Soon after the BNP-Jamaat coalition government took office in 2001, the military ran ‘Operation Clean Heart’ from Oct 16, 2002, to Jan 9, 2003, to eliminate the persons the government deemed as threats. To label it as a drive against terrorism, BNP-Jamaat killed some of their local party members. However, the main target of this operation was to eliminate Awami League and other opposition leaders. If the purpose was to uproot terrorists, criminals and drug traffickers, BNP-Jamaat wouldn’t need to enact an indemnity law to save those involved in this operation from any legal actions in future. Bangladesh saw another indemnity law before this. After the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Khondaker Mostaq came up with an indemnity law to save the killers. In the near future, those killers ran for office with BNP’s election symbol.
Many people died during the operation that the authorities claimed was due to ‘heart attacks’ but rights groups described them as extra-judicial executions. Most of the victim’s families were afraid to say anything to the legal service providers, let alone any media. Here is a list of known and claimed incidents of this operation. A total of 46 incidents were reported where the victims died of severe injuries, and some of them were shot. But, almost in every incident, the authorities claimed the victims had a heart attack. It is an irony that the name of the operation is ‘Operation Clean Heart’ and most of the victims died of heart attacks (as per the authority).
Incident 1: Shafiqul Islam
October 17, 2002, in Sherpur, Bogra, a by-stander rickshaw-puller named, Shafiqul Islam age 18, died when the army opened fire on an agitating mob. The people of the area were demonstrating due to the arrest of a ruling local BNP leader Jan-e-Alam Khoka. However, Mr Khoka was later released on October 27, 2002, by executive order of the Home Minister of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Bogra is the home district of Khaleda Zia (Ref: The Daily Star, Oct.18, 2002)
Incident 2: Syed Yakub Ali
On October 18, 2002, Syed Yakub Ali age 40, of Uttara, Dhaka was picked up by Army in the early morning of October 17, 2002, and later died in army custody. Yakub was a land broker and Organizing Secretary of Uttara Thana BNP. His family alleged that Yakub was picked up due to a previous altercation with a person in the area who happened to be the brother of a serving senior army officer of Dhaka Garrison (Ref: Daily Prothom Alo, Daily Janakhanta, Oct. 19, 2002).
Incident 3: Hazi Jahangir Hossain
On October 18, 2002, Hazi Jahangir Hossain 38, of Pallabi, Dhaka was picked up by Army in the early morning of October 17, 2002, and later died in army custody. Jahangir was a fish trader. His family reported that Jahangir was not directly related to any political activities but was a supporter of the opposition Awami League. No one in the area was sure why the army picked Jahangir in the early hours of operation, as he was not a listed criminal (Ref: Daily Prothom Alo, Daily Janakhanta, Oct. 19, 2002).
Incident 4: Abul Khair Molla Ratan
On October 19, 2002, Abul Khair Molla Ratan (50) of Kashiani, Gopalganj, died in army custody. Molla was a freedom fighter and a local BNP leader. He was a former Union Parishad (Local Council) Chairman. A murder case dated 1986 against Molla is under trial (Ref: Daily Janakhanta, Oct. 20, 2002).
Incident 5: Afzal Hossain
On October 21, 2002, Afzal Hossain, age 30, a poultry feed trader of Savar, about 20 km northwest of capital Dhaka died in army custody. He did not have any apparent criminal record (Ref: Daily Janakantha, Oct.23, 2002).
Incident 6: Amirul Hoque Chowdhury Rocket
On October 22, 2002, Amirul Hoque Chowdhury Rocket, age 35 of Bhola Town, Bhola, Southern Bangladesh died in army custody. Mr Chowdhury was a trade union leader and General Secretary of Bhola District Srameek League, the labour wing of the opposition Awami League (Ref: Daily Janakantha, Oct.23, 2002).
Incident 7: Shafiuzzaman
On October 22, 2002, Shafiuzzaman age 35 of Sadullapur Thana of Gaibandha District of northern Bangladesh died in army custody (Ref: Daily Janakantha, Oct.24, 2002).
