MonthlyMonthly Human Human Rights Observation Rights Report on Observation Bangladesh Report on February, 2016 Bangladesh
February, 2016
HUMAN RIGHTS SUPPORT CENTER (HRSC)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In February 2016, the most momentous human rights issues were extra-judicial killings, torture, political violence, abduction and discrimination against women. Further human rights problems encompassed exploitations by security forces; they were alleged to responsible for the abduction, arbitrary arrest and indiscriminate detention. The government controlled freedom of assembly and encourage politically motivated violence in a mundane way. Violence against women and children remained to be going to worsen way, as numbers of incidences have occurred for a silly matter. Discrimination against persons especially women has been considered as a serious problem for the last February 2016.
Human Rights Supports Center (HRSC) was formed to monitor & promote human rights situation in Bangladesh. It works to raise awareness among the youths as well as mass people about human rights violations and encourages their involvement through various human rights related activities. As part of our mission, we are regularly publishing this monthly report on the basis of 12 prominent daily newspapers of Bangladesh and fact- finding report from our regional representative of the country.
Human rights violation is also continued in February 2016, as like before. In this month, extra- judicial killing, violence against women, abduction and an arbitrary arrest has been increased tremendously specifically the rate of rape, gang rape and child rape increased to the first-time extent.
Human rights violation is also continued in February 2016, as like before According to the source of human rights support center (HRSC), an estimated 12 people were killed
extra judicially in 2016. Moreover, HRSC report found that in February 2016, around 36 women were raped. A total of 07 women were killed for dowry, 20 females were sexually harassed and 02 have become victims of Acid violence.
February’16 On the other hand, 01 Bangladeshi citizens was killed by BSF, 04 shot and 07 were
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arrested, at the same time, almost 30 were killed in the violent attack. A total of 27 people have been abducted, among them 19 were rescued and 05 were killed after the abduction.
Besides, 03 journalists have been seriously injured and 02 were arrested. Furthermore, 363 people in total were injured in political violence. At least 13 people were killed by public lynching.
However, we hope that this report will help mass people, civil society as well as international communities to realize the current dreadful and degrading human rights situation of 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 citizen to raise their voice to protect and promote human rights in Bangladesh.
To finish, we want to acknowledge the contribution and pay our thanks to those people who have an assist and encourage us that will help us to make this monthly report more
qualitative and encourage us to keep a vibrant role in human rights sector.
thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human Mon
1 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page SL Topics Number
1 Executive Summary 01
2 Table of Contents 02
3 Introduction 03
4 Violence Against Women 04
5 Extra-judicial Killing 08
6 Attack on Journalist 11
7 Attack on Minority 13
8 Border Dispute 14
9 Violation of Children’s Rights 16
10 Public Lynching 18
11 Abduction 20
February’16
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12 Violent Attack 22
13 Political Violence 25
14 Enforced disappearances 27
15 Recovery of Dead Body 28
16 At a Glance February 2016 30
17 Conclusion 31
18 Recommendation 32
Monthly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 2 INTRODUCTION
Human rights are rights which hold to be „inalienable‟ and belonging to all human, according to natural law. Human rights are sometimes called fundamental rights or basic rights or natural rights. Fundamental rights cannot, rather must not, be taken away by any legislature or any act of the government and are often set out in a constitution. Human rights are protected and upheld by international and national laws and treaties.
Whatever, their political and religious identity, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, language, or any other status and position. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and right without any kinds of discrimination. Human rights advocates agree that, sixty months after its issue, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is still more a dream than reality. Violations exist in every part of the world.
The state is the defender of all sorts of human rights. As the Constitution of Bangladesh recognize all forms of human rights i.e. civil and political rights, social, economic and cultural rights. Civil and political rights are recognized as „fundamental rights‟ which are directly justiciable, meaning a person can file a petition before the High Court in case there is a violation of fundamental rights. While economic, social and cultural rights are recognized as „Fundamentals Principle of state policy‟ which is not judicially enforceable but these rights are the guidelines to the State in the enactment of new laws and policies as well as interpretation of the Constitution and other laws.
In the foreword of the Bangladesh Constitution it is declared “Further pledging that it shall be a fundamental aim of the state to realize through the democratic process to socialist society,
free from exploitation-a society in which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality and justice, political, economic and social, will be secured for all citizens”.
In spite of having such national and international obligation, human rights are drastically
February’16 | | violated in Bangladesh. In the month of February‟16, human rights have been infringed specifically violence against women, abduction, attack on a journalist and extra-judicial killings. The situation reached to such abysmal state that even the mass people feel insecure inside their homes and pedestrian plus commuters doubt if they will be back safe to their beloved ones at the fall of dusk.
Massive corruption in state machinery, the politicization of administration, a weak judiciary, and culture of impunity degrading law and order situation, political patronization and shelter of criminals etc. lead to an extreme human rights violation in Bangladesh. In addition, lack of democratic values in every incumbent government, limited people‟s participation in decision- making and implementation process and lack of transparency and accountability make the situation more intricate.
This report is an effort to spectacle the degrading human rights situation in Bangladesh without any kinds of biasness to any groups or parties.
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3 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
“Violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women.1Violence against women conflicts with the basic Human Rights established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948 and other documents like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Such as: violence denies women the right to life (ICCPR Article 6); right to be free from discrimination; right to health; right to bodily integrity; right to privacy; the right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (ICCPR article 7); the right to liberty and security of person (ICCPR article 9); and the right to be free from all kinds of violence’s including sexual violence. Early marriage and pregnancy are also violations of the rights of the girl child to equal opportunities in education and training.
Violence against women in Bangladesh is an extensive and political impact; governmental failure and lack of social conflict and implementation of laws are the main causes that lead to the criminals going free. HRSC faithfully screens the whole condition of women and girls in Bangladesh and documents the issues relating to violence against women, Some main acts of violence committed against women include dowry killings, rape, sexual harassment and stalking, acid attacks, physical and mental abuse and sex trafficking. it has been continued and increasing day by day. Rape, sexual harassment, acid violence are increasing to a greater extent because of corrupted judicial and administrative system. Most of the perpetrators of violence are out of punishment with taking ruling parties shelter. the government should take a step proper protective measures to stop violence against women.
