Merely withdrawing an official responsible for someone’s death is not a disciplinary measure at all, said National Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman yesterday.
He said officers whose firing without instructions from high-ups led to deaths of commoners could be considered to have committed criminal acts.
Mizanur was talking to reporters after offering condolences to the family members of those who died as police fired on a demonstration against Friday’s assault on a local man and his mother in Tangail’s Kalihati upazila.
“Those responsible for the four deaths should be brought to book in line with the law and given punishment as well. This is our demand and we expect it for the sake of justice, rule of law and good governance,” the human rights official said.
He described Friday’s assault on Alamin and his mother as a sad incident and said it was too shocking to be protested against verbally.
“There is no way to describe how a mother lost her dignity and respect. It was brutal. Any conscientious individual will protest against it and that is what the locals actually did.
“As far as we have been informed, people demonstrated in a peaceful fashion and they did not resort to any act of violence. The authorities concerned will have to be held accountable for what police did during such a non-violent protest that claimed people’s lives. Everyone has the right to know who ordered police to shoot,” Mizanur said.
He said the human rights commission wants to know whose order was executed when police opened fire and also if there was any strong reason to use bullets.
“We have talked to the general people and we learned how they felt about the incident. This makes me think that there is no other way but to subject the offenders to exemplary punitive measures in order to return people the sense of security and to help them feel better again,” the rights commission chief said.
He urged the local probe team to carry out a fair and unbiased investigation into the incident.
“The probe report should be acceptable to all. If any doubt arises, the human rights commission will be forced to initiate a fresh probe of its own accord.”
Mizanur also visited Alamin and his mother who are undergoing treatment at Tangail Medical College Hospital. He asked doctors to ensure proper medical care for the two.
