Monthly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh December, 2018 HUMAN RIGHTS SUPPORT SOCIETY (HRSS) www.hrssbd.org Monthly Human Rights Report –December, 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMERY Human Right Support Society is published this report based on incidents of human rights violation and atrocities based on information received through our district representatives and based on twelve prominent national dailies, has published bimonthly Human Rights report. In Dec ’18, the freedom of expression was denied and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of freedom of assembly and association witnessed a sharp decline especially during the election campaign and the Election Day. Restrictions on the political parties and civil societies, impunity to the abusive security forces, extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance, abduction, violence against women, indiscriminate arrest and assault on opposition political leaders and activists, coercion and extortion are exposed a very glooming scenario of the overall human rights situation in Bangladesh. The situation reached such awful state that even the common people feel insecure everywhere. According to the sources of HRSS, in December, at least 11 people were extra-judicially killed; a total of 25 people have been forcefully disappeared by the members of law enforcement agencies, later most of them shown arrest. Moreover, the HRSS report finds that, a total of 22 females have been raped. Of them, 07 were identified as an adult and alarmingly 15 were children under the age of 16. A total of 15 women were killed in the family feud, 03 females were killed due to dowry related violence. It has also been reported that a total of 23 were abducted in different areas of the country, among them approximately 10 were male, 03 females, 10 children, and 15 were killed after the abduction. Unexpectedly at least 50 (01 dec-09 Jan) people were killed in 11th national election related violence. HRSS noticed that in Dec, about 08 violent incidences were committed against the children, 03 2018 - lost their life and 05 were critically injured. As a result of violent attacks, a total of 32 unarmed Dec Dec civilians were victimized, of them, 05 were killed, 10 seriously injured, and roughly 02 were hit a bullet. HRSS also estimated a total of 03 incidences of attack on minority throughout the country. On the other hand, Bangladeshi citizens have been the victims of suspected killings, subjected to torture, and other forms of inhumane and degrading treatments. A total of nearly 04 incidents have been reported resulting one loss of life of Bangladeshi citizens and 05 have been arrested by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF). This shocking condition of human rights in Bangladesh motivates HRSS to work hard to raise awareness both home and abroad. ation Report on Bangladesh | Bangladesh on Report ation Monthly Human Rights Observ Rights Human Monthly 1 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrssbd.org Monthly Human Rights Report –December, 2018 Table of Contents SL Topics Page Number 01 Executive Summary 01 02 Table of Contents 02 03 Acronyms 03 04 Election Violence in Bangladesh 04 05 Extra-Judicial Killing 07 06 Violence Against Women 09 07 Attack on Journalists 12 08 Attack on Minority 15 09 Violence Against Children 16 10 Violent Attack 17 11 Abduction 19 12 Recovery of Dead Body 21 13 Border Killings 23 2018 - Dec Dec 14 Torture by Law Enforcement Agency 24 15 The Situation of Freedom of Expression 26 16 Monthly Human Rights Report at a Glance 28 17 Conclusion 29 18 Recommendation 30 ation Report on Bangladesh | Bangladesh on Report ation Monthly Human Rights Observ Rights Human Monthly Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 2 Monthly Human Rights Report –December, 2018 Acronyms BNHRC : National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh BAL : Bangladesh Awami League BCL : Bangladesh Chhatra League BNP : Bangladesh Nationalist Party BJC : Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal BJI : Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami BICS : Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir CAT : Convention against Torture & other cruel, inhuman or degradation treatment.... CAT : Committee against Torture CSW : Committee on the Status of Women CHR : Committee on Human Rights CERD : Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination CRC : Committee on the Rights of the Child CEDAW : Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CEDAW : Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CFNHRI : Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions CRC : Convention on the Rights of the Child DB : Detective Branch DMC : Dhaka Medical College DU : Dhaka University GA : General Assembly GOB : Government of Bangladesh HRSS : Human Rights Support Society HRC : Human Rights committee HRC : Human Rights Council 2018 ICCPR : International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - ICESCR : International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Dec Dec ICJ : International Court Of Justice NGO : Non-Governmental