Incident 8: Masum Biswas
On October 23, 2002, Masum Biswas, age 35 of Clay Road, of Metropolitan Khulna (a southern divisional headquarter) was
taken into army custody later that day Mr Biswash was returned to Police and admitted to hospital. Mr Biswash died in Dhaka Medical College Hospital on October 27, 2002. Masum Biswash is a cousin of opposition Awami League (AL) member of the parliament (MP) Sheikh Helaluddin. Mr Biswash’s family alleged that he was an AL sympathizer and was not active in politics and did not have any criminal records. It is widely believed in the area that the army came to arrest Mr Biswash’s cousin, Sheikh Helal (Ref: Daily Janakantha, Oct.28, 2002).
Incident 9: Nazmul Islam Milon
On October 24, 2002, Nazmul Islam Milon, age 40 of Razpara Thana of Metropolitan Rajshahi (a northern divisional headquarter) died in army custody. Mr Milon was a local BNP activist and used to work as a gatekeeper of a local Theatre (Bornali Cinema). Milon had some form of past criminal record (Ref: Daily Janakantha, Oct.25, 2002).
Incident 10: Kalachan Tripura
On October 25, 2002, Kalachan Tripura, age 56, a serving Police Constable of Rajkhali Camp of Pekua Thana of Greater Chittagong District was beaten by two army members as Kalachand failed to produce his ID card during an army raid. Later, Kalachand was admitted to hospital and declared clinically dead on October 27, 2002. Mr Kalachand Tripura is a serving Police Constable who belongs to the minority tribal community of Tipra’s of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. It should be noted that the majority of members of the Bangladesh Armed Services are from the Bengali Muslim majority population (Ref: Daily Janakantha, Oct.27 and 28, 2002).
Incident 11: Abdul Aziz Sarder
On October 23, 2002, Abdul Aziz Sarder, age 47, of Maishalbari of Pangsha Thana of Rajbari District was taken into army custody. Later on October 25, 2002, at about 10:00 PM, Mr Sarder was brought to Rajbari Hospital by Police and declared dead. The army stated that Mr Sarder tried to escape during the army operation and became ill. Mr Sarder was the former Chairman of Pangsha Municipality and current General Secretary of Pangsha Thana BNP. It was alleged in the newspaper that Sarder had a dubious relationship with local political criminal gangs (Ref: Daily Janakantha, Oct.27, 2002).
Incident 12: Khorshed Alam
On October 26, 2002 morning (6:00 AM), Khorshed Alam, age 35, a day labourer was beaten by army members while he was sleeping at the Choumuhuni Railway Station in Noakhali. Later that morning around 10:00 AM, Mr Alam died at the Noakhali General Hospital. Khorshed Alam is from a rural village of Kalakopa of Ramgai Thana in the Greater Noakhali area (Ref: Daily Janakantha, Oct.27, 2002).
Incident 13: Liton
On October 28, 2002, at about 1:30 PM, one person named Liton, age 27, was taken into army custody from a poultry farm in Savar, an area about 20 km northwest of the capital Dhaka. Later that afternoon, he died at the Savar Military Hospital at around 6:00 PM. The army stated that Liton was a notorious criminal and he fall from a rooftop while trying to escape army arrest (Ref: Daily Janakantha, Oct.29, 2002).
Incident 14: Jamir Uddin
October 29, 2002, Jamir Uddin, (35) a carpenter and activist of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party, died at the Golapganj upazila health complex at 5:10 pm yesterday. An army team picked up Jamir from his Dattarail residence at Golapganj and took him to its Upazila Parishad complex camp in the early hours of yesterday. He was later taken to the Dakshin High School and severely beaten up in front of several pedestrians. According to sources, the troops asked Jamir about the whereabouts of some local criminals. (Source: The Daily Star Oct 30, 2002)
Incident 15: Abu Sayed Telu
On October 22, 2002, Abu Sayed Telu, age 20, a Higher Secondary student of SA College, Choumuhuni, Noakhali was picked up by the army and later transferred to Dhaka Central Jail. Mr Telu was later admitted to Dhaka Chest Hospital for chest pain and died on October 30, 2002. An autopsy performed at Dhaka Medical College Hospital revealed that Telu died from a chest injury resulting from a severe beating. Mr Telu did not have any apparent political link (Ref: Daily Ittefaq, Daily Observer, October 31, 2002).
