Police Actions in Dhaka Raids Spark Outcry Over Detainee Filming
A video circulating online shows women detainees being forced to show their faces during a police raid in Dhaka. The video, recorded on August 12, captures a raid by Detective Branch (DB) police at the New Rangdhanu Residential Hotel in Abdullahpur. In the footage, some women try to cover their faces with masks or clothing. Police officers are seen telling them to remove these coverings.
One woman appears to be crying. Voices in the video say, “Remove everything. Do not cover up. If you cover up, you will be beaten.” The video was shared by YouTubers and some news outlets. This incident has raised serious concerns about police conduct and citizens’ rights.
Human rights activists and lawyers say such actions by the police are unlawful. They believe these actions violate the basic rights of individuals. Nur Khan, a former member of the National Human Rights Commission, stated that police are creating a form of punishment before trial. He called this practice illegal.
Deputy Commissioner Ilias Kabir of the DB’s Uttara division was present during the raid. Police sources claim Mr. Kabir ordered that the detained women should not cover their faces. However, Mr. Kabir denied this accusation. He said that people often wear masks for identity confirmation. He added that police did not force anyone, suggesting media may have done so for views. Mr. Kabir admitted minor mistakes can happen.
Many similar videos are circulating on social media. These show raids at hotels, bars, or flats. There are also videos of men and women being filmed during routine police checks. Some reports suggest police officers invite YouTubers to join raids. These YouTubers and certain news outlets then publish the footage for views and income.
Saiful Alam Chowdhury, a Journalism Professor at Dhaka University, criticized involving content creators in raids. He believes police should hold press conferences after an operation. He said inviting YouTubers alongside journalists is not appropriate. He noted that some journalists are involved in unethical work for views.
Bangladesh’s Constitution, Article 35(5), protects individuals from torture or cruel treatment. The United Nations Convention against Torture also calls for laws against such treatment. In 2012, the High Court directed that detained suspects should not be shown to the media. Law enforcement agencies then started blurring faces in media statements.
However, the recent videos suggest some officers are not following this practice. Instead, they are forcing detainees to show their faces. Senior Advocate Manzill Murshid of the Supreme Court said such actions are illegal. He stressed that these unlawful practices must stop, regardless of the motive.
