DOCSLIB.ORG

Bangladesh Country Report 2012-09-30

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Bangladesh Country Report 2012-09-30 BANGLADESH COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service Date 30 September 2012 BANGLADESH 30 SEPTEMBER 2012 Contents Go to End Please note: Information which has been updated since the last edition of this document is indicated by the use of yellow highlighting. A version of the report without highlighting is available from the UK Border Agency website at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/guidance/coi/ Preface REPORTS ON BANGLADESH PUBLISHED OR FIRST ACCESSED BETWEEN 31 AUGUST AND 30 SEPTEMBER 2012 Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................... 1.01 Public holidays ................................................................................................... 1.06 Maps of Bangladesh ............................................................................................. 1.07 Other maps of Bangladesh ................................................................................. 1.07 2. ECONOMY ....................................................................................................................... 2.01 3. HISTORY ......................................................................................................................... 3.01 Pre-independence: 1947- 1971 ............................................................................ 3.01 Post-independence: 1972 - April 2010 .............................................................. 3.02 Government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 1972-75 ............................................. 3.02 Government of Ziaur Rahman, 1975-81 ............................................................. 3.03 Government of Hussain Mohammed Ershad, 1982-90 ...................................... 3.04 Government of Khaleda Zia, 1991-96 ................................................................ 3.05 Government of Sheikh Hasina, 1996-2001 ........................................................ 3.06 Government of Khaleda Zia, 2001-2006 ............................................................ 3.07 Caretaker Government and state of emergency, October 2006 -January 2009 . 3.10 Restoring democracy in Bangladesh ................................................................. 3.12 General Election of 29 December 2008 ............................................................. 3.12 Political parties which contested the general election ........................................ 3.13 Results of the general election ........................................................................... 3.15 Reaction to the results ........................................................................................ 3.16 International observer reports ............................................................................ 3.18 Post-election violence ........................................................................................ 3.21 Sheikh Hasina 2009 to May 2010 ..................................................................... 3.22 Local elections ................................................................................................... 3.24 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny ......................................................................... 3.28 War crimes committed in 1971 ............................................................................ 3.35 Trial of murderers of ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ........................ 3.36 War crimes tribunal .............................................................................................. 3.40 Natural catastrophes ............................................................................................ 3.42 4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: JANUARY 2011 TO AUGUST 2012 .............................................. 4.01 5. CONSTITUTION ................................................................................................................ 5.01 6. POLITICAL SYSTEM .......................................................................................................... 6.01 Caretaker Government ......................................................................................... 6.05 Local government ................................................................................................. 6.09 Supervision of elections ...................................................................................... 6.11 ii The main text of this COI Report contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 31 August 2012. 30 SEPTEMBER 2012 BANGLADESH Human Rights 7. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 7.01 8. SECURITY FORCES ........................................................................................................... 8.01 Police and paramilitary forces............................................................................. 8.02 Police Reform Programme ................................................................................. 8.05 Armed forces ........................................................................................................ 8.09 Other government forces ..................................................................................... 8.11 Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) ............................................. 8.11 Human rights violations by the security forces ................................................. 8.12 Arbitrary arrest and detention ............................................................................. 8.12 Torture ................................................................................................................ 8.16 Odhikar Torture Prevention Project ................................................................ 8.20 Extra-judicial killings ........................................................................................... 8.21 Corruption in the law enforcement agencies ...................................................... 8.26 Avenues of complaint .......................................................................................... 8.27 Accountability and impunity ................................................................................ 8.32 9. MILITARY SERVICE ........................................................................................................... 9.01 10. ABUSES BY NON-GOVERNMENT ARMED FORCES ............................................................... 10.01 11. JUDICIARY .................................................................................................................... 11.01 Organisation ......................................................................................................... 11.04 The Truth Commission ....................................................................................... 11.12 Informal systems of justice: Village Courts and Shalish ..................................... 11.13 Independence ....................................................................................................... 11.14 Fair trial ................................................................................................................. 11.18 Corruption in the Judiciary .................................................................................. 11.22 12. ARREST AND DETENTION – LEGAL RIGHTS ....................................................................... 