According to source of HRSC in February 2016, incident of violence against women are-
February’16 | |
Rape: Total numbers of 36 females were reportedly raped. Among them, 01 female was killed after the rape, among total raped about 16 children who were below the age of 16. Of the women, 04 were victims of gang rape.
Sexual Harassment: a total of 20 girls and women were reportedly victims of sexual harassment. Of them, 14were assaulted and 06 were stalked.
Dowry Related Violence: 15 incidents of dowry-related violence reported on a daily newspaper. 07 were killed because of dowry and 08 women were physically abused over dowry demands.
Acid Violence: 02 females have become victims of acid violence.
1
The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, General Assembly Resolution, Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human December 1993
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 4 40
35 36 30
25 25 20 20 20 15
10
5 7 0 2 Rape Sexual Killed for Killed in Suicide Acid Harresment Dowry Family Fued Throwing
Figure 1: Violence against Women
Numbers of vital cases are mentioned below: On February 04, 2016 a housewife, who received severe injuries due to beating allegedly by her husband, died at Mymensingh Medical College (MMCH. Locals said Jahera Khatun, a resident of Sawarmshia village in Atpara Upazila, often had a quarrel with her husband Khokan Miah over different family issues. Over such an issue, Khokan allegedly beat up Jahera.2
On February 16, 2016 a woman was killed allegedly by her husband for dowry at Hariabari village in Sadar Upazila of the district. The deceased was identified as Shampa Khatun, 25, wife of Zahid Hossain of the village. The family members said Shampa married Jahid five years ago. After their marriage, Zahid and his family members often tortured Shampa for dowry, alleged the victim's grandfather Alauddin Sardar.They strangled Shampa following an 3
February’16 altercation over the issue. | |
On February 05, 2016 a pregnant woman was stabbed to death allegedly by her husband at Dighli village in Sylhet's Bishwanath Upazila. The deceased was Halima Begum Helena, 22, wife of CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver Nazrul Islam Zulfikar, a resident of the village.4
On February 5, 2016 a woman and her two-year-old son were stabbed to death allegedly by her „husband‟ over a family feud at Pashchim Charbata in Subarnachar of Noakhali. Nizam Uddin, officer-in-charge of Char Jabbar Police Station, said Lucky Rani Nath, 30, and her two-year-old son was stabbed to death by her husband Sanjay Kumar Nath, 40, over a family feud around 11:00pm.5
On February 07, 2016 An SSC examinee allegedly committed suicide at Gaira village in Sharsha Upazila of Jessore district. Locals said Mukta Khatun, 19, a student of Benapole High School, and daughter of Hossain Ali of the village, hanged herself from the ceiling of
2
thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human http://www.thedailystar.net/country/housewife-murdered-212719 3 http://www.jugantor.com/bangla-face/2016/02/17/12298/ 4
Mon http://www.thedailystar.net/city/husband-kills-pregnant-woman-213400 5 http://bangla.samakal.net/2016/02/06/191196#sthash.Oy2FImEo.dpuf
5 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org her room at night following a family feud. On information, police rushed to the spot, recovered the body and sent it to Jessore Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.6
On February 09, 2016 a man allegedly burned his wife to death at Geneva Camp of Mohammadpur in the city. The victim was identified as Rani Begum, 20, wife of Saheb Ali, a driver of CNG-run auto-rickshaw.Locals said Rani and Saheb Ali got married five months earlier. Since then the couple had been in conflict over various family matters.7
On February 10, 2016 the hanging body of a college girl was found at a dormitory in Radhanagar area in Pabna town. The victim, Rumi Khatun, 22, daughter of Lutfar Rahman of Bonbelghoria village in Natore, was an MA final year student of Pabna Edward College. She was an accountant in Hafsa Food Products.8
On February 02, 2016 a man threw acid on his wife at Demra in Dhaka Metropolitan Police, accusing her of an extramarital affair. The victim, Jesmine Akhter, 26, a mother of three, sustained10 percent burns on her face, chest and hands, said Partha Shankar Paul, resident surgeon of the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where she was admitted after the incident.9
On February 15, 2016 a woman was killed allegedly by her drug addict husband at Ashkur village in Gobindagnaj Upazila of the district. The deceased is Anjuara Begum, 35, wife of Monir Hossain of the village. In the evening, Monir beat Anjuara mercilessly, leaving her dead on the spot following an altercation. 10
On February 19, 2016 A female student of Rajshahi University allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself with the ceiling fan of her room in Shantibag area in Rajshahi City. The deceased was identified as Farzana Afroj Fatima, daughter of Munshi Saiyeduzzaman of Magura; she was a first-year student of agronomy and agricultural department of the
university.11
February’16 | | On February 28, 2016 A woman allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the rooftop of a 5-storey building in the capital's Hazipara. The dead is Hena Akter Dolan, 27, wife of Jahid Hossain, a Bangladeshi expatriate in the United Arab Emirates. Officer-in-charge of Rampura Police Station Rafiqul Islam said Hena jumped from the rooftop of the building around 4:10am. However, the reason behind the suicide could not be known immediately, the OC added.12
On February 28, 2016 a housewife was tortured to death allegedly by her in-laws for dowry at Harunkandi village in Alamdanga Upazila of Chuadanga district. The deceased was identified as Marium Khatun, 23, wife of Shanti Malitha of the village.13
6 http://www.thedailystar.net/country/ssc-examinee-commits-suicide-213994 7 http://newagebd.net/201672/bnp-demands-release-of-mahmudur- 8 www.thedailystar.net/country/college-girl-commits-suicide-409408 9 http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/housewife-burnt-acid-attack-211600 10 http://www.ittefaq.com.bd/wholecountry/2016/02/16/55751.html 11 http://newagebd.net/204677/ru-student-commits-suicide-2/#sthash.aXCNcUVg.dpuf 12
http://www.thedailystar.net/city/woman-kills-herself-capital-783874 Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human 13 http://www.thedailystar.net/country/housewife-killed-dowry-783715
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 6 Rape: Rape is one of the cruelest forms of violence against women in Bangladesh. In a culture that holds a woman's chastity sacred, rape is particularly injurious to a woman's self- identity and social future as well as her physical and psychological wellbeing. The increasing rate of rape is an alarming phenomenon and it depicts the diminishing value of women in society. In Bangladesh rape is also an offense. As section 376 of the penal code states: “whoever commits rape shall be punished with imprisonment for life”. It may be mentioned that sometimes rape is followed by murder, particularly when gang rape takes place.
