Update

***French President Hosts Reception for Human Rights Defenders at Élysée Palace***Human Rights Lawyer Shahanur Islam Joins Hands with ARDHIS for Bangladeshi LGBTQI Asylum Seekers in France***New Platform to Fight Discrimination Against LGBTQI+ Community in Bangladesh***Human Rights Advocates Meet with French Ambassador to the Council of Europe ***Bangladesh Needs to Make Further Progress Towards Gender Equality***JusticeMakers Bangladesh calls for justice and protection for religious minorities in Bangladesh***French Human Rights Ambassador Honours HR Defenders at Paris***JusticeMakers Bangladesh is deeply concerned over the harassment against student of Islamic University in Bangladesh***JusticeMakers Bangladesh urges to withdraw the ban of Prity's book "Jonmo O Jonir Itihas" immediately***JusticeMakers Bangladesh expresses deep concern, condemnation and protest over the vandalism 14 Hindu temples in Thakurgaon***JusticeMakers Bangladesh deeply concern over the threat of crossfire to the lawyer Aminul Gani Tito in Dhaka***JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concerns over the attacked on CEO of BELA***JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concerns over the disappearance of lawyer in Dhaka***JusticeMakers Bangladesh Urges Immidiate Release of Arrested Transgenders in Dhaka***JusticeMakers Bangladesh concerns over viciously attacked on lawyer Abdur Rashid Mollah at Dhaka***JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concerned over attacked on indigenous people at Bogura***JusticeMakers Bangladesh welcomes the decision of Metropolitan Magistrate to acquit four Transgenders in Dhaka***JusticeMakers Bangladesh Protests and concerns Over the Abduction and Torture of Two Trans-women in Meherpur***Shahanur Islam attended the 21st World Summit on Participatory Democracy at Grenoble, France***

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

URGENT APPEAL: A young tribal man torture to death by military forces at Shuvalong under Rangamati district in Bangladesh.

BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME

URGENT APPEAL CASE: BIHR-IUA-29-06-2009

BANGLADESH: A young tribal man torture to death by military forces at Shuvalong under Rangamati district in Bangladesh.

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DATE: June 30, 2009

ISSUES: Arbitrary arrest; torture, extrajudicial killing and impunity

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Dear Friends

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights has been received a report from its reliable network organization regarding a tribal Youngman torture to death at Shuvalong under Rangamati district in Bangladesh by military forces. Though the victim family demanded to make a credible investigation to bring the allege perpetrators before justice, yet no proper action has been taken by the concern authority.

URGENT APPEAL: BANGLADESH: A young tribal man torture to death by military forces at Shuvalong under Rangamati district in Bangladesh.

BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME
URGENT APPEAL CASE: BIHR-IUA-29-06-2009
 BANGLADESH: A young tribal man torture to death by military forces at Shuvalong under Rangamati district in Bangladesh. ======================================== 
 DATE: June 29, 2009 ISSUES: Arbitrary arrest; torture, extrajudicial killing and impunity ========================================= 
 Dear Friends 
 Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights has been received a fact finding report from its reliable network organization regarding a tribal Youngman torture to death at Shuvalong under Rangamati district in Bangladesh by military forces. Though the victim family demanded to make a credible investigation to bring the allege perpetrators before justice, yet no proper action has been taken by the concern authority. 

Friday, June 26, 2009

NEWS: BIHR along with BRCT Celebrate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) along with Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT), Human Rights Development Centre-HRDC in cooperation with European commission celebrate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture by organize a view exchange meeting on “Together against Torture & Organized Violence on Indigenous / Tribal People” from 12.00pm -2.00 pm on June 26, 2009 at Reporters Unity Conference Room, Sagun Bagicha, Dhaka.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

URGENT APPEAL: BANGLADESH: Ensure the protection of human rights defender: Shahanur Islam Saikot.

25 June 2009 
 The Hague 
 URGENT APPEAL: [UPDATE] BANGLADESH: Ensure the protection of human rights defender: Shahanur Islam Saikot. [UA-BA-2009-06-26] ------------------------------------------------------ 

 ISSUES: Threats, death threats to human rights defenders; impunity ------------------------------------------------------ 
 BANGLADESH: Ensure the protection of human rights defender: Shahanur Islam Saikot. Dear Friends, Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) has received updated information regarding the continuous serious threats to Shahanur Islam, a human rights defender and lawyer in Bangladesh. The latest incident of intimidation occurred on 15-16 June 2009. Mr. Islam received a threatening phone call thrice within an hour, on 15 June; and at 12:00am on 16 June respectively. The caller used foul language, which carried the message of sexual harassment towards Mr. Islam’s female members of his family. He also threatened Mr. Islam that he could ‘attack him at any time’. Despite Mr. Islam’s efforts, there has still been no action taken by the police authorities. Also, the concerned police stations are trying to discourage him to file charges.

