Urge Officials to Free Landmine Campaigner Imprisoned Without Charges

An active member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines has been arrested, without charges, and is in prison in Bangladesh.  Please write to one or more of the officials below to speak out on behalf of our friend Rafique al Islam!  

The USCBL has written the following letters on behalf of Rafique:

• Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh
• United States Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Bangladesh
• Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, Washington DC
• Mr. Syed Hasan Ahmad, Ambassador to the US, Washington, DC
• Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, United Nations Ambassador, New York, NY

We urge you to take a few minutes to write your own letter(s).  Sample letter and contact information of officials are below.

Sample Letter:

Date
Name and Address of Official
(see below for contact information)

Dear _______________:

I am very troubled to learn that Rafique al Islam was arrested, without charges, at his home in Cox's Bazaar in Bangladesh at 2:30 PM on Saturday, August 21 by Bangladeshi military officers of the newly formed Rapid Action Battalion, which also seized equipment and documents during the arrest. Rafique al Islam is the Coordinator of the Mine Ban Treaty Implementation and Victim Assistance Working Group for Bangladesh and an active member 1997 Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

Reportedly, the Bangladeshi court has refused to give any documents related to the charges against Rafique al Islam to his attorney, refusing him due process under the law. As I understand, the Rapid Action Battalion was created to combat serious crime and terrorism. Reportedly, however, it has broad discretionary powers and little oversight. Should al Islam be remanded to its custody, the Battalion has stated its intention to have him transferred to the 'joint interrogation cell' where several deaths in custody reportedly have occurred and for which no one has been held responsible.

I have learned that al Islam’s family has had trouble visiting him in prison, and they are very worried about his condition.

I urge you to call for the immediate release of Rafique al Islam.

Sincerely,
Your Name
Address

Officials to Contact:

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia
Prime Minister’s Office
Old Airport Road, Tejgoan
Dhaka, Dhaka Division
Bangladesh
Fax:  011-880-2-811-3244 (or 3243 or 1015 or 1490)
Email:info@pmo.gov.bd

United States Ambassador to Bangladesh
Harry K. Thomas  
US Embassy
Madani Avenue
Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
Bangladesh
Fax:  011-880-2-882-3744

Honorary Colin L. Powell
Secretary of State
US State Department
2201 C Street, Northwest
Washington, DC 20520
Fax:  202-261-8577
Email:  To send email, click here.

His Excellency Mr. Syed Hasan Ahmad
Ambassador to the United States of America
Bangladesh Embassy in the US
3510 International Drive NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax:  202-244-7830
Email:  bdootwash@bangladoot.org

Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations
821 United Nations Plaza, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Fax:  212-972-4038
Email:  Bangladesh@un.int

For more information, visit http://www.icbl.org/news/bangladesh_action

Please forward this action alert.  

Thank you.