The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,
Referring to the case of Sheikh Hasina, a member of the Parliament of Bangladesh at the time the communication was submitted, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/185/11(b)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 184th session (April 2009),
Taking into account the police progress report of 28 March 2009 forwarded by the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Office at Geneva on 19 June 2009, and the information which has been regularly provided by the sources,
Recalling the initial line of inquiry into the grenade attack of 21 August 2004 on Sheikh Hasina and other Awami League leaders was a complete fabrication based on the “confession” of a petty criminal, Joj Miah, who had admitted under duress carrying out the attack with a criminal gang and whose family had been provided with a long-term government subsidy; that on 12 May 2009 three former investigation officers surrendered having been charged with deliberately shielding the true perpetrators and committing torture,
Recalling further that in February 2007, a new investigation was opened and revealed that Horkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) militants, including its leader, Mufti Abdul Hannan, had carried out the attack, and enabled the police to arrest more suspects and to recover grenades, rifles and explosives,
Considering that, according to the latest police progress report provided by the Permanent Representative, 22 persons at present stand accused in the case of the grenade attack, 14 of whom are in the hands of the authorities; the case is pending before the Speedy Trial Tribunal No. 1/Dhaka; 23 witnesses had thus far been heard; considering that 21 of the 22 accused are Huji members, the exception being former Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu, who, according to media reports, admitted that the Arges grenades used were delivered from his government residence,
Considering that, on 3 August 2009, the Court ruled that a deeper and more extensive probe should be carried out and directed the Inspector General of Police to report back to the Tribunal within two months with its findings, in particular as regards the source of the grenades used in the attack; the ruling came after the State Attorney submitted a request for further investigation, saying that experts and influential persons who had supplied the grenades, which were not simple explosives and not easy to obtain, had still not been identified; considering also that at the beginning of October 2009 the Dhaka Court cancelled the bail previously granted to two Huji members,
Considering that, in addition to the above-mentioned murder case, the grenade attack is also being investigated and prosecuted under the Explosives Act, for which the Tribunal has asked for a full report to be submitted by 4 January 2010,
Considering finally that, according to the source, the latest investigative work appears to establish links not only with Huji but also with the terrorist organization Laskar-e-Taiba,
- Thanks the authorities for the information provided and for their cooperation;
- Is pleased to note that the investigation is providing an ever fuller picture of the events leading up to the grenade attack, and is confident that the efforts of the prosecuting authorities to trace the origins of the grenades used by Huji and to identify the instigators will bear fruit and lead to the shedding of full light on this crime; would appreciate being kept informed in this respect;
- Notes with satisfaction that, with the three former investigating officers in this case now in their hands, the authorities can establish accountability for the serious abuses that took place in the initial investigation; wishes to be kept informed of progress in these proceedings;
- Would appreciate informationas to whether the parliamentofBangladesh is following the proceedings in this case with a view to ensuring the due administration of justice;
- Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the parliamentary and judicial authorities, inviting them to keep the Committee informed of progress made in the proceedings;
- Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 122nd IPU Assembly (March-April 2010).
HUMAN RIGHTS