Human-rights organisation Odhikar has sent the list of 61 people reportedly killed in the May 5 police drive on Hifazat-e Islam activists in Dhaka’s Motijheel to Ain o Salish Kendra and four international bodies.
An Odhikar statement issued on Friday said the list had also been sent to Special Rapporteur, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Asian Human Rights Commission.
Odhikar, in a report dated Jun 10, claimed at least 61 people were killed on that fateful night in the police action but did not provide a list.
Friday’s statement said, “The Ministry of Information sought the list from Odhikar on Jul 10. But Odhikar on Jul 7 clearly explained that the family of the victims fear harassment now.”
“Odhikar will publish the list of those killed on May 5 and 6 only after formation of a neutral investigation commission for the sake of the victims’ safety,” it had added.
The statement also alleged that government wrongfully arrested Odhikar Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan without taking their recommendations.
The NGO claimed the two laptops and three computers seized by police in a recent raid on Odhikar’s office also contained information about the victims.
“Detectives Branch of Police are already keeping an eye on the families of the victims,” it added.
Adilur, a close associate of Acting Amar Desh Editor Mahmudul Rahman, was arrested on Aug 10 for allegedly distorting facts about the May 5 incident.
After Odhikar put the death toll at 61, the ministry sent a letter to it seeking the full names and addresses of the ‘61’ victims.
“The dailies said not more than 16 people were killed in the drive but the Odhikar report puts the number at 61,” the letter said.
Source: Bd news24