UNABATED rights violations, including custodial torture, extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearances, at the hands of the law enforcement agencies, which characterised the authoritarian Awami League regime, are where reform is expected. The reported allegation that a leader of Juba Dal, the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, has died in the custody of joint forces in Mymensingh suggests that the government needs to take decisive steps to bring change in the frame of mind of law enforcers. On September 18, the victim was taken in custody from the Golpukurpar in Mymensingh after several local businesses complained about his involvement in extortion, land grab and intimidation. He was pronounced dead the same day when the joint forces took him to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Some allege that the victim was severely beaten by the law enforcement agencies, leading to his death on the spot. The emergency ward has, meanwhile, confirmed that the joint forces also admitted six other injured to the hospital. The government should immediately investigate the allegation of custodial death and take early action to send out a message that abuse of power, normalised during the tenure of the now-deposed AL regime, would not be tolerated.
The widespread violation of rights during the AL regime has eroded public trust in the legal system. In January-July, as Ain O Salish Kendra says, at least eight, including two women, died in custody. The Australia-based Capital Punishment Justice Project reported at least 2,596 cases of extrajudicial killing in 2009鈥�2022. In the period, about 600 cases of enforced disappearances were reported. Of them, 100 still remained missing. After the fall of the AL regime, the Director General of Forces Intelligence confirmed that there are 23 secret detention centres. The public trust deficit towards the police is, therefore, rooted in over a decade of abuse of power and partisan use of law enforcers. The government has already taken steps to address the issue of enforced disappearances. On August 29, the chief adviser signed the instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances and formed a commission to investigate reported incidents of enforced disappearances. A police reform commission is also formed to identify systemic concern and suggest specific reforms. The main emphasis, however, should be given on ensuring justice for all past abuses, including those involved in the July massacre.
The government should, therefore, take the reported incident of custodial death seriously and ensure a judicious investigation and early action if the allegations are proved true. It should ensure that the police reform commission and the commission to investigate enforced disappearances should submit their reports in time and make the reports public. It should also ensure that errant law enforcers involved in abuses, such as extrajudicial killing and different forms of extortion, are also brought to justice.
