1 February 2026

Press Release

র‌্যাব এর গুলিতে আহত লিমন হোসেনের ক্ষতিপূরণ প্রদানের বিষয়ে হাইকোর্টের রুল

High Court Rule on Government Re Compensation for Lemon Hossen, for RAB Shooting

Today, the High Court issued a Rule calling upon the Government to show cause as to why the shooting of Md Lemon Hossen by members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-8), in Jhalakathi in 2011, that led to the amputation of his left leg, and the filing of false cases against him and his detention for over 45 days, should not be declared to have been carried out without lawful authority and in violation of his fundamental rights to equality before the law, equal protection of law, life and liberty, safeguards on arrest and detention, and to protection from torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment guaranteed under the Constitution.

The Rule further requires the Government to show cause why Lemon should not be compensated to the extent of Taka 2,60,09,200 (two crore sixty lakh nine thousand and two hundred taka) for the harm suffered by him, arising from the shooting and subsequent harassment which he faced.

The Court also issued an interim direction upon the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Inspector General of Police, Director General, Rapid Action Battalion, Commander-In-Charge, RAB-8, Jhalakathi, Barishal, Superintendent of Police, Jhalakathi, Deputy Commissioner, Jhalakathi, and Officer-in-Charge, Rajapur Police Station, Rajapur, Jhalakathi, to locate the seven RAB-8 officials and to communicate their addresses to the Court.

Lemon Hossen, now 30 and a lecturer at Gono Biswabidyalay filed the writ petition seeking accountability and compensation for the torture on him and the subsequent harassment leading to the amputation of his left leg and the violation of his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, equality, protection from arbitrary arrest and detention, and protection from torture and ill-treatment. filed a writ petition before the Hon’ble High Court Division to ensure the enforcement of his fundamental rights to equality before the law, equal protection of law, life and liberty, safeguards on arrest and detention, and to protection from torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment as guaranteed under Articles 27, 31, 32, 33, and 35. The petition refers to the estate’s obligations under the ICCPR (Articles 2(3), 7, 9, 10, and 14), CAT (Articles 2, 1, 12, and 14), and CRC (Articles 37(a) and 37(b)).

Through the writ petition, he seeks justice and accountability of the relevant state authorities and to reparations for the harm suffered.

A High Court Bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar issued the Rule.

Sara Hossain, Senior Advocate, appeared for the Petitioner, with Dr Qazi Zahed Iqbal, Abdullah Al Noman, Priya Ahsan Chowdhury and Banarupa Roy, Advocates.

Background

On 23 March 2011, Lemon Hossen, then aged 16 and an SSC student, was shot in his left leg by a RAB-8 team, and then falsely implicated in two criminal cases accusing him of offences under the Explosives Act and Penal Code. Due to the severity of the injury and the absence of proper and timely medical treatment, the lower portion of Lemon’s left leg was amputated.

Over 15 years later, no investigation report has been published, and no one has been held to account for this violation.

Sara Hossain, Senior Advocate said: “It has been 15 long years since Lemon, then a vulnerable child, was shot, permanently disabled then arrested on false accusations, and subjected to serial harassment.   Those responsible have enjoyed total impunity. Today the High Court’s order in Lemon Hossen’s writ today has opened a path for establishing the right to reparations for victims of torture.”

Dr Qazi Zahed Iqbal, Advocate, said, “After a long wait, the process of establishing justice has begun, and I hope the state will be able to realize and uphold it.”

Abdullah Al Noman, Advocate said, “This rule reflects strong judicial activism in protecting the right to life and human dignity under Article 32 of the Bangladesh Constitution and the ICCPR. Compensation in Limon Hossain’s case is not charity, it is a constitutional and international human rights obligation of the State.”

Barrister Priya Ahsan Chowdhury, Advocate said, “Today justice begins to heal a fifteen-year-old wound. No order or compensation can restore a lost limb, but recognition of harm and the grave injustice Lemon Hossen faced is the beginning of accountability.”

Issued by:
Communications Department
BLAST
Email: communication@blast.org.bd

For further information, please contact:
Banarupa Roy
Staff Lawyer, BLAST
Mobile: +880 1776 601451

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