Deutsche Welle Bangla has shed light on how, after August 5, fake cases are being filed and how the business of legal harassment is operating. Allegations are increasingly surfacing about people being made accused, threatened with false charges, and extorted with promises to remove their names from cases. Reportedly, the police are preparing to take a stricter stance against this “case business,” especially as some within the force have been accused of being involved themselves.
One police officer, Shahin Parvez, has already been withdrawn due to such allegations. Sources say that complaints have also been filed against several others.
In cases related to the July uprising, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has instructed that prior approval from higher authorities must be obtained before arresting any accused. Additionally, they must provide solid evidence of the individual’s involvement, including testimony from victims or witnesses, video or audio recordings, photographs, mobile call logs (CDRs), and other related documents.
DMP Joint Commissioner Faruq Hossain told Deutsche Welle:
“In most of the cases filed in connection with the anti-discrimination movement, the number of accused listed in the FIRs is disproportionately high. Arrests based on the FIR or subsequent investigation must be supported by credible evidence, and prior approval must be obtained from senior authorities.”
The situation has escalated to the point where police officers themselves are allegedly demanding bribes from colleagues by threatening to implicate them in serious charges, including genocide cases.
Reports claim that bribe demands range from BDT 50,000 to BDT 500,000 depending on the accused’s position.
For instance, on July 18, during the anti-discrimination movement, Sub-Inspector Anup Biswas of Rampura Police Station was injured by a brick and had to be hospitalized for several weeks. Later, he learned that he had been named as an accused in a case filed on October 17 regarding an injury during a protest in Khilgaon on July 19—when he was still hospitalized. One of his own colleagues allegedly demanded a bribe of BDT 100,000 to keep him from being falsely implicated. When Anup refused to pay, he was threatened with being framed in multiple murder cases.
In the attempted murder case where Anup was named, 36 police officers were listed as accused. In another case, SI Rashedur Rahman of Rampura Police Station was accused of opening fire on protesters. However, Rashed claims he had already been transferred to the Bashantek Police Station 11 days before the incident and was on duty there.
“How could I have fired shots in Rampura while stationed in Bashantek?” he questioned. Rashed also alleged that a colleague had demanded money from him in connection with this false accusation.
Read the full report here: Lawsuits, Arrests, and Bail in Bangladesh: Is This the Rule of Law?