12.01 Preventive detention and its legislative framework .......................................... 12.01 The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC): Section 54 ......................................... 12.02 The Special Powers Act (SPA) ........................................................................... 12.03 Pre-trial detention ................................................................................................. 12.07 Bail ......................................................................................................................... 12.08 13. PRISON CONDITIONS ...................................................................................................... 13.01 14. DEATH PENALTY ............................................................................................................ 14.01 15. POLITICAL AFFILIATION .................................................................................................. 15.01 Freedom of political expression.......................................................................... 15.01 Freedom of association and assembly ............................................................... 15.05 Opposition groups and political activists .......................................................... 15.07 Political violence ................................................................................................. 15.07 Charges against, and restrictions on, the main party leaders ............................. 15.09 Student political groups and violence ................................................................ 15.11 16. FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND MEDIA .................................................................................... 16.01 Journalists ............................................................................................................ 16.07 17. HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS AND ACTIVISTS ......................................... 17.01 National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) ...................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Agricultural Insurance in Bangladesh
    Report No. 53081-BD Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Agricultural Insurance in Bangladesh Promoting Access to Small and Marginal Farmers Public Disclosure Authorized June 2010 THE WORLD BANK South Asia Poverty Reduction, Economic Management, Finance and Private Sector Development Insurance for the Poor, GCMNB, Finance and Private Sector Development Public Disclosure Authorized CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (Exchange rate effective December 1, 2009) Currency Unit = Bangladesh Taka US$1.00 Tk 69.04 GOVERNMENT FISCAL YEAR July 1—June 30 Table of Contents Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... iii Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... iv Context ........................................................................................................................... iv Challenges for the Development of Agricultural Insurance in Bangladesh ................... v Options for Consideration ............................................................................................ viii Next Steps ...................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................ 12 Importance of Agriculture in Bangladesh ..................................................................... 12 Government
    [Show full text]
  • Bangladesh Legislative Elections, 29 December 2008
    LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS IN BANGLADESH ELECTION OBSERVATION DELEGATION 27 – 31 December 2008 REPORT BY MR Charles TANNOCK CHAIRMAN OF THE DELEGATION Report 2 Annexes 7 1 INTRODUCTION Following an invitation from the Bangladeshi authorities, the Conference of Presidents decided at its meeting on 23 October to authorise the sending of a delegation of the European Parliament to observe the legislative elections in Bangladesh, at that time scheduled for the 18 December. The Constitutive Meeting of the EP EOM was held in Strasbourg on the 19th November and M. Robert Evans (PSE,UK) was elected Chairman. However, the rescheduling of the Election date in Bangladesh to the 29th December made it, unfortunately, not possible for many of the Members initially appointed by their Political Groups to maintain their availability. A new constitutive meeting was therefore held on the 10th December, with M. Charles Tannock (EPP/ED, UK) elected Chairman of a 4-strong delegation; as is customary, these Members were appointed by the political groups in accordance with the rolling d'Hondt system (the list of participants is annexed to this report; the ALDE political group gave its seat to the N/I group). Taking into account this change of dates, the Conference of Presidents re-examined the situation at its meeting of the 17th December and confirmed its initial decision to send a parliamentary delegation. As is usual, the European Parliament's delegation was fully integrated into the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), which was led by Mr Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF, MEP (ALDE, D). The EU EOM deployed 150 observers from 25 EU Member States plus Norway and Switzerland.
    [Show full text]
  • Microentrepreneurship Development in Bangladesh: Achievements and Shortcomings
    Microentrepreneurship Development in Bangladesh: Achievements and Shortcomings Md. Mahmudul Alam Rafiqul Islam Molla Mohammad Muntasir Hossain LAP Lambert Academic Publishing AG & Co. KG Saarbrücken, Germany January, 2010 ISBN: 978-3-8383-3044-0 Citation Reference: Alam, M.M., Molla, R.I., and Hossain, M.M. 2010. Microentrepreneurship Development in Bangladesh: Achievements and Shortcomings, LAP Lambert Academic Publishing: Saarbrucken, Germany. [Online Link] This is a pre-publication copy. The published book is copyrighted by the publisher. * The authors are researchers, scholars, and practitioners in rural development in Bangladesh. Currently they are engaged as: M. M. Alam, Graduate Research Assistant, LESTARI, UKM, Malaysia; Dr. R.I. Molla, Specialist in Economics, MMU, Malaysia; M. M. Hossain, Director, PSRi, Bangladesh. 0 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT 02 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 03 CHAPTER II GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF MICROENTREPRENEURSHIP IN BANGLADESH 06 CHAPTER III AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON ECONOMICS OF MICROCREDIT BORROWING 10 CHAPTER IV ACTIVITIES OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS: A CASE STUDY 18 - Sheba Polly: An Integrated Rural Development Centre 19 CHAPTER V SHORTCOMINGS IMPEDING THE MICROENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT 33 - Government Policy and Action 33 - NGOs and MFIs Practices 35 - Influences of Non-Structured Institutions 38 - Influences of Non-Institutional Factors 38 CHAPTER VI POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO OVERCOME THE SHORTCOMINGS 41 - Formation of a Specialist Agency or Department 43 CHAPTER VII CONCLUSION 47 REFERENCES 48 1 ABSTRACT Micro-entrepreneurial activities play a pivotal role in rural economic development in the third world countries. As a result, in Bangladesh poverty alleviation through rural centric micro- entrepreneurship development has been focused for more than thirty five years. Over 600 registered and thousands unregistered microcredit organizations including globally prominent institutions like Grameen Bank, BRAC, ASA, BARD, ActionAid, CARE etc.
