Are law enforcement agencies working for the fallen dictator?
Barrister Solaiman Tushar :
The people appointed by the fallen dictator Sheikh Hasina are still in the top positions of the interim government. They are collaborating with the dictatorial party in various ways. Even though there is a case of genocide, they are not arresting notable leaders and activists of the Awami League. The International Crimes Tribunal itself has expressed its anger over the matter. On the other hand, members of the security forces are arresting BNP leaders and activists without arrest warrants. Even several BNP leaders and activists have lost their lives due to their torture. It indicates that although Dictator Sheikh Hasina fled to India on 05 August 2024 in an unprecedented student uprising, the administration, the police, the judiciary, and the main aides of her long autocracy, remain intact.
Towhidul Islam (42), Convener of the Panchthuri Union Jubo Dal in Comilla Sadar Upazila, has died after allegedly being tortured in military custody on 31 January 2025. He was allegedly picked up from his home by the joint forces on early Friday and later died at Comilla Medical College Hospital. Family members have claimed that he was tortured to death, as physicians found torture marks on his body (Dhaka Tribune, 01st February 2025). No warrant was presented as he was taken away, leaving his wife and children frozen in fear, relatives said. Hours later, his body was found in a hospital, bearing signs of severe torture, including swollen limbs, deep bruises, and broken bones. The Bangladesh Army has removed a local camp commander and announced an investigation in this matter. BNP has called the incident a “targeted political killing”, accusing the government of using security forces to suppress opposition voices ahead of the country’s next election. On the same day, 31 January, three activists of Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir were injured in an attack by the banned Chhatra League in Indurkani Upazila of Pirojpur.
Mymensingh Metropolitan Jubo Dal Joint General Secretary Saidul Islam (40) died on 17 September 2024 due to torture by security forces. On 16 September 2024, the joint forces arrested him from his chamber. There were injury marks on his body from the waist to the lower part of his body.
Upazila Jamaat secretary Abdullah Hill Kafi was killed in an attack by miscreants in Naogaon’s Sapahar, on 30 August 2024. He died while undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College (Ramek) Hospital on 31 August 2024.
A Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal leader Shawkat Ali Didar (40) was killed and 50 others were injured in an attack allegedly by Awami League men in Gopalganj town on 13 September 2024.
During Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule, party people have been appointed in all sectors of the state. The officers appointed by Sheikh Hasina are currently in important positions in the state. Although Sheikh Hasina has fallen, her appointed officers are still in various positions. The officers appointed by this fallen dictator Hasina are running the Judiciary, Police, and Civil Service.
The current situation in Bangladesh is very unrest. The senior officers of the administration are still helping the Awami League. Even though, several cases were filed against the Awami League, Chhatra League leaders, and activists in connection with genocide, and crimes against humanity committed during the quota reform movement in July-August 2024, security forces are not working fairly to arrest them. Even the judiciary is still acting in favour of the Awami League. In the Capital, Dhaka alone, 572 Awami League and its allies arrested for genocide and other crimes have been released on bail as of 26 January 2025. Most of those released on bail were arrested for non-bailable crimes.
Former Awami League Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury walked out of jail on 08 October 2024, hours after being granted bail in six cases including several murder cases. On 09 October 2024, a Sunamganj court granted bail to former planning minister MA Mannan in a case filed over attacks on protesters in the district during the student-led mass uprising. The cases in which the two former Ministers of the Awami League government have been granted bail are non-bailable offenses. They got bail even after there was a murder case against them. On the other hand, Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the Daily Amar Desh, was not granted bail in a relatively weak case. As a result, the question of whether the judiciary is working on behalf of the Awami League leaders and activists has naturally arisen. A kind of panic has spread among the leaders and workers of BNP and Jamaat regarding this issue.
Law and order forces are not arresting most of the Awami League activists despite the cases. On the other hand, BNP-Jamaat activists are being arrested and even killed extra judicially. BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists are now being tortured by members of the law-enforcement forces on one side, and on the other hand, Awami League, and Chhatra League leaders and activists are being organized and attacked. Sheikh Hasina is directing this attack.
Now a question naturally arises: are law enforcement agencies working for the fallen dictator Sheikh Hasina? Are the leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat being victims of targeted killings? Otherwise, why would they be victims of murders at the hands of law enforcement?
(Barrister Tushar is an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and a researcher in international law).