40 35 36 30 25 20 15 16 10 5 0 4 5 Rape Child Rape Gang Rape Attempt to rape
Figure 2: Statistics of Raped in February 2016
Numbers of vital cases are mentioned below: On February 09, 2016 Criminals raped and murdered a college girl at a village in Mathbaria Upazila when she was returning home from a relative's house. The victim was a student of HSC first year of business studies at Shahadat Hossain College. Abu Saleh, Union Parishad member of the village, said the girl was returning home alone from her sister-in-law's house at Dakkhin Sapleza village around 7:30am. The criminals raped her in a paddy field halfway home and choked her to death, he
added.14
February’16 | | On February 13, 2016 a third grader was allegedly raped by a neighbour in a remote village in Faridpur while a housewife was allegedly raped by a rickshaw puller in Lakshmipur. In Faridpur, the alleged crime occurred at Alipur village of Kalkini in the district on Thursday evening. The critically injured child was admitted to Faridpur Medical College and Hospital. The local people said that the perpetrator was a married man, named Yunus of Alipur village under Madaripur district. He picked up the nine-year-old student from in front of her home and raped her in a nearby mustard farm. 15
On February 28, 2016 a girl, raped by a youth, is fighting for life at Pabna Medical College Hospital. The 13-year-old girl was raped when she was returning to her home at village Dhalesheswar in Atghoria from her relative‟s house around 6:30pm, police said. The culprit fled the spot after the incident. Local people recovered the girl hearing her screaming and sent her to Pabna Medical College Hospital.16
thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human 14 http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/girl-killed-after-rape-351340 15
Mon http://newagebd.net/202754/third-grader-child-housewife-raped/#sthash.35wtDe0Y.dpuf 16 http://newagebd.net/207105/girl-raped-rapist-held/
7 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLING
The term “extrajudicial killing” means execution without justice. This is an arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life and simply a murder. An extrajudicial killing is the killing of a person by governmental authorities without the sanction of any judicial proceeding or legal process.17 Bangladesh has earned notoriety in carrying out extrajudicial killings. „Crossfire‟ or „encounter‟ and gunfight are very common terms used by the law enforcing agencies to hide their crime and avoid the liabilities of extra-judicial killing. After killing in a pre-planned and cool head, the police and RAB18 authorities have informed the media that the victims 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. Extra-judicial killing totally diminishes public faith in the judicial system19.
The government of Bangladesh has been violating the constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights day after day since 2002 especially when did the operation clean heart starts. Now the situation is becoming more complex day by day. According to UN General Comment No.35; “States parties have the duty to take the appropriate measures to protect the rights to liberty of persons against deprivations by third parties”. States parties must protect individuals against abduction or detention by individual criminals or irregular groups, including armed or terrorist groups, operating within their territory. They must also protect individuals against wrongful deprivation of liberty by lawful organizations, such as employers, schools, and hospitals.
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," however, we find that these legal provisions are being totally ignored:
Article 31 20 of the constitution of Bangladesh21 states:
February’16 | | "To enjoy the protection of law, and to be treated in accordance with law, is the inalienable right of every citizen, wherever he may be, and of every other person for the time being within Bangladesh, and in particular, no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation or property of any person shall be taken except in accordance with law."
17 http://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/constitutional-law. 18 http://www.lawteacher.net 19 http://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/constitutional-law. 20
http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/pdf_part.php?id=367 Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human 21http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/pdf_part.php?id=367
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 8 Extr- Judicial Killing
Crossfire Torture To (11) Death(01)
Figure 3: Extra-Judicial Killing
The given pie chart provides information about the extra- judicial killing scenario in the month February 2016: According to human rights support center (HRSC) report, a total of 12 persons alleged to kill extra-judicially. Out of them, 11 people were killed in the name of ‘crossfire/ encounters /gunfights’, one was the torture to Death.
