Islamic radicals forced him from his homeland, but Giasuddin Fazlu’s family may face a long wait before they can join him in Ireland. CATHERINE REILLY reports
AMID the official-looking letters in Giasuddin Fazlu’s file are several photographs. Some show Fazlu in work-mode, fronting press conferences associated with his NGO and charitable work in Bangladesh. But others capture his family– the one that Fazlu hasn’t seen in over a year-and-a-half.
Phone cards – photocopies of which are also in his file – show what their relationship has been reduced to.
Twelve months ago, Giasuddin Fazlu was judged “in need of international protection” by the Office of the Refugee Applications Comm-issioner (Orac) after repeated threats to his life.
Fazlu, who was a prominent NGO activist in his homeland, also claims that his eldest son was subject to extortion and an attack by “terrorist fundamentalists” in March last year. He said he included this information in his family reunification submission to Orac in June 2008 – which he submitted after receiving necessary documentation from Bangladesh. This file was then lodged with the Department of Justice in October for a final decision.
Breaking down in tears, the refugee told Metro Éireann: “In Bangladesh, I for a long time suffered for my country, [working for] health, education, and now my family is vulnerable. I live here and am safe, but my family is not safe. If my family dies, I’ve died.” They no longer live in their previous home due to safety concerns, he added.
Fifty-year-old Fazlu married wife Samina in 1986 and they had three children, two boys and a girl. His eldest is Aktheru Zzaman Rocky (18), his middle child is Asaduzzman Jacky (16), while daughter Junnatul Niger Sultana Prity is just 13.
A Department of Justice spokesperson informed Metro Éireann that family reunification applications are taking two years to process, and some 1,750 are pending. It said a “reorganisation” of the family reunification area will take place when pending immigration legislation comes into law, and that since July 2008, it has speeded up applications “twenty-fold” due to staff increases in its family reunification unit.
But such progress will present little comfort to Fazlu, who says his health is also deteriorating due to ongoing separation from his family.
What the authorities said about Fazlu’s case:
Giasuddin Fazlu arrived in Ireland in September 2007, making a claim for refugee status. His application was assessed by the Office of the Refugee Applications Comm-issioner (Orac), a body not known for issuing positive decisions.
According to its assessment, seen by Metro Éireann, Fazlu said he’d been harassed and threatened by Islamic fundamentalists on account of his NGO activities.
He said he’d been targeted in a 2004 bomb blast in Sylhet that also injured the British High Commissioner. He further alleged that he’d been caught in a blast at Sylhet train station in May 2007. Other abusive behaviour was detailed, such as threatening phone calls to his offices.
The deciding officer noted that Fazlu had submitted supporting documentation including a hospital discharge certificate, Bangladeshi newspaper articles, a sworn statement from his wife, and correspondence proving his NGO activities, which included close co-operation with western organisations.
It was “impossible to gauge” whether Fazlu was an intended target of the aforementioned bomb attacks, stated the officer, but it was “clear that significant threats and attacks have been made against NGOs in the past and that certain militant Islamic groups have indicated that NGOs would also be future targets”.
Islamic terrorist organisations in Bangladesh “have carried out murders and attacks on people they believe to be ‘un-Islamic’ and [have stated] that they plan to continue with their bomb attacks on such people and organisations, including NGOs.”
Fazlu had established that he was active in various NGOs and had submitted documents that were “accepted as genuine”. His testimony was “coherent”, according to the Orac assessment.
She added, “It is also clear that the applicant has been living in fear in Bangladesh, believing that he could be targeted at any time.”
Fazlu was recommended for refugee status, which was subsequently granted.