Incident 16: Zenifer Syed King
On October 29, 2002 evening, Zenifer Syed King, age 25, of Panchgar Town, Panchgar (the northernmost district town of Bangladesh) was taken into army custody while he was gossiping with his friends in front of a local residential hotel. Later that evening he was transferred to Panchgar General Hospital where he died on October 30, 2002, at about 6:00 AM. King was a member of the ruling BNP student front. The army claimed that he had connections with criminal activities. (Ref: Daily Ittefaq, Daily Observer, October 31, 2002).
Incident 17: Tota Mia
On October 30, 2002, early morning about 4:00 AM, Mr Tota Mia, age 37, of Khoazpur Village of Madaripur Sadar Thana was taken into army custody from his home. Later that morning at about 9:00 AM he was brought to Madaripur General Hospital where he died immediately. Tota Mia was a member of the district executive committee of Jatiyo Shamajtantric Dal (JSD), a left-leaning political party known for its pro-people democratic politics (Ref: Daily Ittefaq, Daily Observer, October 31, 2002).
Incident 18: Mizanur Rahman Busha
The Jubo Dal activist, identified as Mizanur Rahman Busha, 40, was picked up from his Post Office Para residence at about 5:00 pm and handed over to police about two and a half hours later. Police produced him before the court the next day and he was placed on a three-day remand. Our Chuadanga correspondent, quoting sources, reports that police, acting on information received from Mizanur during interrogation, recovered a revolver from a toilet in the house of one Abdul Jabbar at Sheikhpara in Chuadanga town. As Mizanur fell sick, he was rushed to a local hospital and then shifted to the Khulna Sadar Hospital at about 3:30 am yesterday. He died there about two hours later. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 2, 2002)
Incident 19: Lebu Mia
Nov 03, 2002: The victim in Habiganj has been identified as Lebu Mia, 45. He was declared dead when taken to Habiganj Sadar Hospital from court hajat after he “fell sick”, our Sylhet correspondent reported quoting sources. Lebu Mia, his brother Firoz Mia, 50, and the chairman of Devpara Union Parishad were picked up after the army recovered a submachine gun (SMG) from a waterbody there. After arrest, they were interrogated and later handed over to police. Police produced them before the court, which sent them to court hajat. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 4, 2002)
Incident 20: Abdul Haque
Nov 04, 2002: A young man arrested by the army on October 24 died at the MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet. He was in jail custody. Abdul Haque, 30, son of Moshahid Ali of village Purbapara of Golapganj Upazila was picked up by army men from the upazila headquarters on Thursday. Later, he was turned over to the police on Saturday. The same day he was produced before the court, which placed him in the Sylhet Central Jail. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 5, 2002)
Incident 21 ( Police Custody): Emran Hossain
Nov 05: Top criminal Emran Hossain alias Kala Faruq, who was arrested at Zia International Airport on Monday minutes before he was to fly off to Sweden, died in police custody yesterday under mysterious circumstances. Police claimed that Faruq was shot in the left leg as tried to escape. Earlier, he was taken to the Osmany Hostel of the Textile College at Tejgaon at about 12:20 am yesterday to nab his accomplices. Injured, he was taken to the National Orthopaedic (Pongu) Hospital where he died at around 1:20 am yesterday, police said. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 6, 2002)
Incident 22: Reshidul Hasan
Nov 07: Another person died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday after he was arrested by the army on Saturday at Tejkunipara in the city and released after interrogation the following day. His name is Reshidul Hasan. Army picked him up from his home, 210 Tejkuni Para and he was not tressed for 24 hours. The next day he was found in front of his house but unconscious and admitted to hospital. He died on Nov 07, 2002. According to his family sources, he was tortured by electric shock and bitten seriously(Source: The Daily Star Nov 08, 2002, Prohom Alo, 07, 2002)
Incident 23: Saiful Islam
Saiful Islam, 22, picked up by the army yesterday, died in police custody while being taken to Feni Sadar Hospital. Our Feni correspondent reported that an army team picked him up from his Bashpara village home at 10:00 am yesterday and recovered three crackers from him during the body search. He was handed over to Chagalnaiya police at 3:00 pm. Saiful fell sick at about 4:00 pm and was sent to Chagalnaiya Health Complex. He died on the way while being shifted to Feni Sadar Hospital… (Source: The Daily Star Nov 08, 2002)
Incident 24: Abu Sufian