Some important cases are mentioned below:
On February 08, 2016 a man was killed in an alleged gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at Keraniganj. He was identified as Motahar Hossain, RAB-10 commanding officer Jahangir Hossain Matubbar told that a patrol team of the battalion challenged some motorbikers in Chitakhola around 4:00am. Being challenged, the bikers opened fire on the battalion men that triggered a gunfight. One of the offenders was caught in the line of fire and became bullet-hurt. RAB members held the injured man and sent him to Mitford Hospital
where the doctors declared him dead.22
February’16 | |
On February 09, 2016 an alleged criminal was killed in a 'gunfight' between detectives and his cohorts in Madhabdi of the district. The deceased was identified as Arif, 27, son of Md Halim of Birampur area in the Upazila. Arif was taken to Narsingdi General Hospital and died while being shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), police said. 23
On February 10, 2016 two suspected extremists were killed in a reported gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion at Shasthipur in Kushtia Sadar. The deceased were identified as Aka Uddin Hiya, 45, son of Ansar Sheikh, and Liakat Ali, 40, son of Jalil Sheikh of village Mrittikapara. They were the members of underground party Gana Mukti Phouj, RAB sources said. The bodies were sent to Kushtia General Hospital morgue for post-mortem examinations.24
thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human 22 http://bangla.samakal.net/2016/02/08/191735#sthash.RvQZq2mP.dpuf 23
Mon http://www.thedailystar.net/country/criminal-killed-shootout-db-men-351190 24 http://bangla.samakal.net/2016/02/11/192444#sthash.C6vTR3xU.dpuf
9 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org On February 14, 2016 an alleged robber was killed in a „gunfight‟ with police in Baddapara area of Sarail upazila in Brahmanbaria district. The deceased was identified as Ratan, 30, of village Chunta. The police said that five policemen were injured in the incident and they were admitted to a local hospital.25
On February 16, 2016 an alleged criminal was killed in a “gunfight” with Rapid Action Battalion in Tongi of Gazipur. The dead, Jewel, 28, of Tongi Madhyapara, stood accused in five cases, including murder, according to Tongi police. Of the five cases, he was an accused in a case filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act for gouging out his wife's eyes, police said.26
On February 18, 2016 a suspected robber was killed in a “gunfight” with Rapid Action Battalion as he along with his cohorts attempted to rob Sonali Bank‟s branch in Dhamrai upazila of Dhaka. The deceased was identified as Masuk, 35, Lutful Kabir, commanding officer (CO) of Rab-4, told.27
On February 28, 2016 a man was killed in an alleged gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in the southern district of Patuakhali. The 'gunfight' took place early Monday in the district town‟s Hetalia Badaghat area while the deceased was identified as Maula Mridha, 35.Confirming the gunfight, ASP Fazlur Rahman, in-charge of RAB-8 in Patuakhali, said that Maula was a top terror of the district and he was accused in several cases.28
February’16
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25 http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/770413 26 http://www.ittefaq.com.bd/wholecountry/2016/02/16/55624.html 27
http://bangla.samakal.net/2016/02/19/194164#sthash.bDXAxDHM.dpuf Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human 28 http://www.jugantor.com/online/country-news/2016/02/29/5498/
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 10 ATTACK ON JOURNALIST
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) contains, in Article 19, the first and most widely recognized statement of the right to freedom of expression: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.29
The UDHR is not a binding treaty but a recommendatory resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly. Through time and universal acceptance, however, much of the UDHR has risen to the level of customary international law, including Article 19, and is, therefore, binding on all states.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was meant to elaborate the UDHR and contains a more detailed but very similar statement about freedom of expression (again in Article 19):30
1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
The UN‟s Human Rights Committee, the body that is mandated to monitor states‟ implementation of the ICCPR, has clarified that law which criminalizes the expression of
opinions about historical facts are incompatible with the obligations on states to respect freedom of expression and opinion. As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), all of Bangladesh‟s branches of governmental authority,
including the judiciary, must respect and protect freedom of expression. February’16
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Freedom of expression is a precondition for working democracy, creating peace and public participation in decision-making. Regrettably Freedom of expression was seen to limited in every aspect in Bangladesh in 2016. Individuals are not always able to disparage the government publicly without the fear of reprisal and the government often attempted to impede criticism by prohibiting or dispersing as well as shutting out many electronic and print media due to the silly matter of publishing real but against to government reports.
Even the social media was banned for two times. The government applied indirect pressure to coerce to different news agencies constantly. Moreover in Bangladesh, attacks on journalists are very frequent incidents; assaulting, threatening and disrupting in their professional duties have become very mundane matter.
thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human 29
Mon UDHR-1948, article 19 30 ICCPR-1966, article 19
11 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org The journalists and the media constant were to be victims of attacks, physically assaulted, threaten and intimidated from different powerful quarters, especially from the government and the ruling party leaders and activists. In February 2016: According to HRSC’s documented statistics, around 03 journalists were injured, 02 were arrested and one was assaulted.
Injured 03
Attack on Journalist
Assaulted Arrested 01 02
Figure 4: Attack on Journalist
Selected cases are as described here:
On February 17, 2016 A Prothom Alo photojournalist and a motorcycle rider were allegedly
beaten up by some Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men of Chittagong Medical College (CMC) unit in Chittagong city when the former took photos of them beating the latter. The rider was tailgating an ambulance crossing a blockade being enforced by the BCL men at the Probortok intersection around 2:15pm, said several eyewitnesses and local shop owners
31 February’16
requesting anonymity. |
On February 28, 2016 some activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Chittagong University allegedly beat up a journalist. Mizanur Rahman, the CU correspondent of Chittagong city-based newspaper Dainik Purbodesh, submitted a written complaint to the proctor. Mizan, a second-year student of public administration, said BCL men led by Suruj and Rabin attacked him because he intervened in an altercation between his friend and the activists. “The BCL men punched and kicked Mizan,” said witness Shahidul Suman.32
31
http://www.thedailystar.net/city/bcl-men-cmc-beat-prothom-alo-photojournalist-574000 Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human 32 http://bangla.samakal.net/2016/02/28/196200#sthash.XngyOMHa.dpuf
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 12 ATTACK ON MINORITIES
Article 27 of The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that “In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practice their own religion, or to use their own language”. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights mentions explicitly in article 2 (2) that “the States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to guarantee that the rights enunciated in the present Covenant will be exercised without discrimination of any kind as to race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
Killed 02
Injured Total Incidets 05 04
Attacks On
Minority
February’16 | |
The showed bar graph provides information about the incidences regarding attacks on minority, According to information gathered by HRSC in month February, an account at least 02 people were killed and 05 people have been injured in a total of 05 incidences regarding temple, business and family attack on the minority.
