Dokument #1211594
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
On 25 January 1991, the Bangladeshi
government ordered deposed president Hussain Mohammed Ershad's
former prime minister and cabinet members to surrender to police or
face imprisonment (Keesing's Jan. 1991, 37965). Two
ministers were arrested the following day (ibid.).
In April 1991, the acting chair of the
Jatiya Party (JP) was arrested after demanding that Ershad be
released (Keesing's Apr. 1991, 38152). Five other former
cabinet ministers were arrested between April and July 1991
(Keesing's June 1991, 38288-89, Keesing's July 1991,
383390).
Press reports indicate that Bangladesh
authorities also seized the passport of Ershad's former foreign
minister (AFP 8 Mar. 1992), and arrested his former National
Security Intelligence and Defence Force Intelligence chiefs (UPI 19
Apr. 1992).
In December 1992, Khaledur Rahman Tito,
secretary general of the JP, was charged under Curbing of Terrorist
Activities Ordinances after he and another JP worker were beaten by
police (Amnesty International Apr. 1993). The same month Reuters
reported that Police used batons to break up a rally of 5,000
Ershad supporters (Reuters 1 Dec. 1992). Jatiya sources claimed
several people were injured and many arrested (ibid.).
In February 1993, Nurul Islam Majumder, a
leader of the Jatiya was arrested for allegedly attempting to
smuggle a letter written by Ershad out of the country (Reuters 11
Feb. 1993). In April, Anwar Hossain, the publisher of the
Bengali-language Dainik Ittefaq and former minister under
Ershad was arrested under the Special Powers Act (JENW 22 Apr.
1993).
In June 1993, AFP also reported that police
used batons to break up a protest by 400 Ershad supporters (AFP 14
June 1992). The report did not indicate whether there were any
injuries (ibid.).
Additional or corroborative information is
currently unavailable to the DIRB
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
Agence France Presse. 14 June 1993.
"Police Use Batons to Disperse Ershad Supporters." (FBIS-NES-93-112
14 June 1993, p.56)
. 8 March 1992. "Former Bangladesh FM's
Passport Seized." (NEXIS)
Amnesty International. April 1993.
Bangladesh: A Summary of Human Rights Concerns. London:
Amnesty International Publications.
Japan Economic Newswire. 22 April 1993.
"Opposition Lawmaker Arrested in Bangladesh." (NEXIS)
Keesing's Record of World Events
[Cambridge]. January 1991. Vol. 37, No. 1. "Bangladesh: Arrest of
Former Minister."
. April 1991. Vol. 37, No. 4.
"Bangladesh: Arrest of Former Ministers."
. April 1991. Vol. 37, No. 6.
"Bangladesh: Sentencing Ershad."
. April 1991. Vol. 37, No. 7-8.
"Bangladesh: Arrest of Former Minister."
Reuters. 11 February 1993. BC Cycle.
"Ershad's Lawyer Detained With Smuggling Letter." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 1 December 1992. BC Cycle.
"Bangladesh Police Break up Pro-Ershad Rally." (NEXIS)
United Press International (UPI). 19
April 1992. BC Cycle. "Officials of Ousted President Arrested."
(NEXIS)
(AFP). 14 June 1993. "Police Use Batons
to Disperse Ershad Supporters." (BK1206144693 14 June 1993, p.
56)
. 8 March 1992. "Former Bangladesh FM's
Passport Seized." (NEXIS)
Amnesty International. April 1993.
Bangladesh: A Summary of Human Rights Concerns. London:
Amnesty International Publications, pp. 8-9.
JEN. 22 April 1993. "Opposition Lawmaker
Arrested in Bangladesh." (NEXIS)
Keesing's Record of World Events
[Cambridge]. January 1991. Vol. 37, No. 1. "Bangladesh: Arrest of
Former Minister," 37965.
. April 1991. Vol. 37, No. 4.
"Bangladesh: Arrest of Former Ministers," p. 38152.
. April 1991. Vol. 37, No. 6.
"Bangladesh: Sentencing Ershad," pp. 38288-89.
. April 1991. Vol. 37, No. 7-8.
"Bangladesh: Arrest of Former Minister," p. 38338.
United Press International (UPI). 19
April 1992. BC Cycle. "Officials of Ousted President Arrested."
(NEXIS)
Reuters. 11 February 1993. BC Cycle.
"Ershad's Lawyer Detained With Smuggling Letter." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 1 December 1992. BC Cycle.
"Bangladesh Police Break up Pro-Ershad Rally." (NEXIS)