Abu Sufian, son of Abdul Hamid and a resident of 41/12 Chanmari Housing area in the city’s Mohammadpur area, was picked up by an army team from his house at about 10:50 pm on Friday. On quizzing him, the army took Sufian to Banshbari in Mohammadpur and recovered a pistol from his possession, Mohammadpur police said. Sufian died in army custody at about 4:55 pm yesterday. The body was not handed over to the police, nor could it be confirmed where it was till late last night. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 10, 2002)
Incident 25: Abul Kashem
An elderly person, who was picked up by the army on November 2 morning and handed over to police later in the day after interrogation, died Sunday evening. He was in jail custody. Our Tangail correspondent reports that an army team picked up Abul Kashem, a 73-year-old farmer of Bhagura village under the Dhanbari police station, from his residence at around 6:00 am on November 2. The next day, he was produced before a first-class magistrate’s court in Tangail, which sent him to the Tangail District Jail. On November 5, Kashem fell sick and was sent to the district hospital where he died Sunday evening. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 12, 2002)
Incident 26: Zahurul Islam
Nov 19: A team of army, Bangladesh Rifles, Police and Ansar personnel went to the bank colony at the IG gate to arrest listed extortionists of the area (as identified as Zahurul Islam alias Mia, 28). While they nabbed Johnny, Liton and Kajal, their leader Zahurul wrestled free and escaped. However, the leader of Mia Bahini (named after Zahurul) could not get far off as he was caught by the mob and seriously beaten. The joint forces, who were still in the area, came to his rescue and took him to a nearby hospital where on-duty doctors declared him dead. One source, however, claimed that the army men in plain clothes had caught Zahurul as he tried to escape and given him a beating. According to local people, the joint forces raided the area for the last few days as they tried desperately to arrest Zahurul. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 20, 2002).
Incident 27: Abdul Malek
Nov 19: A tailor named Abdul Malek 30. Meanwhile, after keeping the man for nearly six hours, the army sources finally said they had found the middle-aged man unconscious near the Abdullahpur Bridge on the Dhaka-Maowa highway and handed him to Keraniganj police. Keraniganj police, however, said they refused to receive the unconscious man when an army team brought him in the morning and instead sent him to the Mitford Hospital where the attending doctors declared him dead. Later, police changed their statement saying that a team from the Kenakhola camp had found the man near the bridge and brought him to the police station. Sub-inspector Abdul Quader of the Keraniganj station lodged an unnatural death case with the police station. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 20, 2002).
Incident 28: Tasu Mia
Nov 21, A middle-aged commercial artist, who was picked up by the army from his Babupura shop Tuesday evening, died yesterday morning. According to sources, Tasu Mia 40 fell sick during army interrogation yesterday morning and was taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where on-duty doctors declared him dead. However, army sources claim a team of joint forces went to the city’s Katabon area with the 40-year-old at around 3:00 am yesterday to recover firearms. Asked to lead them to a hidden cache of firearms, Tasu removed the lid of a manhole in the area, pulled out a loaded revolver and shot at an army officer, leaving him injured. . As he tried to run away, he was run over by a pickup van. In critical condition, he was admitted to the DMCH where he died at around 4:00 am. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 22, 2002)
Incident 29: Mohammad Hakim
Nov 21: Labourer Mohammad Hakim, injured in an army-criminals shootout during a drive at Aminbazar in the city on November 13, died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday. Hakim and two other labourers — Abu Musa and Alamgir — were injured in the shootout. They were admitted to the DMCH on the same day. The two others are improving, sources there said. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 22, 2002)
Incident 30: Mohammad Masum alias Masud
Nov 22: The victim has been identified as Mohammad Masum alias Masud, 23 of Chachuya in Narayanganj. Fatullah police said Masum and another young man Arif Hossain alias Aziz were handed over to them by the army on Tuesday night. Our Narayanganj correspondent quoting police said Masum and Aziz entered the garage of one Rokonuddin at Masdair on Monday night. The two were caught while stealing car parts and handed over to an army team. The army handed them over to Fatullah police on Tuesday night. Police took them to Narayanganj General Hospital as their condition was critical. As Masum’s condition deteriorated he was shifted to DMCH where he died on Thursday night ( Nov22,2002). Hospital sources said there were marks of injury on his body. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 23, 2002)