Selected cases are as described here: On February 21, 2016, unidentified assailants have hacked to death a Hindu priest in Panchagarh. Another person received bullet injuries in the attack. The motive was unclear, but witness accounts matched the modus operandi of last year‟s attacks on foreigners and Christian priests. Deceased Jagneshwar Roy, 50, was the head priest at the Santagourhiyo Temple at Sonapota village in the northern district‟s Debiganj Upazila. Injured Gopal Chandra Roy told that the assailants shot at him, saying, “Your guruji has been executed.” Three people, who came on a motorcycle, took part in the attack, another witness said. Panchagarh district police chief Gias Uddin Ahmed said that
the assailants had hacked the priest.33 thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human
Mon 33 http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016/02/21/priest-murdered-in-panchagarh-in-northern-bangladesh
13 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org BORDER DISPUTE
Human rights are also extremely violated in the border area of Bangladesh by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF). Human rights violations by BSF have been going on for a long time along these borders between Bangladesh and India. Examples of BSF shooting, murder, tormenting and abducting unarmed Bangladeshi civilians in the border areas violate international norms and treaties. Members of the BSF also illegally enter Bangladesh territory and attack people residing along the border, shoot and kidnap Bangladeshis. The India-Bangladesh border is probably the most helpless and goriest border in the world. In 2010, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued an 81-page report which brought up uncountable abuses of the BSF. The report stated that over 1000 Bangladeshi citizens were killed during the first decade of the 21st century.34
However, we have frequently observed that India has been violating treaties, shooting at anyone seen near the border or anyone trying to cross the border, which is a pure violation of the international act and human rights.
8 7 7 6 5 5 4 3
2 1 1 0
Killed by BSF Injured By BSF Arrested By BSF February’16
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Figure 5: Border Dispute
The given chart gives data on the border dispute. According to the source of Human Rights Support Center (HRSC) in February 2016, an estimated 01 Bangladeshis citizen were killed by the BSF, 05 were injured by BSF as well as 07 were arrested by BSF.
Some important cases are mentioned below;
On February 01, 2016 Members of Indian Border Security Force picked up a Bangladeshi young man from Kamalpur frontier of Shibganj in Chapainawabganj. The victim was identified as Selim, 27, son of Fazlur Rahman Fazlu of Shialmara village in the upazila. Director of Bangladesh Border Guard battalion-43 in Naogaon Lt Col Zahid Hasan said the BSF members of battalion 40 from Piajbari. Camp picked up Selim from the area around 9am while he was irrigating his land near 190/2 pillar along the Kamalpur border.35
34
"India/Bangladesh: Indiscriminate Killings, Abuse by Border Officers". Human Rights Watch.Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human 35 http://bangla.samakal.net/2016/02/02/190437#sthash.CeF37BdI.dpuf
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 14 On February 03, 2016 A Bangladeshi national was shot by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) near pillar No 902 at Bhutiamongal border in Hatibandha upazila of the district. The injured is Zahurul Islam, 29, son of Dhanor Uddin of Bhutiamongal village. Locals rescued Zahurul and took him to Hatibandha Upazila Health Complex. A flag meeting between BGB and BSF was held on the border where BGB protested against the shooting of Zahurul, he added.36
On February 06, 2016 a cattle trader was shot by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) near Johorpur frontier under Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila. The injured cattle trader is Jahangir Alam, 30, son of Nazrul Islam of Satroshia village in the upazila. Lt Col Ahmed Junaed Alam Khan, commanding officer (CO) of BGB 9-Battalion in Chapainawabganj, and locals said BSF personnel opened fire when Jahangir was returning to Bangladesh along with cattle.37
On February 16, 2016 Members of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) picked up a Bangladeshi fisherman from the Teesta River in Dimla upazila of the district. The victim was identified as Mosharraf Hossain, 35, son of late Abdus Samad of Charkhibari village under Tepakhribari union of the upazila. UP Chairman Rabiul Islam Shahin said BSF members picked up Mosharraf from the river while he was fishing in the river in Charkhibari area.38
On February 22, 2016, Indian Border Security Force (BSF) shot a Bangladeshi youth dead along Dangerpara border area of Daulatpur upazila in Kushtia. The deceased was identified as Mamun, 25, son of Moho Ali of Dangerpara village. His body is lying in Indian Territory, confirms several sources. Another Bangladeshi named Alim, 27, also sustained bullet injury in the incident and he is undergoing treatment under BSF custody.39
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36 http://www.jugantor.com/bangla-face/2016/02/04/8916/
thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human 37 http://www.thedailystar.net/country/cattle-trader-injured-bsf-firing-213568 38
Mon http://www.thedailystar.net/country/bsf-picks-fisherman-teesta-river-513424 39 http://www.jugantor.com/online/country-news/2016/
15 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org VIOLATION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
The violation of child rights is a common problem in Bangladesh. The children have basic rights to education, balance diet, health and nutrition, protection, participation, recreation, safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Most of the children of Bangladesh are deprived of these basic rights.
Children have rights as members of society. This has been recognized by the international community in recent times. As a signatory to U.N. Declaration on the Rights of the Child in 1990, there is an upsurge of awareness of rights of children.40 The rights of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child‟s physical, mental, spiritual, moral, and social development”.41 1n our country the family attends to care and protection of the children. In the extended family, the duties and responsibilities of parents are shared by other members of the family. The well-being and welfare of the children are a matter of general concern. Everything needed by the child could be provided by the family or the local community which was integrated. Life has become more complex and strains on the family have become more severe today42.
According to HRSC report, In February 2016, 07 children’s were killed and 37 children’s have been critically injured in a total of 26 incidents of violation of child rights.
40
35 37
30
25 26 20
15 February’16
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10
5 7 0 killed Injured Incident
Figure 6: Child Rights Violence
Some important cases are mentioned below; On February 05, 2016 a woman and her two- year-old son were stabbed to death allegedly by her „husband‟ over a family feud at Pashchim Charbata in Subarnachar of Noakhali. Nizam Uddin, officer-in-charge of Char Jabbar Police Station, said Lucky Rani Nath, 30, and her two-year-old son was stabbed to death by her husband Sanjay Kumar Nath, 40, over a family feud around 11:00pm. On
40 Abdul Halim, Constitution, Constitutional Law & Politics Bangladesh Perspective, 3rd ed p. 53. 41
Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, Art. 27. Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human 42 The Daily Star (1st March, 2010).