Organization OHCHR : Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights SR : Special rapporteur SP : Special Procedures RMG : Ready Made Garments RAB : Rapid Action Battalion UN : United Nations UDHR : Universal Declaration of Human Rights ation Report on Bangladesh | Bangladesh on Report ation UNCHR : United Nations Commission on Human Rights UNHCHR : United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights UPR : Universal Periodic Review UNO : Upazilla Nirbahi Officer UP : Union Parishad VAW : Violence against Women VAC : Violence against Children Monthly Human Rights Observ Rights Human Monthly 3 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrssbd.org Monthly Human Rights Report –December, 2018 Election Violence in Bangladesh In a democratic process, the election is the most common and acceptable way of transformation of power from one person to another and one party to another party. In Bangladesh, the 11th national election was held on 30 December‟18 since becoming independent in 1971. The debatable results ended in an extensive victory for the ruling Awami League party led by Sheikh Hasina. The party‟s coalition secured 288 out of a possible 300 seats in Parliament, apparently winning more than 90 percent of the popular vote. The coalition of the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its associates bodies, won only 08 seats. The results confirmed a third term in office for the Awami League. But regretfully, the members of the civil society of Bangladesh, as well as, the non-state actors, termed these elections as „incredible‟ with the interference of the government. It has well been reported that this election was greatly influenced by the activists, leaders, and workers as well as the representatives of the ruling party. The partisan government is making a mockery of the electoral process, and turning the country into an authoritarian state. The build-up to the poll was marred by violence and accusations of a crackdown against the opposition. Some 600,000 security personnel were deployed to prevent clashes. The authorities ordered high-speed internet to be shut down until after the vote to prevent the spread of "rumors" that might spark unrest. More than 100 million people were eligible to vote but reports suggest turnout has been low. During the pre-election campaign and Election Day in Bangladesh, At least 50 people were killed in election-related violence, many others were injured, and there were widespread allegations of voter intimidation. Election Violence In Bangladesh December, 2018 2018 - Dec Dec Killed Total Killed Number in Extra- Enforce Total in inter Total Bullet Total of intra judicially party Diappe Injured Hit Arrested Killed party Killed by Incidents clashes - (3,755) (72) (3802) (50) clashe LEA (07) arances (1186) (40) s (03) (25) Figure 01: Statistics of Violence Election 20181 ation Report on Bangladesh | Bangladesh on Report ation Observ Rights Human Monthly 1 HRSS’s Research and Investigation Desk Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 4 Monthly Human Rights Report –December, 2018 Killed in Killed in Killed Total Before Election after Killed Election Day Election (30) (13) (07) (50) Figure 02: Total Death in 11th National Election 2018 The given chart provides information about the turbulent figure of 11th National Election Violence in Bangladesh, December 2018. A total of 50 People were killed in electoral violence from 01 Dec’18 - 10 Jan’19, according to a fact-finding report by Human Rights Support Society (HRSS). Of the 22 AL men, 03 were killed in intra-party clashes; while the other 18 were killed in clashes with opponents and one was shot to death by LEA. while 06 with BNP or its associate bodies and one each with Jatiya Party, Liberal Democratic Party, UPDF, An Ansar man and 12 general people are also among the victims. Besides, 06 activists of BNP-led alliance were victims of extra-judicial killings by government agencies (Torture to Death, Crossfire, and Shot to death). Moreover, 17 BNP men and 08 Jamaat activists became victims of enforced disappearances. It also found 1186 incidents of pre-election and Election Day’s violence during this period, in which 2,745 activists of opposition alliances, 579 of the AL-led alliance, 86 Jatiya Party and 245 common people and supporters of independent candidates were injured across the country, bringing the total to 3,755. Apart from them, 28 police personnel and 35 journalists sustained injuries in electoral violence. Meanwhile, 2,724 BNP activists, 559 Jamaat activists and 24 AL activists 495 others were arrested during this time. On the other hand, opposition 2018 candidates were attacked and their houses, party office, and cars vandalized in different - districts. Dec Dec Some important cases are given below:2 In Cumilla, BNP activist Bacchu Mia, 45, was killed in a clash between BNP and AL men at Muragaon Govt Primary School center in Nangolkot, the victim is Muzibur Rahman, 35, an activist of the Liberal Democratic Party. He was killed after police opened fire following a clash between rival groups at Paschim Bellashor Govt Primary School center in Chandina.