Incident 31: Arju Miah
Nov25: A young man in Gazipur, according to army sources, Arju Miah, 35, was picked up from his Hazipara residence at about 3:00 pm yesterday. He was sent to the Gazipur Sadar Hospital. Later, a sub-inspector was called to the hospital and asked to rush the victim to the DMCH who finally died at about 8:15 last night. The sources said the army turned over Arju to police at about 6:50 pm, a contention Gazipur police contested. The police said Arju was not handed over to them. Rather, an officer was asked to attend to him at the hospital. Police said the dead had no job but was facing several criminal charges. They could not say what those charges were. No case or complaint as regards the death was filed with the police till late last night. The body was sent to the DMCH morgue for autopsy. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 26, 2002)
Incident 32: Shariful Mallick
Nov25: Shariful Mallick (26), an alleged outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), was picked up from his Mohishaguni village home on November 1, according to Our Khulna Correspondent. He was sent to the Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) where the attending doctors declared him dead at about 8:00 pm. Army sources in the capital said joint forces had arrested him at about 10:30 am on November 1 and handed him over to police on the spot. Mallick was not taken into army custody, the sources maintained. The additional Police Super of the zone also supervised the November 1 drive, they added. Later Mallick was placed in jail custody. Yesterday, he complained of chest pain and was taken to the hospital. According to police, Mallick fell sick reportedly during interrogation in the army camp. He was produced before the court showing him arrested on suspicion (under section 54 of the CrPC). On November 12, a court gave him a one-month detention order under the Special Powers Act. charges against Mallick were not specified. (Source: The Daily Star Nov 26, 2002)
Incident 33: Tipu Biswas
Dec 1, 2002: Tipu Biswas, 30, stepbrother of the Khulna city BNP vice-president and former MP, Abdul Gaffar Biswas, was arrested drunk. But local army sources said Tipu, also a businessman, was caught extorting near the Khalispur guesthouse at about 8.40 pm. The army took him to several spots on information to recover firearms. But no firearm was found. During the search for firearms, he told the army team that he was feeling sick and was rushed to the KMCH where the on-duty doctor declared him dead at about 4.00 am yesterday, the sources added. According to police, an army team picked up Tipu near the WAPDA colony at about 8.45 pm Saturday. He was later taken to the army camp at the Khulna Divisional Stadium for interrogation. Another source said Tipu was taken to the KMCH at 4.00 am after he died at 1.00 am. He fell sick after army interrogation, the source added. Family members said they were not aware of where and how Tipu died after his arrest. (Source: The Daily Star Dec 02, 2002)
Incident 34: Abdus Sattar
Dec 11, 2002: A businessman, who was picked up by the army, died at the Mohammad Ali Hospital in Bogra in the early hours of yesterday. An army team from the Dupchanchia camp picked up Abdus Sattar, (50) from his residence at Masterpara village at about 1:30 am on Tuesday on a charge of involvement in drug and arms trading. Our Bogra correspondent reported that the businessman fell sick soon after he was taken to the army camp. As his condition deteriorated, he was rushed to the Dupchanchia Health Complex. Later, Sattar was shifted to the Mohammad Ali Hospital at about 9:00 pm on Tuesday because his condition further deteriorated. A team of army physicians and specialists at the hospital examined him. The businessman died at the hospital at about 1:20 am yesterday. Immediately after his death, army personnel restricted the movement of people at the hospital, except the doctors on duty. The inquest and autopsy were done in presence of a first-class magistrate and police officials. Sattar’s body was sent to his village at about 12:40 pm yesterday under army supervision. Local army sources told newsmen that Sattar had been suffering from diabetes, blood pressure and heart diseases. He died of a heart attack. One of the sources said Sattar attempted to run away from a toilet at the army camp. As the army personnel prevented him from escaping, a scuffle broke out and he (Sattar) was injured. Hospital sources said there were marks of injuries and bruises in different parts of Sattar’s body. Family members of the deceased refused to accept his body saying they (the army) have to prove that he