Monthly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh February, 2017 HUMAN RIGHTS SUPPORT SOCIETY (HRSS) wwww.hrssbd.org Monthly Human Rights Report –February, 2017 Executive Summary In February 2017, Human rights violation is being continued as similar as to the previous month in Bangladesh. In this month, the most significant human rights issues were violent attack, domestic violence, and abduction. But the worst situations were in the case of rape, gang rape, and child rape. Especially, extra- judicial killing has been observed as more severe form in February. According to the source of human rights support center (HRSC), approximately 20 people were killed extra-judicially in February 2017. The deaths occurred during raids, arrests as well as during operations by the law-enforcement agencies. The government often regretfully describes these deaths as the name of crossfire/gunfights/encounter killing. Moreover, HRSC report demonstrates that a total of 42 females were alleged to be raped in February 2017. Among of them, around 20 were below the age of 16 and 03 were killed after rape. About 07 women were subjected to be gang raped. A total of 09 women were killed for dowry and roughly 16 were sexually harassed. Approximately, 19 women were killed in the family feud. On the other hand, at least 02 Bangladeshi citizens were killed by BSF and one killed by BGP. Around 36 people were killed in the violent attack. Accounts of 52 people have been abducted. Furthermore, around 05 people were killed in political violence. At least 11 people were killed in a public lynching. Remarkably, around 11 children were killed and 11 were critically injured in a total of nearly 19 incidents. 2017 - However, we hope that this report will help mass people, civil society as well as international February February communities to realize the current dreadful and degrading human rights situation in Bangladesh. We are deeply concerned about debasing human rights situation in our beloved country. We also urge national and international human rights organizations as well as every non-state actor to raise their voice to protect and promote human rights in Bangladesh. ation Report on Bangladesh | Bangladesh ation Report on Monthly Human Rights MonthlyRights Observ Human 1 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org Monthly Human Rights Report –February, 2017 Table of Contents Page SL Topics Number 1 Executive Summary 01 2 Table of Contents 02 3 Extra-judicial Killing 03 4 Violence Against Women 05 5 Violent Attack 09 6 Abduction 11 7 Violence against children 13 8 Political Violence 15 9 Recovery of Dead Body 17 2017 - 10 Border Killing 19 February 11 Attack on Journalist 21 12 Public Lynching 22 13 At a Glance February 2017 23 14 Conclusion 24 | Bangladesh ation Report on 15 Recommendation 25 Monthly Human Rights MonthlyRights Observ Human Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 2 Monthly Human Rights Report –February, 2017 Extra Judicial Killing Extrajudicial killing is an arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life and simply murder. This is the killing of a person by governmental authorities without the sanction of any judicial proceeding or legal process.1Bangladesh has earned notoriety in carrying out extrajudicial killings. „Crossfire‟ or „encounter‟ and gunfight are very common terms used by the LEA to hide their crime and avoid the liabilities of extra-judicial killing. After killing in a pre- planned and cool head, the police and RAB2 authorities have informed the media that the victim‟s died to engage in the crossfire. These extra-judicial killings are depriving the people of their rights to lives and right to get justice in neutral open court. 3The government of Bangladesh has been violating the constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights day after day since 2002 especially when the operation clean heart started. Now the situation is becoming more complex day by day. In Bangladesh, the law says minimum force should be applied to arrests and every person has the right to seek a trial. In the cases of "crossfire or encounters, the rights to life and personal liberty are under threat in Bangladesh, despite the fact that they are guaranteed by the constitution of the People‟s Republic of Bangladesh the constitutions. The existing legal framework does not allow encounter killing. 