Four policemen accused of raping a young woman in their custody in October 1996, were acquitted by a trial court on 14 July 1997. The “weak evidence” presented by government lawyers allowed the police to get away with the rape. The same person died in “safe-custody” in mysterious circumstances on 7 February 1997. Two inquiries into her death instituted by the government and by the parliament have been disappointing. AI is urging the Government of Bangladesh to investigate these failures seriously and without delay with a view to bringing to justice not only those who raped her, but also those whose alleged negligence has caused her death.