was a criminal. Sattar’s only son Asaduzzaman and his daughters – Mukta, Chanda, Muni, Sony and Rikta – held a press conference at their house and claimed that their father died due to physical and mental torture. A son-in-law of the deceased also made similar allegations. The autopsy report said Sattar was suffering from heart disease and that he died of a heart attack. But a medical certificate issued by the civil surgeon of Bogra about a week ago said he (Sattar) was in good health. The certificate was needed as he wanted to perform hajj. Superintend of Police Khan Said Hasan told The Daily Star they were yet to get any criminal allegation against Sattar but they were investigating the matter. (Source: The Daily Star Dec 12, 2002)
Incident 35: M Shafiuddin Ahmed Swapan
Dec 16, 2002, M Shafiuddin Ahmed Swapan, 33, son of Nehar Uddin Ahmed of Kaliakoir, Gazipur, was picked up by the joint force Sunday night and handed over to Tongi thana police. Police first admitted an ailing Shafiuddin to a private clinic at Tongi and then shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he died in the early hours of Monday. There were three cases with Kaliakoir thana against Shafiuddin, who was a Roads and Highways contractor. He was involved with BNP politics. His body has been kept at the DMCH morgue. A UD case was filed with Tongi thana. ( UNB) In Tongi, the joint forces picked up \cf1\i Shafi Uddin Ahmed Swapan\cf0\i0 from his Uttara residence on Friday night. After interrogation, he was sent to the Tongi police station. Police sent him to the DMCH where on-duty doctors declared him dead Sunday night. Swapan, according to his family, completed his master’s in Islamic studies last year and was not involved in any criminal activities. He was not even accused in any case with any police station, they said. (Source: The Daily Star Dec 18, 2002)
Incident 36: Tiger Farooq
Dec 16, 2002: ‘Tiger Farooq’, 40, an alleged terrorist of Fatullah thana in Narayanganj district, who was arrested by the joint force on Sunday afternoon, died at the DMCH Monday morning. Farooq, 40, son of Abdul Khaleq of Baburail area in Fatula, was picked up by the army at 1 pm on Sunday from Netaiganj in Narayanganj and handed over to local thana. Farooq was admitted to Narayanganj Sadar Hospital following his arrest and later shifted to DMCH at night. ( Source UNB) In Narayanganj, Omar Faruq alias Tiger Faruq arrested by the joint forces on Sunday, died Monday morning. Faruq, brother of the joint convenor of the Narayangnaj town BNP, was picked up by an army team from the truck stand Sunday afternoon. He was taken to an army camp at Fatullah and later handed to the police at night. In critical condition, he was first admitted to the Narayanganj General Hospital and then to the DMCH, where he died Monday night. According to family sources, his arms and legs were broken, and there were cigarette burns all over his body. However, the DMCH doctors put his death to a micro-cardiac infraction. (Source: The Daily Star Dec 18, 2002)
Incident 37: Abu Tareq Rubel
Dec 17, 2002: In Chittagong, the stepson of a businessman of Boalkhali died at around 10:00 pm on Monday immediately after his admission to a local thana health complex. Quoting sources, our correspondent reports that the joint forces picked up Abu Tareq Rubel from near his residence at Charandwip at around 3:30 pm during a drive to nab notorious criminal Jhontu Dakat. Rubel, who had tried to get away seeing the troops, was beaten up. The troops also swooped on local people, who had protested Rubel’s arrest, and left at least 15 injured. Boalkhali police claim the army had informed them of the 24-year-old’s arrest and asked them to take him in their custody at around 8:00 pm. An hour later, the troops brought Rubel to the station. Police refused to take him into custody, as his condition was critical. He was later shifted to the health complex where on-duty doctors declared him dead. According to army sources, complaints by local people against Rubel had prompted his arrest at around 4:15 pm. The sources also said the troops had handed Rubel to police in good health. They added police had issued a certificate saying Rubel was received in good health. Rubel’s body was sent to his village after an autopsy. (Source: The Daily Star Dec 18, 2002)
Incident 38: Jasimuddin
The death of another young man Sunday night is shrouded in mystery. Jasimuddin, 22, the victim, hailed from Comilla was an employee of a private jute mill. He was allegedly engaged in phensidyl trade, police said. Residents said an army-led joint team picked up Jasim and Bashar Kasai (butcher) from Jasim’s rented house at Colonel Hat in Pahartali Sunday. Bashar was released later. Joint team sources said Jasim was caught and roughed up by an angry mob during his abortive bid of mugging at Colonel Hat (market) at about 10:30 pm Sunday. They said the body left on the road semi-conscious by the mob was recovered and given to the police. –UNB