    [Show full text]
  • Cultural Barriers to Maternal Health Care in Rural Bangladesh Lori Maria Walton DPT, Ph.D Andrews University, [email protected]
    Online Journal of Health Ethics Volume 9 | Issue 1 Article 3 Cultural Barriers To Maternal Health Care In Rural Bangladesh Lori Maria Walton DPT, Ph.D Andrews University, [email protected] Bassima Schbley MSW, Ph.D. Washburn University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://aquila.usm.edu/ojhe Recommended Citation Walton, L. M., & Schbley, B. (2013). Cultural Barriers To Maternal Health Care In Rural Bangladesh. Online Journal of Health Ethics, 9(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.18785/ojhe.0901.03 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Online Journal of Health Ethics by an authorized administrator of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Running head: CULTURAL BARRIERS TO MATERNAL HEALTH BANGLADESH 1 CULTURAL BARRIERS TO MATERNAL HEALTH CARE IN RURAL BANGLADESH Lori Maria Walton, DPT, Ph.D. Professor Andrews University Berrien Springs, Michigan USA Bassima Schbley, MSW, Ph.D. Associate Professor Washburn University Topeka, Kansas USA Abstract Bangladesh is a country with over one third of the population living in poverty and another one third living just above poverty level. The World Health Organization (2010) indicates that Bangladesh has poor prenatal and postpartum care, nutritional deficiencies, high incidence of non-skilled birth attendant utilization, and the second highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates next to sub-Saharan Africa. Women living in Bangladesh are at high risk for maternal mortality and morbidity in the postpartum period. Malnourishment, anemia, poverty, lack of skilled birth attendants, and limited prenatal and postpartum care are some of the issues facing women living in rural Bangladesh.
    [Show full text]
  • BANGLADESH COUNTRY of ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service
    BANGLADESH COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service Date 30 September 2012 BANGLADESH 30 SEPTEMBER 2012 Contents Go to End Preface REPORTS ON BANGLADESH PUBLISHED OR FIRST ACCESSED BETWEEN 31 AUGUST AND 30 SEPTEMBER 2012 Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................... 1.01 Public holidays ................................................................................................... 1.06 Maps of Bangladesh ............................................................................................. 1.07 Other maps of Bangladesh ................................................................................. 1.07 2. ECONOMY ....................................................................................................................... 2.01 3. HISTORY ......................................................................................................................... 3.01 Pre-independence: 1947- 1971 ............................................................................ 3.01 Post-independence: 1972 - April 2010 .............................................................. 3.02 Government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 1972-75 ............................................. 3.02 Government of Ziaur Rahman, 1975-81 ............................................................. 3.03 Government of Hussain Mohammed Ershad, 1982-90 ...................................... 3.04 Government of Khaleda Zia,
    [Show full text]
  • The Emerging Consumer Culture in Bangladesh: Everyday Life and Festivals in Rural Areas
    Journal of Social Sciences 6 (3): 488-497, 2010 ISSN 1549-3652 © 2010 Science Publications The Emerging Consumer Culture in Bangladesh: Everyday Life and Festivals in Rural Areas Md. Motaher Hossain Department of Economics and Management, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014, Finland Abstract: Problem statement: Bangladesh, often better known to the outside world as a country of natural calamities, is a poor and low-income country. Bangladesh’s main challenge is to reduce poverty through increasing equitable income. Although Bangladesh has faced many problems since its independence in 1971, its gross domestic product has been growing steadily and the country has achieved much success in social indicators. This article explores the culture of consumption in rural Bangladesh and answers the following question: How is Bangladeshi culture associated with consumption. Approach: This study employed a triangulation of methods: namely semi-structured in- depth qualitative interviews, ethnography and unstructured conversations substantiated by secondary sources and photographs. Results: This study highlighted consumption and other related issues of marriage and dowry, household decision making, division of labor, as well as different festivals such as Eid (for Muslims), the Bengali New Year and Durga puja (for Hindus). Early marriage and dowry are still practiced in rural areas. Women in rural Bangladesh perform most of the household work but men, as in any other patriarchal society, make the major decisions. Conclusion: The government and NGOs should engage in various activities to boost awareness among the rural people. Key words: Cultural consumption, festivals, marriage and dowry, decision-making, division of labor INTRODUCTION fresh ways of viewing popular consumption patterns and debates about multiculturalism.
