Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is calling for an independent investigation after an alleged attack by police officers on a Christian community in Bangladesh in March, which left 25 injured.
On 24 March, four plainclothes police officers raided the home of a Christian woman, Mina Dores. The police officers did not produce their identity cards or a warrant and took around £50 from her home. Family members, thinking the men were thieves, challenged them to show their identity cards. The men refused and locked the family in a room.
Shots and beatings
Neighbours rushed to assist the family and started beating the plainclothes officers until a group of 30 policemen from Gazipur district arrived, at which point they shot at and beat the villagers. Homes were damaged and approximately 25 people were injured. Five remain in a critical condition. The villagers, fearing for their safety, were reluctant to file a police complaint or First Information Report (FIR), however the police filed an FIR on 25 March against the Christian community.
William Samadder Proloy, Secretary General of the Christian Association Bangladesh, has called for an immediate investigation and justice for victims.
CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said: ‘The fact that this incident was perpetrated by the police is deeply concerning. CSW is calling for an independent investigation into the attack and we urge the government of Bangladesh to ensure that much-needed reforms are made within the police service to root out corruption and abuses of authority.’
