Background

On March 19th, the first anniversary of Cholesh’s death was observed. or was it? Didn’t hear a word about it any where. In this one year, we have seen Universtiy teachers getting 2 year imprisonment for doing a silent procession (and then pardoned), we have seen “anti corruption” drives to bring rule of law in the country. But what we have not gotten is justice for Chalesh and family. In stead, his family got 30,000 taka and a sewing machine.

Human rights groups demanded publication of the inquiry report of the killing of Choles Ritchil and punishment to the culprits

On 28 February 2008 in a press conference, five prominent human rights bodies in Bangladesh, namely, Ain O Salish Kedra (ASK), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Association of Land Reform and Development (ALRD), Nijera Kori and Bangladesh Environment Lawyer Association (BELA) demanded immediate publication of the judicial inquiry report of the killing of indigenous leader Mr. Choles Ritchil and punishment to the persons involved with this incident.
Ms. Sultana Kamal, former Advisor of Caretaker Government and Executive Director of ASK presided over the conference. A written statement was read out by Mr. Sayeed Ahmed, Coordinator of ASK. Among others, eminent human rights activist Dr. Hamida Hossain, Executive Director of BLAST Mr. Taslimur Rahman, Executive Director of ALRD Mr. Shamsul Huda, Coordinator of Nijera Kori Ms. Khushi Kabir and senior lawyer Mr. Iqbal Kabir were present at the press conference. It is mentionable that Mr Choles Ritchil was tortured to death in the custody of the joint forces at Khakraid under Modhupur police station in Tangail district on 18 March 2007.
In their press statement, the human rights bodies expressed their frustration over the government attitudes after the killing of Mr. Choles Ritchil. They said that though 10 months have been passed after the incident, but judicial inquiry committee formed by the government did not publish its report so far. For the sake of justice, the report of the inquiry committee should be published soon and the culprits should be punished accordingly, they demanded.
They expressed that the family members of the victim as well as indigenous peoples would be deprived of justice if the publication of the inquiry report is delayed. They also opined that it would also be hindered in establishing the rule of law and good governance in the country.
The human rights bodies also said that soon after the killing of Mr. Ritchil, ASK, BLAST and ALRD conducted joint investigation to the incident on 19 March 2007 and in a press conference organised on 20 March, they claimed that they found torture marks like wounded on back, two hand palms smashed, nails of thumps of the right leg removed, eyes plucked, anus mutilated etc. With this backdrop, the five organisations submitted memorandum to the Chief Advisor of the Caretaker Government on 21 March demanding judicial inquiry to probe real fact and punishment of the culprits.
They also said that Executive Director of ASK Ms Sultana Kamal, Coordinator of Nijera Kori Ms. Khushi Kabir, lawyer Ms. Sara Hossain, lawyer of BELA Mr. Iqbal Kabir and relatives of the victim called on local administration on 7 April demanding punishment of the culprits of the incident. Even they also submitted memorandum again to the Advisor on Agriculture and Forest. However, the government is yet to take appropriate actions against the culprits, they claimed.
It is worth mentioning that wife of victim Ms Sandha Rani Simsang had filed a complaint with Modhupur police station on 20 March 2007, but no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered by the police. On 18 March 2007, Mr Choles Ritchil was arrested by a group of Joint Forces at Kalibari under Muktagacha upazila in Tangail district. Mr Ritchil was coming from Mymensingh town in a microbus accompanied by 3 indigenous persons namely Mr. Piren Simsang, Mr. Tuhin Hadima and Mr. Protab Jamble. The joint forces took them to nearby Khakraid army camp and tortured them there inhumanly. Though rest of three indigenous persons were released after human torture, but Mr. Ritchil died due to serious injuries.
It is also mentionable that Mr Choles Ritchil, an indigenous leader in Modhupur area has been struggling against the repression of the forest department on indigenous peoples for long time. In 2003, the government of Bangladesh declared an Eco-Park in Modhupur forest and started constructing a wall around 3,000 acres of Modhupur forest without taking consent from the Garo people living in the area. During a peaceful protest procession against the Eco-Park in Modhupur held on 3 January 2004, police and the forest guards opened indiscriminate firing that left killing one Garo protester named Mr. Piren Snal on the spot and injured 25 others including women and children. After this incident, the Forest Department postponed implementation of construction of the wall.