Incident 39: Mir Zahidul Hossain Robin
Dec 17, 2002: In the capital, a Tejgaon College student, arrested by the army on December 8, died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday. An army team picked up 17-year-old Mir Zahidul Hossain Robin from his Pallabi residence at about 12:20 am after it failed to arrest his BNP leader father Mir Mohammad Hossain. Later in the day, an unconscious Robin was handed over to Pallabi police. Police had him admitted to the DMCH on the same day where he died at around 1:20 am yesterday. However, sources in the armed forces claimed Robin was well when they had handed him over to the police. After an autopsy, his body was handed over to his family at around three in the afternoon. (Source: The Daily Star Dec 18, 2002)
Incident 40: Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil Evu
Dec 17, 2002: A contractor, who was picked up by the joint forces early Friday morning in Comilla, died at the DMCH on Monday. Twenty-three-year-old Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil Evu, 23, was handed to Kotwali police. Police had him admitted to the Kuchiyatali Sadar hospital and shifted to the DMCH at about 5:00 pm Monday, where he died later at night. Khalil’s elder brother Swapan and cousin Harun Miah told journalists that he was neither involved with neither any political party nor any criminal activities. His rivals may have had Khalil arrested to take revenge, they added. (Source: The Daily Star Dec 18, 2002
Incident 41: Md Yousuf
Dec 19, 2002: Md Yousuf, who was picked up by the joint forces early December 13, 2002 morning from Rangunia, Chittagong, died at the CMCH on 19 December 2002. Twenty-six-year-old was handed to police in critical condition. Police had him admitted to the local health complex and later shifted to the CMCH at about 5:00 pm (Source: The Prothom Alo Dec 20, 2002, and The Daily Jugantor Dec 20, 2002)
Incident 42: Jamal Hossain
Dec 27, 2002: A college student died in a wall collapse during the eviction of illegal occupants from the old military airport and its adjacent areas near Comilla town on Sunday. Jamal Hossain (20), an HSC examinee, died under the debris of a building bulldozed by the joint forces at Rajapar at 9-15 am, witnesses said. (Sources: UNB, Dec 28, 2002)
Incident 43: Abdul Kuddus
Dec 27, 2002: Earlier on December 23, Abdul Kuddus (18) died and two others were injured during the eviction of business establishments in the Tomsom Bridge area. The military airport was constructed on 150 acres for which 164 acres were acquired in 1942, for use during World War II. The airport was abandoned, and illegal occupants built more than 2000 residential buildings, business establishments and shops. Hundreds of people were rendered homeless and many lost business opportunities due to the eviction. (Source: UNB)
Incident 44: Rashid
Jan 03, 2002: Rashid, who was picked up by the joint forces early December 24, 2002 morning from Sandeep, Chittagong, died at the CMCH on Jan 03, 2002. Twenty-six-year-old was handed to police in critical condition on 26 Dec 2002. Police had him admitted to the local CMCH on 31st Dec 2002 (Ref: Daily Janakantha, Oct.29, 2002).
Incident 45: Nasir Uddin
Jan 07, 2003: Nasir Uddin, 35, was arrested by a team of the joint forces at Ataikola for suspected involvement in criminal activities. Our Pabna correspondent reports that the joint forces arrested Nasir from a wedding party at a village in Sathiya Monday evening. He was later taken to Ataikola to identify the body of a slaughtered young man. Nasir identified the dead as Nayan of Salgari of Pabna town. He also said Nayan, a member of his gang, was killed as per his instruction. Nasir collapsed after making the confessional statement, according to the local witnesses. Police and army men rushed him to the Pabna Sadar Hospital where the on-duty doctors declared him dead. Police said he was a heart patient and they found medicine for heart ailments in his pocket. The postmortem report said there were no marks of injuries on his body. (Ref: Daily Prothom Alo & The Daily Star, Jan 07, 2003).
Incident 46: Abdul Khaleq
Jan 08, 2003: Abdul Khaleq (40) A middle-aged man, who was picked up by the joint forces on Sunday, died at a hospital in Gazipur yesterday morning. According to police, a team of the joint forces picked Abdul Khaleq up from his Shafipur house at Kaliakoir after they failed to arrest his Jubo Dal leader brother. The 40-year-old was taken to the army camp in the area for interrogation. The next day he was handed to the Kaliakoir police. He was later produced before the court and sent to jail where he fell sick. As his condition deteriorated he was shifted to the Sadar Hospital where he died yesterday morning.(Ref: Daily Janakantha, jan 08, 2003).