    [Show full text]
  • Women Empowerment in Bangladesh a Study of the Village Pay Phone Program
    Women Empowerment in Bangladesh A Study of the Village Pay Phone Program Linda Hultberg C-thesis 15 hp Supervisor Media and Communication Studies Anders Svensson Spring Term 2008 Examinator Kaj Granath School of Education and Communication (HLK) C-thesis 15 hp Jönköping University Media and Communication Studies Spring term 2008 Abstract Linda Hultberg Women Empowerment in Bangladesh A Study of the Village Pay Phone Program Number of Pages: 38 The purpose with this study is to find out how the mobile phone and the Village Pay Phone from Grameen Telecom have been implemented into women’s life in rural Bangladesh. It also aims to study how the women have become empowered by this program. The sample constitutes sixteen female owners. A purposeful cluster sampling was used to depict six villages from various parts of Bangladesh. When arriving in the villages a snowball sampling method was used to find female VPP owners. The sampling method was chosen to include a sample of various characteristics. The study has a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, which aims to find out how the women experience the VPP and what meaning the women put in it. To collect empirical data interviews with open questions were used that opened up for conversation and the possibility to understand a range of experiences and nuances of meanings. The findings indicate that the majority of the women handed over the VPP to their husband or a male relative. The reason why is the families’ pressure on them to adjust to Purdah and seclusion, too much domestic work, lack of education, or because of the attitude among men and women both that business is a male domain.
    [Show full text]
  • Bangladesh Core USAID Education Profile
    Primary School Net and Gross Attendance Rates, Bangladesh There wasn't any significant progress in attendance Primary School Gross Attendance Rate 140 from 2000 to 2004 but it improved substantially 122 118 120 120 Female from 2004 and 2007 in Bangladesh. 100 85 84 85 87 85 86 % 80 Male 60 40 Both 85% of children in primary school age 6-10 20 attend primary school at the appropriate age 0 2000 2004 2007 with 83% for male and 86% for female. Nepal Students over or under the official primary Primary School Net Attendance Rate Nepal Pakistan 100 86 school age range make up 35% of the primary 83 85 Philippines 80 school age population. 59 57 Female 60 54 50 52 55 There is moderate gender disparity in favor of Kazakhstan % 40 Male Kyrgyzstan females in primary school attendance in 20 Both Laos Laos Bangladesh from 2000 to 2007. 0 Mongolia 2000 2004 2007 Mongolia Myanmar Source: Demographic and Health Survey Tajikistan Tajikistan The net attendance ratio (NAR) is the percentage of the official primary school-age population that attends primary school. The gross attendance ratio (GAR) is the total number of students attending primary school - regardless of age - expressed as a percentage of the official primary school-age population. The primary NAR does not capture those students who have completed primary school and advanced to secondary school at an earlier age than the official age. Primary School Net Attendance Rate in Urban and Rural Areas, Bangladesh Children in rural areas are equally likely to attend Primary School Net Attendance Rate in Urban and Rural Areas school as children in urban areas.
