The High Court on 14 December expressed grave concern over persistence of extrajudicial killings as 11 people were killed in custody since issuance of a suo moto rule upon the government on November 17 for an explanation on the matter. ASK and BLAST earlier became intervener in the suo moto rule.

The court asked the attorney general to convey its concern to the Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The HC also asked him to take initiatives so that no such killings take place till the next hearing on the matter scheduled for January 9.The HC also asked the state’s top law officer to place the names of Rab officials of Madaripur involved in detaining the two brothers — Lutfor Rahman Khalasi and Khairul Haque Khalasi — who were killed on November 16.

During hearing on the rule, ASK and BLAST submitted separate statements to the court saying over 1,000 people have been killed in custody in "so-called" crossfire, encounter or gunfight in violation of human rights since formation of RAB in 2004.

Advocate Ruhul Quddus Babu appeared for BLAST and Barrister Saifur Rashid stood for ASK.

Background Info
Following newspaper reports on killings of Khairul and Lutfor, the HC on November 17 issued the suo moto rule upon RAB officials Lt Hasan, Maj Kazi Wahiduzzaman, the DG and the Home Secretary.

The court asked them to explain in 48 hours why appropriate action should not be taken against Maj Wahiduzzaman and Lt Hasan and their companions for liability of the killings.

It also directed the RAB DG to give an explanation in this regard, as heinous activities of extrajudicial killings are carried out in his battalion.

Replying to the rule, the Home Secretary and two other RAB officials told the court no-one by the name Maj Kazi Wahiduzzaman was found in the Madaripur unit of RAB.

December 14, 2009