Original upload date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Archive date: Tue, 07 Dec 2021 23:09:26 GMT
After the arbitrary detaining and torture of British Citizen and prominent humanitarian aid worker, Rizwan Hussain on the 14th Of April at Zia International Airport, Dhaka, a new organisation has form
...
ed to raise awareness of the countless human rights violations committed in Bangladesh.
The "Bangladesh Human rights Coalition" is a gathering of established and recognised organisations who aim to ensure justice is achieved for Rizwan Hussain - and also to prevent future occurrence of such incidents.
With Bangladesh's track history for human right violations, an organisation such as this, unique and focussed, is hoping to exert pressure to ensure acts like this do not pass without notice.
The BHRC was created directly after the response garnered to the "Justice for Rizwan Hussain" group on social networking site Facebook. Prior to the group, the filtration of news surrounding the incident was heavily limited and managed.
The group has grown to over 5000 members under a week, and the petition, which was drafted by one of it's members on the 19th of April, has now over 8500 signatures (in five days) and is continually increasing rapidly in the number of signatories.
The rate of growth of the social networking group and the online petition is an indicator of how Riawan Hussain is seen in the British Bangladeshi and Muslim community and is a vivid sign that these acts will not be ignored.
To further exert pressure on key individuals, the Bangladesh Human Rights Coalition is organising a demonstration for the 26th of April 2008. Rizwan Hussain, among other high profile individuals will be speaking to show their support for the cause.
The Bangladesh Human Rights Coalition are asking for;
1. An independent enquiry into the matter.
2. An apology from the air force for the barbaric actions of their personnel.
3. An apology from the Caretaker Government for failing to prevent the injustice suffered by this high profile philanthropist.
4. The trial and dismissal of the officers involved in the incident, upon their conviction.
Demonstration Details:
Location: Aftab Ali Park, Whitechapel (Nearest Tube: Whitechapel Station)
Time: 5pm
Date: 26th April 2008
Press release created by Bangladesh Human Rights Coalition.
Press Contact:
Fatema Khatun
[email protected]