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 16 information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to local a hospital morgue for autopsy.43
On February 8, 2016 a woman allegedly killed her 11-month old son at village Shyampur of Ratankandi union in Sirajganj. The deceased was identified as Tanveen Hasan, son of Saidul Islam and the alleged killer was Rubia Khatun, 30. Sirajganj sadar police sub- inspector Rafiqul Islam said they recovered the body from a suitcase inside the house sent it to Sirajganj Sadar Hospital morgue for post-mortem examinations.44
On February 14, 2016 two children were mercilessly tortured by a group of men, which included an army sergeant and police constable, on suspicion that they had stolen a mobile phone. The incident was also reportedly captured on video by the assailants. Zahir Hussain, an eighth-grade student at Bagsara High School, was admitted to the local Upazila Health Centre. Emon Hossain, 12, son of Masud Ali, went missing after the incident.45
February 19, 2016 a 10-year-old boy was tortured allegedly by a local Awami League leader in Patghudam bus stand area of the district town on a theft charge. The victim was identified as Saddam, son of Parveen Akhter, a resident of Krishtopur slum of the town. Officer-in- charge of Kotwali Model police station Quamrul Islam said local people of the area caught red handed Saddam while he was snatching a mobile phone set from a person. Later they, including Safir Uddin, vice-president of 18 no ward unit of Awami League and also adviser of Krishtopur Dakhshinpara community police, beat Saddam severely. The alleged torturers also filmed the whole torture incident. They also handed Saddam over to police.46
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43
thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human http://newagebd.net/200199/woman-son-killed-by-husband-in-noakhali/#sthash.Ki1raSo6.dpuf 44 http://newagebd.net/201116/woman-kills-minor-son/#sthash.5lPf9hEP.dpuf 45
Mon http://bangla.samakal.net/2016/02/14/193062#sthash.DR2ZYKWC.dpuf 46 http://www.jugantor.com/online/country-news/2016/02/19/4667/
17 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org PUBLIC LYNCHING
Lynching is an extrajudicial punishment by an informal group. It is most often used to characterize informal public executions by a mob, often by hanging, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate a minority group. It is an extreme form of informal group social control. In Bangladesh due to lack of respect for law, distrust of the police and instability in the country people are taking the law into their own hands, fearing that they will not get justice any other way. As the result, the incidence of public lynching became a banal matter. HRSC believes that everyone has right to be considered as innocent until proven guilty by the court.
14
12
10 13 13
8 8 6
4
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0 killed Injured Incident
In February 2016, According to human rights support center (HRSC) information, there were 08 people injured, nearly 13 people were killed in a total of 13 incidents of
the public lynching. February’16 | |
Some important cases are given below-
On February 5, 2016, two suspected robbers were killed and another was critically injured in a mob beating in the district's Chandina upazila. The dead are Solaiman Mia, 22, son of Mokshed Ali of Karunapur village in Comilla Sadar upazila, and Rubel Mia, 24, son of Nurul Islam of Tebaria village in Debidwar upazila. The injured, Nayeem Mia, 25, of Belashahar village in Chandina municipality, is undergoing treatment at Comilla Medical College Hospital.47
On February 13, 2016, three alleged robbers were beaten to death by a mob in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj. The incident took place in Jinda area around 3:30am. Rupganj Police Station‟s Officer-in-Charge Mahmud Hasan Said a group of 10-15 robbers swooped on the residence house of one Kuddus Shikder. Hearing screams of the family members, neighbours rushed to the spot and managed to catch three of them while the rest managed to flee the scene, the OC said. Locals gave the three robbers a good beating that left two
Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human 47 http://www.mzamin.com/details.php?mzamin=MTE0MzYw&s=OQ
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 18 robbers dead on the spot, the police official said adding the other one died at Rupganj Upazila Health Complex later. The identities of the deceased could not be known, the daily reported.48
On February 15, 2016 a suspected robber was beaten to death by a mob in Narayanganj. According to police and locals, the incident took place on Araihazar-Narshingdi road near Bagha Bridge around 1:00am when about eight persons were allegedly trying to rob a motorcycle rider at gunpoint. As he screamed, locals rushed to the spot and caught one of the robbers, and beat him up. The injured robber was rushed to a hospital where attending doctors declared him dead, said Araihazar police, adding that his identity could not be ascertained.49
On February 17, 2016 a motorbike lifter was beaten to death by an angry mob in Kanhor area on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Mymensingh's Trishal upazila. The victim was identified as Hafizur Rahman, 30, son of Nurul Islam Munshi of Vollah village in Kalihati upazila of Tangail district. Quoting local people, Md Moniruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Trishal Police Station, said the incident took place when a gang of three was fleeing after lifting a motorbike from the area around 7:30pm. Locals caught one of the gang members and beat him up mercilessly. He died on the spot, police said.50
On February 24, 2016 a twenty-five-year-old youth was beaten to death in Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong district, allegedly for being a thief. The deceased, Mohammed Mashrafi, son of Omar Ali Sikder of Lalmohon of Bhola, used to work as a mason in Sitakunda and lived in Kumira GPH gate area. Mashrafi was taken to Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex with injuries on his belly, face and throat and was declared "brought dead" by the doctors.51
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48 http://bangla.samakal.net/2016/02/13/192826/print thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human 49 http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/771313 50
http://www.mzamin.com/article.php?mzamin=1963&cat=9/ Mon 51 http://www.thedailystar.net/city/youth-beaten-death-ctg-660304
19 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org ABDUCTION
Abduction is an atrocious violation of human rights. The numbers of victims, according to HRSC report is increasing day by day. In February 2016, the occurrences of abduction increased all over the country. Most of the incidents are still unsolved and a very few people are rescued successfully by the law enforcing forces. However, in most of the abduction cases family members, relatives and friends of the victim triggered their assertion towards law enforcement agencies and specifically, they suspect and alleged that people wearing civil dress introduce them as member of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Police, or Detective Branch (DB) are arresting and forcefully bringing the victim with them. But there are provisions regarding kidnap & abduction in our Penal Code. According to section 362 of the Penal Code, 1860 a person is said to commit the offence of abduction when he by force compels or by any deceitful means induces any other person to go from one place to another. Article 3 & 9 0f Universal declaration of human Rights declared that “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person”. The line graph provides information about the total deduction in the month of 2016.
