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| Sunday, 3 November 2002 |
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Bangladesh says 12 die in army custody DHAKA, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Bangladesh has acknowledged that 12 people have died in army custody and promised to investigate the deaths reported during a two-week crackdown on crime. Soldiers conducting anti-crime raids across the country have detained nearly 3,500 people and recovered more than 500 weapons over the past two weeks, officials said on Thursday. "The government has acknowledged the deaths of 12 accused and suspects in army custody and each death will be investigated," the government's principal information officer Khondakar Monirul Islam told reporters on Wednesday. Newspapers on Thursday reported a further three deaths raising the toll to 15 in custody since the crackdown by troops, codenamed "Operation Clean Heart", began on October 17. Army officials, however, said the deaths were caused by "heart failure out of panic" in course of interrogation. "Separate committees headed by senior army officers have been formed to investigate the deaths," Islam said. The United States gave credence on Wednesday to reports of abuses by the Bangladesh military and said it had asked the government to make the army observe human rights standards. "We have seen credible reports of physical abuse and allegations of torture. Reportedly at least 12 people detained by the army have died in custody," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in Washington on Wednesday. "We hope this operation... will last only as absolutely necessary and that other measures will be taken to bring about permanent improvement in law and order. We'are concerned about these reports of abuses and are monitoring the situation closely, Boucher said. CRIME WAVE London-based rights group Amnesty International and several Bangladeshi human rights bodies also expressed concern at alleged excesses by the army. Bangladesh authorities deployed the army to help police restore law and order as a crime wave soared after the government of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia assumed power in October last year. Leaders and activists of Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the main opposition Awami League are among those detained. These include two former ministers and key leaders of the Awami League, Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim. |
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