    [Show full text]
  • The Nexus Between Extreme Weather Events, Sexual Violence, and Early Marriage: a Study of Vulnerable Populations in Bangladesh
    Population and Environment https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-019-0312-3 ORIGINAL PAPER The nexus between extreme weather events, sexual violence, and early marriage: a study of vulnerable populations in Bangladesh Khandaker Jafor Ahmed1 & Shah Md Atiqul Haq2,3 & Françoise Bartiaux2 # Springer Nature B.V. 2019 Abstract This study aims to explore whether a relationship exists between extreme weather events, sexual violence, and early marriage. We selected two districts in Bangladesh that are vulnerable to extreme weather events: Sunamganj, which experiences flash flooding, and Brahmanbaria, which experiences cyclones and related floods. Survey data was collected from 120 randomly selected household heads from two villages in these districts, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 40 household heads who indicated early marriage was a coping strategy for managing effects of weather events. The mixed-methods study finds that early marriage of daughters is a coping strategy for managing two negative consequences of extreme weather events. First, by minimizing household expenses, householders can pay for damage-related expenses. Second, unmarried daughters may be subject to sexual violence during a crisis, especially in temporary shelters, which would harm both the family’s and daughter’sreputationand prevent future marriage. Keywords Bangladesh . Early marriage . Extreme weather events . Poverty. Sexual violence . Vulnerable areas Introduction Bangladesh is among the six most flood-prone countries in the world (UNDP 2004) and is also regularly exposed to other extreme weather events such as cyclones. This situation makes the population vulnerable to many undesirable outcomes, including two that are rarely studied: early marriage and sexual violence. Floods and extreme weather events exacerbate already high levels of poverty in the country as they affect a large number of people and cause damage to property.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Priority in India's Look East Policy
    ISA S Insights No. 111 – 31 August 2010 469A Bukit Timah Road #07-01, Tower Block, Singapore 259770 Tel: 6516 6179 / 6516 4239 Fax: 6776 7505 / 6314 5447 Email: [email protected] Website: www.isas.nus.edu.sg A New Priority in India’s Look East Policy: Evolving Bilateral Relations with Bangladesh Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury1 Abstract India is a country and nation on the rise. The process would be facilitated by a supportive regional environment. While with Pakistan relations continue to be challenged, with Bangladesh they appear on the mend. Bangladesh has for a variety of reasons proved to be the calmest country in the region and is also emerging as a responsible international actor. However, if this relationship is to evolve satisfactorily, India will be required to assume a disproportionately greater and non-reciprocal responsibility. The Indian leadership has already intellectually accepted this role and the article recommends some mutual steps towards advancing it. This relationship is also in consonance with India’s Look East policy, in which Bangladesh appears to have become a new priority. The Indian Express brought out an editorial on 3 August 2010 that deserves to be quoted extensively. The leader stated: ‘Rising powers need friendly neighbours. A relationship with our neighbours that is supportive, or at least cordial, would free us to think on a larger scale.’ Of course, India’s western border shows no signs of being unproblematic any time soon. But to the east, an election in Bangladesh that brought in the Awami League - which does not subscribe to the anti-Indian rhetoric that is the characteristic of the other main party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) - should have been seized with both hands.
    [Show full text]
  • Groundwater Management in Bangladesh: an Analysis of Problems and Opportunities
    Groundwater management in Bangladesh: An analysis of problems and opportunities Research Report No. 2 Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia - Mechanization and Irrigation (CSISA-MI) Groundwater management in Bangladesh: An analysis of problems and opportunities Qureshi, A.S.1, Ahmed, Z2., Krupnik, T.J3. 1 Senior Scientist - Irrigation and Agronomy, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) - Bangladesh 2 GIS and Remote Sensing Scientist, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) - Bangladesh 3 Research Team Leader and Cropping System Agronomist, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) - Bangladesh Headquartered in Mexico, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT) is a not-for-profit agriculture research and training organization. The center works to reduce poverty and hunger by sustainably increasing the productivity of maize and wheat in the developing world. CIMMYT maintains the world's largest maize and wheat seed bank and is best known for initiating the Green Revolution, which saved millions of lives across Asia and for which CIMMYT's Dr. Norman Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. CIMMYT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium and receives support from national governments, foundations, development banks, and other public and private agencies. © International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) 2014. All rights reserved. The designations employed in the presentation of materials in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of CIMMYT or its contributory organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Location Choice of BRAC and ROSC Schools in Bangladesh
    IZA DP No. 10326 Do Pro-Poor Schools Reach Out to the Poor? Location Choice of BRAC and ROSC Schools in Bangladesh M Niaz Asadullah October 2016 DISCUSSION PAPER SERIES Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit Institute for the Study of Labor Do Pro-Poor Schools Reach Out to the Poor? Location Choice of BRAC and ROSC Schools in Bangladesh M Niaz Asadullah University of Malaya, IZA, University of Reading and SKOPE, University of Oxford Discussion Paper No. 10326 October 2016 IZA P.O. Box 7240 53072 Bonn Germany Phone: +49-228-3894-0 Fax: +49-228-3894-180 E-mail: [email protected] Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and not those of IZA. Research published in this series may include views on policy, but the institute itself takes no institutional policy positions. The IZA research network is committed to the IZA Guiding Principles of Research Integrity. The Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in Bonn is a local and virtual international research center and a place of communication between science, politics and business. IZA is an independent nonprofit organization supported by Deutsche Post Foundation. The center is associated with the University of Bonn and offers a stimulating research environment through its international network, workshops and conferences, data service, project support, research visits and doctoral program. IZA engages in (i) original and internationally competitive research in all fields of labor economics, (ii) development of policy concepts, and (iii) dissemination of research results and concepts to the interested public. IZA Discussion Papers often represent preliminary work and are circulated to encourage discussion.
    [Show full text]