IT IS ABOUT TIME

Tahmid Hasib Khan, Photo: courtesy

For a long while after the 7/1 attacks in Holey Artisan Bakery, in Gulshan, Dhaka, the police and law enforcement agencies have told us that they have Tahmid Hasib Khan, 22, and Hasnat Karim, 47, held as suspects. These two individuals have been held by the police and detectives for almost two weeks, without being allowed to meet their families or speak to lawyers. Their relatives and family members could never find out how they are doing.

Now, we do not even know where they are.

Tahmid, a student and resident of Canada, studying Global Health, was on his way to Nepal for an internship with UNICEF. Upon his mother's request, he visited Bangladesh to celebrate Eid with the family. He landed in Dhaka on the 1st of July, the day the siege took place, and went to Holey Artisan Bakery to meet his friends. On that very unfortunate evening, Tahmid became a hostage in one of the worst crime scenes Bangladesh has ever witnessed.

After the attack took place, the law enforcement agencies had done a good job so far in the crackdown against the militants. 22 lives were lost in the gruesome attack, but 13 were rescued. Among the 13 was Tahmid Hasib Khan, who was taken in for questioning, like all the other surviving hostages. While the other hostages were let go after questioning, Tahmid and Hasnat were asked to stay back.

A patient of epilepsy, Tahmid, had been in the custody of the law enforcing agencies since the morning of 2nd July, after the hostages were released and rescued.

According to reports, Tahmid's brother Talha Khan said the family was very concerned and the worry was taking its toll. He said his father has been hospitalised with chest pains in Dhaka, while his mother has been suffering from an emotional breakdown.

Meanwhile, a New York Times report dated July 8 quoted two hostages as saying the attackers had ordered Tahmid Hasib Khan to perform specific tasks for them.

In the report, it was stated that “at one point, the attackers directed Tahmid Hasib Khan to carry a gun and go with them to the roof of the restaurant, the hostages said. They said Tahmid Hasib Khan resisted and to persuade him to hold the weapon the attackers fired it to show him its magazine was empty. Tahmid Hasib Khan broke down in tears at their insistence, one of the hostages said, but reluctantly complied.”

The NY Times report also said that Tahmid persuaded the attackers to spare the group, and soon after, at about 6am, they were released,” the report said quoting two hostages who were released afterwards.

The law enforcing agencies have informed the public that Tahmid and Hasnat were both held as suspects and/or witnesses. “If any law enforcing agency holds someone as a suspect, it is mandatory for them to produce a case in front of the court within 24 hours. If this is not done, it is directly violating our constitution,” says Khandakar Farzana Rahman, Lecturer, Department of Criminology, University of Dhaka. “In case of national security, there are exceptions in procedures. For example, the suspects may not be allowed to meet anyone before going to court. But the next of kin and/or family members are to be informed before release. And the rule of presenting the case in court within 24 hours still applies, and if the suspects are to be kept in remand, the court takes the decision – not the law enforcement agencies. Every citizen in our country, according to our constitution, has the right to fair justice. And if injustice is given to them while in custody, they have every right to provide evidence in court in case of harassment,” she says.

Now, after almost two weeks, on July 12, 2016, what we have learned from the DMP directly is that, “we released them after questioning,” according to a Daily Star report, quoting Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)

On the same day, July 12, 2016, Tahmid's cousin Ali Faiyaz Shoumo said, “We were able to speak to him twice. Once when he was held hostage, and once right after he was rescued. We are expecting that they will release him soon,” he says. “They have kept him inside as an eye witness and a suspect. As far as we know, he was interrogated by all agencies- CID, SB, NSI, and DB. We cannot contact the DB directly. Right now we are waiting for his release,” he added.

While the law enforcement agencies have done a lot so far, this is where we have come and stumbled. We have to now appeal for this nightmare to end. Tahmid's family and friends' concerns and anxiety are growing, and everyone is in need of answers.

If the police in fact have let Tahmid go, why have they done it without contacting the next of kin? And if the two have in fact gone missing after the release, why are they not concerned that two key witnesses have gone missing after the biggest terror attack in the country?