19 Total Abduction
27 Rescue After Abduction
5 killed after abduction
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Figure 7: Abduction
The supplied pie chart describes information about the abduction cases in February 2016 in Bangladesh, According to the human rights support center (HRSC) information, a total of 27 people were abducted, among them, 05 were killed after the abduction. On the other hand, 19 people were rescued by law enforcement agencies after the abduction.
Selected cases are as follows: On February 11, 2016 Police rescued an abducted college student from Birampur-Kalitala area in Jessore Sadar upazila. They also arrested two abductors from there. They are Raja Hossain, 25, son of Mohammad Ali of new town area, and Fazar ALi, 26, son of Bablu Mia of Kismat Noapara area in the town. The victim, Abu Syed, is a student of Jessore MM College, and son of Khalilur Rahman of Rajapur village in Jhikargachha upazila of the district. Syed was picked up by the two while he was going to Daratana area of the town at around 9:30am. They later demanded Tk 2 lakh ransom from his family over the mobile phone.52
Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human 52 http://www.thedailystar.net/country/abducted-college-boy-rescued-2-arrested-477412
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 20 On February 17, 2016 Bodies of four boys who went missing on Friday were found dumped on a river bank at their village at Bahubal upazila in Habiganj. Physicians suspected that Zakaria Ahmed Shubha, 8, his two cousins Tazel Miah, 10, Monir Miah, 7, and their relative Ismail Hossain, 10, were strangled. Monir, Shubha and Tazel were students of Classe I, II and III respectively of Sundratiki Government Primary School and Ismail was a student of Sundratiki Madrassah. Bahubal police officer-in-charge Mosharraf Hossain said the bodies were found covered with a sand pile on the bank of Kamaichhara River near Sundratiki village at Bahubal upazila.53
On February 18, 2016 two officials of a construction firm were reportedly kidnapped by some miscreants from a remote area in Panchari of Khagrachari on February 14. The incident came to light on Thursday as one of the victims, Saifuddin Shaheen Gazi, made a phone call to his wife seeking help for his release, Sources said renovation work on a road from Panchari Bazar to Maratila is underway under the supervision of Ruhul Amin, 50, manager of construction farm Al-Falah Trading Corporation and Saifuddin Shaheen Gazi, 35, assistant sub-contractor. Later, the kidnappers demanded Tk 50 lakh as ransom for their release from him over the phone.54
On February 22, 2016 a fisherman was killed and four others were injured as a gang of robbers swooped on a fishing trawler in Kachikhali area under Sundarbans east zone in Sharankhola upazila. The deceased was identified as Ismail Hossain, 30, son of Azgar Ali of Jaliaghata village in Patharghata upazila of Barguna district. The gang chased the fishermen with another trawler and fired several gunshots targeting them, killing Ismail on the spot. They later caught the rest five and beat them up. The robbers also picked up one of the injured fisherman named Riaz, looted fishes and fled the scene.55
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thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human 53 http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/773374/ 54
Mon http://newagebd.net/204470/2-kidnapped-in-khagrachari/#sthash.J7Hj8sJZ.dpuf 55 http://www.thedailystar.net/country/robbers-kill-fisherman-abduct-another-575731
21 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org VIOLENT ATTACK
Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security. So the state is obliged to protect the citizens from all kinds‟ of criminal attack to them. „The obligation of protection‟ requires the state to prevent violations of rights of citizens by third parties. This obligation also implies that State has to exercise due diligence to prevent, punish, investigate or redress the harm caused by acts of private persons or entities. In spite of growing concern of criminal attack, the number of incidences is gradually increasing day by day. HRSC try to detect and divulged all kinds of violent attack in February 2016.
90 78 80
70
60
50
40 30 30 20 15 10
0 killed Injured Bullet Hit
Figure 8: violent attack
The pie chart provides information regarding the violent attack on armless civilian.
According to the data in Human Rights Support Centre in the month of February 2016, February’16 | | a total 51 incidents of violent attack have happened and 30 were killed in these attacks, 63 were seriously injured, at least, 15 people were bullet hit.