15 1 Crossfire 2017 - Shot to Death 3 Touture to Death Custodial Death February February 1 Figure 01: Scenario of Encounter killing in February 2017 ation Report on Bangladesh | Bangladesh ation Report on The given pie chart provides information about the extra- judicial killing scenario in February 2017: According to Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) report, a total of 20 persons were alleged kill extra-judicially. Out of them, 15 people were killed in the name of ‘crossfire/ gunfights’, 01 was shot to death, almost 03 torture to death and 01 died in the custody. Some important cases are mentioned below: 1 http://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/constitutional-law. Monthly Human Rights MonthlyRights Observ Human 2 http://www.lawteacher.net 3 http://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/constitutional-law. 3 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org Monthly Human Rights Report –February, 2017 On February 13, 2017 an alleged criminal was killed in a “gunfight” between his cohorts and law enforcers in Munshiganj town. The dead is Shahjalal Miji, 33, of Dakkhin Courtgaon area in the town. He stood accused in at least 22 cases filed with different police stations of the district, said police.4 On Feb 14, 2017 a regional leader of the outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party was killed during a gunfight between extremists and law enforcers in Dhalarchar area of Aminpur in Pabna. The dead is identified as Md Nistar Hossain alias Jahid alias Nijam, 40, leader of Nistar bahini. Nistar was wanted in 13 cases, including the one for killing three policemen in Dhalarchar, the OC added.5 On Feb 16, 2017 a suspected member of an outlawed party was killed in a reported gunfight with police at village Maura Bongram of Pangsha upazila in Rajbari. The deceased was identified as Moazzem Fakir, a member of 'Bipul Bahini', an outlawed gang. Moazzem was wanted in a number of cases, including that of murder, the police officer-in-charge said.6 On Feb 18, 2017 a suspected robber was killed in a reported gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion in Budhpara area of Rajshahi city. The deceased was identified as Kawser Hossain, a resident of Chapainawabganj sadar. He had two murder cases among four filed against him, RAB said.The body was kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy.7 On Feb 20, 2017 a suspected drug trader was killed in a reported gunfight between two rival groups at Shikri Battala of Benapole in Jessore. The deceased was identified as Selim, 45, son of Taher of Bhaberber area in Benapole. Selim was wanted in several cases filed under the Narcotics Control Act.8 2017 - On Feb 22, 2017 two people were killed in a „gunfight‟ with detective branch of police at Fatulla in Narayanganj. The dead were Mukhter Hossain alias Killer Mukhter and his cohort February Md Manik alias Kala Manik, both aged between 25 and 30, said Narayanganj detective branch of police officer-in-charge Ahmedul Islam.9 On February 23, 2017 an alleged robber was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Khoiyabazar area in Khulna city. The deceased was identified as Zia Sana alias Hat Kata Zia alias Bomaru Sana, 45, son of Kabir Ali Gazi of Gutudia village of Dumuria Thana.10 ation Report on Bangladesh | Bangladesh ation Report on 4 http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/criminal-killed-gunfight-cops-1360816 5 http://bangla.samakal.net/2017/02/15/270384 6 http://www.mzamin.com/article.php?mzamin=53893&cat=1/ 7 http://www.ittefaq.com.bd/wholecountry/2017/02/19/104537.html 8 http://www.mzamin.com/article.php?mzamin=54574&cat=9/ 9 http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/1087336 MonthlyRights Observ Human 10 http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/1089526/ Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 4 Monthly Human Rights Report –February, 2017 Violence against Women Violence against women and girls is one of the most systematic and widespread human rights violations. It is rooted in gendered social structures rather than individual and random acts; it cuts across age, socio-economic, educational and geographic boundaries; affects all societies; which are the major obstacle to ending gender inequality and discrimination globally.11In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, The United Nations defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”.12Violence against women is a main social problem in contemporary Bangladesh. Inhuman attacks on women have become commonplace and widespread across the country. Daily news reports are filled with atrocities including physical and psychological torture, sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, dowry-related violence, trafficking, coerced suicide, and murder. The rate of reported violent acts against women has risen steadily and at an alarming rate, especially in February 2017. HRSS provides the following data has been taken from 12 prominent daily newspapers in Bangladesh. 45 40 35 2017 - 30 25 42 20 February February 15 19 10 16 9 5 0 Rape Sexual Killed for Killed in Family Harresment Dowry Feud Figure 02: Violence against Women in February ’17 ation Report on Bangladesh | Bangladesh ation Report on HRSS identifies the whole situation of a female in Bangladesh and documented the issues relating to the violation of women rights.