Sunday, May 08, 2011

BANGLADESH/PHILIPPINES: Why Filipinos must protest the attack on FMA Razzak?

Asian Human Rights Commission, May 6, 2011

Bangladeshi national F M A Razzak is the President of Human Rights Development Centre (HRDC) and Editor of the Pakkhik Gonomichhil in Paikgachha of Khulna district, Bangladesh. On April 29, 2011, Razzak and his younger brother, Mr. Bodiuzzaman Bodiar; brother-in-law, Mr. Bakkar, were attacked after having been kidnapped by the relatives of an army major, Mustafizur Rahman Bokul, upon the latter’s order.

After they were kidnapped and in custody of the Mustafizur Rahman’s relatives, t
he three were beaten severely. They gouged Razzak’s eye socket with screw drivers. They deliberately delay, with the tolerance of the local police, to have Razzak and the two other victims taken to hospital to be treated. Even when they were inside the hospital they were not given the immediate medical attention they needed. Had it not been due to pressure and publicity on their case, they would have probably been left to die.

What had happened to Razzak and his brothers is no different to the life of ordinary Filipinos in the country. The use of power and authority, in this case, being part of the security forces and by relatives of the security is a common practice of abuse in Filipino society. To be part of the security forces and to have a relation with anyone from the security forces–the police and the military–is in fact considered a form of protection for their family and for their interest.

Continues >>

No comments: