Formal Charge Against Major Md. Abu Muttakim, Mirpur Staff Student College.

A Component of the Master-Piece Memorandum (File):

An in-depth investigation should reveal the true nature, sickening personification of Maj. Muttakim, it is to be feared symptoms of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde split personality is rendered forth as a schizophrenic personality disorder in medical terms undoubtedly for which it clearly shows that specific instance which he rendered forth into a premeditated attack with his hordes of hired gangs upon the unfortunate family with the ultimate objective of Grabbing their Home formulated by those Matabars. The daughter was especially targeted as his primary victim by sexually battering her, disgorging upon the father “I m a Major, making me in reality your Grandpa, and will cut your balls with my bare hands; As I would like to put it in terms "The little kitty cat turns finally into a ferocious tiger." Therefore, his past history will confirm a sort of murderous mixture of timidity and boldness all these are points against him to substantiate as follows:

"Lt. Col. Rashidul Alom"=Ting a Ling----Ring a bell? But at that cycle he wasn’t known as Lt. Col. but a mere Major in uniform a newly upraised savior to a disreputable crime committing syndicate led by self-proclaimed “Matabars” (Sheeru, Shalluddin and Momean 3bros the root of all evil) brother-in-law of Monir Uddin Ahmed 212ulon rd. west rampura an uncontrollable criminal responsible of establishing an overwhelming brothel devoid of any obstacles been continuing rampantly for a prolonged period of time onto the ground floor of his apartment and he being well-regarded an influential member of the syndicate re-energized by his Major Rashid, sworn an eternal dedication of providing them with various assistance whenever it be obligatory. Thru his help multifarious transgression prevailed unreservedly from a wide-range of land grabbing, lake filling, harboring creating criminals, selling drugs, bribery blackmailing, prostitution, vandalizing, extortion, loan-sharking, encouraging building code violation, oppressing, attacking, releasing from police custody and ruining a renowned family has been going on unstoppably…. Well, obviously not for free though it always a provide and receive GAME. He was the ONE who arranged an abrupt matrimony to Captain Muttakim (his loyal and most trusted pup) intentionally took Tamanna Shultana (19 Ulon her grandpa Bazlur Rahman’s Building shifted over to 212) a bride whose records undoubtedly demonstrates an uncharacteristic lady practiced by profession intertwined in bigamy a “harlot” to several, specializingly taught by her own mother Ranu who used to promote her out in the Market Place for worth a prize and by that unmannerly phase was impregnated with a child which the infertile Gods would be unable to tell the father correctly. Men that she was deeply associated with dispatched never to show up ever again for the cause of unwilling to accept the unborn child that lay inside her womb. In such a desolate condition she commenced forth by intriguingly using illicit drugs supplied by her prominently notable as a sealed drug addicted homo-brother Majharul Siddique “Robin” and Mosabbar Uddin Ahmed Babon the son of Monir Uddin Ahmed is easily comprehend able by way of his companionship with queer young men in plentiful numbers getting together, suspiciously concealing themselves in a closed room of privacy for forming a joint undoubtedly taking assortment of various types of drugs that was thrown in rucksacks within close proximity. Drastically his attitude, actions altered bizarrely indicating to his transformation in all likelihood to a Homosexual, he kept an unguarded distance cementing a wall more with himself to others, it is to be discovered that he had already reached to such a affected juncture where it would be quite unattainable for his return back to normalcy. At the peak of the witch hour, distinctive lads formed in groups in the bedroom where experimentation of adulterer activism's advanced by getting chronically intoxicated. Highly sickening and disturbing one can’t help but feel remorse fulness for him.

For the discreditable state the aberrant family had to undergo as a whole if anyone is to be blamed then it would be Tammanna’s Father Tajul Islam, formerly used to teach in Ulon Khaled Haider Memorail High School as a junior teacher where incidentally Ranu, at that point was a student of his and therefore out of sheer poverty seduced him into having an affair luckily resulted in finally getting hitched “married”, afterwards thru persuasive determination somehow Tajul fruitfully managed to obtain a decent employment with a Pharmaceutical Company as a medical representative that earned his bread and butter for his entire family, all was well until disastrous struck when he most ungratefully stole a substantial amount of hard cash from the corporation, that same night he absconded, leaving behind his two kids and a wife undefended to escape as a fugitive to Italy with a generous amount of capital where it is believed that he married once again designed for bluffing the Immigration Department.

Muttakim, unmistakably knowing everything settled to take her in with the babe as his own; cause reason underlines logically that it is to be assumed undoubtedly if not already confirmed that he doesn’t have the maleness virility of siring any offspring with his very own seeds. It’s been nearly 15yrs since they were wedded and yet they have not breed any babies profitably, a total incapable with his ineffectual semen and sperm quality. Such an ignominy, was hushed down by the Matabars while the neighborhood was enraged with such vicarious sensational scandal indenting a lurid impression of vulgarism into the neighborhood setting a bad example for the young although the candid Matabars had a artifice in which the tainted couples and the entire family of “19Ulon” would devotedly employ themselves at their services as and when deemed necessary.

Major Muttakim’s actions invariably determines a person palpably in one word identified as a petty-thief, he has stolen just about anything he could lay his wretched hands upon from Iron Rod, Spare Parts of Engine, Plants, Flowering Pots myriads of things quite undetermined from Cantonment…He introduced himself as a “Lieutenant Colonel” spreading the news far and wide within the area so that everyone knows who they are dealing with by consistently bringing Army /RAB Vehicles, Jeeps into the area as a Demonstration in Little Ulon where a vast amount of traffic gets jam packed. For which the law enforcing agencies needed to intervene, by account effortlessly authenticated his deep noxious knack of proving himself for his lack of masculinity...

There is only one thing that I would like to add before finishing this important account is since Major Muttakim is in fact an Army Officer wasn’t it his sworn oath to Help Others Who Can’t Help Themselves? Then why in the name of Duty did he get into a murderous confrontation with the Sikder Family instead of protecting them from those engaged MOB Attackers with the main objective of Land Grabbing Scam invented by the Matabars in these hi-tech days, taking such a huge risk of jeopardizing his career which leads to questioning his motive of where exactly does his allegiance lie. Or has he forgotten his solemn oath before becoming a commissioned officer "Thy Shall Not Lie Cheat Nor Steal"…

For More Info Pls Check the Net Surfing: "Lt. Col. Rashidul Alom RAB-1 Co" an insulator of crime and an ally of injustice will uncover all his listed wrongdoings....