Probe labour leader Aminul's death: HRW
Human Rights Watch in a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked for a thorough and speedy investigation into the killing of prominent labour rights activist Aminul Islam.
The international research and advocacy organisation on human rights in the letter issued from New York on April 17 also asked the government for publicly report on the progress made into the disappearance, torture and killing of the labour leader.
Islam, 39, was a trade union organiser with the Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity (BCWS).
He disappeared from Ashulia on the outskirts of the capital on April 4, 2012.
His body was discovered two days later from Tangail, almost 100 kilometres from where he was last seen, the letter added.
His body showed signs of torture that raised concerns of involvement by Bangladeshi security forces.
“A year after the brutal killing of labour leader Aminul Islam, the government has done little to ensure a full investigation, much less prosecute those responsible,” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch wrote in the letter.
“The government should stand by its public pledges to ensure accountability in this case, and impartially investigate the possible involvement of security forces in Islam’s killing,” he added.
In the same letter, the rights organisation also asked the government for reviewing charges lodged against Babul Akhter and Kalpona Akhter, two BCWS leaders in 2010.
Babul Akhter, executive director of Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation and Kalpana Akhter, executive director of Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity (BCWS) have been accused of instigating RMG workers who went on a rampage through Tejgaon Industrial area and Gulshan on July 30, 2010.
Human Rights Watch asked for protection of the leaders against harassment and abuse by law-enforcers.