URGENT APPEAL: Communication with United Nation by GHRD Regarding to Intimidation of Mr. Shahanur

Case number: 008-GHRD-HRCFBD-009-14-islam

Country: Bangladesh

Last name: Islam

First name: Shahanur

Type of Violation: Violation to personal integrity.

Act(s): Threats, death threats to human rights defender.

Submitted to: United Nations Special Procedures Division – Human Rights Defenders

Date of Submission to the UNSP: 1st version, 02.06.2009

Updated version: 25.06.2009

GHRD Contact: Jenny Lundström

1. Identity of the victim:

Name: Shahanur Islam Saikot

Position: Secretary General and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Centre for Human Rights and Development, Coordinator of Centre for Human Rights Fact Finding & Research, Programme Officer of Legal and Human Rights Affairs at the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights and Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims, as well as a member of the Bangladesh Bar Council and Bar Association in Dhaka District.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

NEWS: BIHR and BRCT is jointly going to observe the UN day of support to victim of torture.

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT) is jointly going to organize a view exchange meeting on “Together against Torture & organized Violence on Indigenous/Tribal People” from 12.00pm -2.00 pm on June 26, 2009 as the part of difference programme on the occasion of observance of United Nation Day of Support to the Torture Victim. In the meeting Sanjeeb Drong, General Secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous People Forum has kindly given consent to present the event as chief guest. Rang Lai Mro, a human rights activist and tribal leader has also given consent to present the event as special guest. Dr. AK Khalilur Rahman will preside the vent and Adv. Shahanur Islam will moderate the meeting.

URGENT APPEAL: Urge to Investigate Case of Intimidations to Human Rights Defenders and Provide Protection Immediately

Mr. Nur Mohammad Inspector General of Police Bangladesh Police Police Headquarters' Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000 BANGLADESH 
 23 June 2009 
 Dear Mr. Nur Mohammad, 
  Urge to Investigate Case of Intimidations to Human Rights Defenders and Provide Protection Immediately 
 The Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples (ACPP), a regional human rights organization based in Hong Kong, has been informed by an organization in Bangladesh that Mr. Shahanur Islam is under threat again. We are writing to express our concern over the personal security of Mr. Islam. Mr. Shahanur Islam, Program Manager of Legal and Human Rights Affairs at Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and affiliated with other human rights organizations, has been threatened by phone calls over the years. The latest incident of intimidation occurred on 15-16 June. According to information received, Mr. Islam received a phone call from 01713702555 and 01715122888 thrice within an hour, at 11:57pm and 11:58pm on 15 June; and at 12:00am on 16 June respectively.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

FACT FINDING REPORT:Human Rights Defender & Lawyer Mr. Shahanur Islam Once Again Received Threat

Date: June 18, 2009
Fact Finding Case: BIHR-HRD-05-09

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights has been received a fact finding report conducted by the fact finding team of BIHR from June 16 to 17, 2009 regarding to intimidation of Mr. Shahanur Islam Saikot, Programme Manager of Legal and Human Rights Affairs at the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT) by cell phone. According to the information received, there was no action taken by the police authorities.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

COMMUNICATION: United Nations Special Procedures Division – Human Rights Defenders

GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENCE-GHRD Case number: BA-HRD-02.06.2009 
  Country: Bangladesh 
  Last name: Islam 
  First name: Shahanur 
  Type of Violation: 
 Submitted to: United Nations Special Procedures Division – Human Rights Defenders 
 Date of Submission to the UN: 16 May 2008 
  GHRD Contact: Jenny Lundström, Roger Lloret Blackburn 
  1. Identity of the victim: Name: Shahanur Islam Saikot 
  Position: Secretary General and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Centre for Human Rights and Development, Coordinator of Centre for Human Rights Fact Finding & Research, Programme Officer of Legal and Human Rights Affairs at the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights and Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims, as well as a member of the Bangladesh Bar Council and Bar Association in Dhaka District. 
  Citizenship: Bangladeshi 
  Work address: Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights, 27 Bijoy Nagar Dhaka-1000 Bangladesh 
  2. Date and place of event: Date: 28 April at about 3 p.m. 
  Location: In front of court chief judicial magistrate court ground in Shariyatpur District. 
  3. Alleged perpetrator(s): Mr. Anis, Member of the Rapid Action Battalion in Madaripur, and other unidentified group of around 7 members of the Rapid Action Battalion. 
  4. Case Documents: Document: Date: N/A