Selected cases are as analysed: On February 02, 2016 a businessman has been shot dead. Police recovered his body at Mirpur in the capital. Relatives suspect Rafiqul Islam Junayed, owner of a residential hotel in Bishil area near Mirpur-1, was killed by extortionists. He was also a shareholder in a real estate company.Faruqul Alam, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Darussalam Police Station, said the body was first noticed in front of Paikpara Government Staff Quarter Mosque by some locals who were going to say their Fazr prayers. It was lying on the footpath and had a bullet wound on the left side of the chest, he said.56
On February 03, 2016 A Jubo League activist was stabbed to death and three others were injured by a gang in Jessore town. The dead is Manik, 26, and son of Anwar Ali of Kazipara area of the town. The injured are Jahangir Hossain, 23, son of Kanshon, Lipon Ali, 24, son of Mohammad Ali, and Asadul, 22, son of Abdul Alim of the area. Locals rescued them and
Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human 56 http://www.mzamin.com/details.php?mzamin=MTEzODky&s=OQ
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 22 sent them to Jessore Medical College Hospital where Manik succumbed to his injuries at 12:30am.57
On February 4, 2016 a local Juba Dal leader was hacked to death by miscreants at Nechrapara in Faridpur upazila. The victim, Saiful Islam Liton, 40, was the convener of upazila unit of Juba Dal, the youth wing of BNP, and son of late Golzar Hossain of Savar village in the upazila.Officer-in-charge of Faridpur police station Habibur Rahman said a group of miscreants swooped on Liton around 7:00pm as soon as he stepped out of his house to go to a local bazar. The attackers hacked him indiscriminately with lethal weapons, leaving him injured. The Juba Dal leader was taken to upazila health complex where doctors declared him dead, the OC said.58
On February 13, 2016 Criminals killed a man in a field in Sadar upazila of the district. The deceased was identified as Based Ali, 55, of Ram Jibonpur village in the upazila. Mazharul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said locals spotted the body at the field around 2:00pm and informed the police. The law enforcers rushed to the spot recovered the body and sent it to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy. 59
On February 20, 2016 a youth was stabbed to death in Kazir point area under Sadar upazila of Sunamganj district. The deceased was identified as Bishwajit Chowhan, 30, son of Khuka Chowhan of Hasonnagar village in the upazila. Police said a gang of 4/5 attacked Bishwajit with sharp weapons, leaving him seriously injured while he was returning home from the area around 9:00pm. He was rushed to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital where on-duty doctors declared him dead.60
On February 21, 2016 a fisherman was killed and four others were injured as a gang of robbers swooped on a fishing trawler in Kachikhali area under Sundarbans east zone in Sharankhola upazila.The deceased was identified as Ismail Hossain, 30, son of Azgar Ali of Jaliaghata village in Patharghata upazila of Barguna district.61
February’16 | | On February 25, 2016 a youth was hacked to death over a cricket match at Adarshapara in the district town. The deceased was identified as Nayan Hossain, 18, son of Rafikul Islam of the area. Police and locals said a cricket match was held at Morning Bell School in the area.Rival players hacked Nayan, leaving him seriously injured following an altercation over the match. The following day, critically injured Nayan died on the way to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said Hasan Hafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station.62
On February 25, 2016 three schoolboys received stab injuries in an attack by miscreants, reportedly over a previous enmity, at Jamsing Moholla in Savar municipality area. Police, quoting locals said, a group of miscreants swooped on the three boys-Sagar and Rakib, class VII students of Shukurjan Jinnat Ali High School, and Alamin, a class X student of the same school, and stabbed them indiscriminately, as a sequel to a previous enmity, while
57 http://www.thedailystar.net/country/jubo-league-man-stabbed-death-212182 58 http://newagebd.net/199526/juba-dal-leader-hacked-dead/#sthash.s2ln2Llv.dpuf 59
thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human http://www.thedailystar.net/country/man-murdered-510589 60 http://www.thedailystar.net/country/youth-stabbed-death-575341 61
Mon http://www.mzamin.com/article.php?mzamin=2373&cat=9/-- 62 http://www.thedailystar.net/country/youth-hacked-death-682456
23 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org they were returning home in the dead of night. Local people rescued the students and rushed them to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar.63
On February 27, 2016 a local Juba League leader was hacked to death by miscreants at Nishipur village in Gangni upazila. Quoting family members, officer-in-charge of Gangni police station Mokter Hossain said a group of unidentified people called Shukur Ali, 48, former publicity secretary of Bamundi union unit of Juba League and son of Daud Hossain, out of their house on Friday night and hacked him indiscriminately, leaving him dead on the spot.64
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63
http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/96275/3-schoolboys-stabbed Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human 64 http://newagebd.net/206836/jl-leader-hacked-dead-meherpur/
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 24 POLITICAL VIOLENCE
Political violence in Bangladesh is a banal phenomenon. The role and way of democratic politics have been subjected to a great question due to the considerable number of political classes among the parties as well as intra parties. At present, it has been considered a sign of an immature or even immoral political class.65After assuming state power by Awami League Government through 5th February 2014 by controversial election, political violence is still continued. But due to limited space for opposition parties, now political violence are mostly intra-factional clashes of ruling party over the issues of supremacy, tender and possession of power, collecting subscription, grabbing land etc. The activist of opposite political parties is being tortured, killed by the activist of ruling parties in every corner of the country.
In February 2016, According to Human Rights Support Centre (HRSC) information, a total of 363 people were injured due to political related issues and o4 were bullet hit. Most of the political violence occurred among the sub-organization of ruling party on the supremacy of power or tender.
Selected cases are as follows:
February 06, 2016 At least 10 were injured in a clash between two factions of Awami League in Kadipur Union Parishad area under Kulaura upazila of the district. The injured were admitted to the upazila health complex and Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital. Police and locals said there was a longstanding conflict between Shafi Ahmed Salman, joint secretary of the upazila unit of AL, and Rafiqul Islam Renu, secretary of the unit, over establishing
supremacy in the area.66
On February 13, 2016 At least 04 people were injured, four of them with bullets, in a clash
between two factions of Sramik League in Chatiyani area of the district town. Police said
February’16 | |
there was a longstanding conflict between Abdul Hakim Malitha, general secretary of the district unit of Sramik League, and Sheikh Alal, another leader of the unit, over capturing tender of Water Development Board.67
On February 14, 2016At least 10 people were injured in a clash between two factions of Awami League in Ranglabali upazila of the district. The clash took place at a grassroots level representatives' meeting concerning the upcoming upazila parishad (UP) elections. Party sources said Rangabali upazila unit called a grassroots level representatives' meeting of Char Montaz union unit at the office around 1:00am to select a candidate for chairman of the local AL. A section of local AL men came to the meeting led by A K Shamsuddin alias Abu Mia, president of the union unit AL and also a party nomination seeker. When Nazmul and his supporters went to the venue, Abu Mia's men chased them.68
On February 14, 2016 At least 10 people were injured, including five by bullets, in a clash between activists of Awami League and Juba League at Banshkhali in Chittagong. Locals
65
thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human Islam and Suykens, Distribution of Political Violence in Bangladesh 2016, 66 http://www.thedailystar.net/country/10-hurt-rival-al-men-clash-moulvibazar-213577 67
Mon http://www.mzamin.com/article.php?mzamin=1250&cat=9 68 http://www.jugantor.com/bangla-face/2016/02/15/11800/
25 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org said two followers of upazila AL president Kabir Uddin and upazila JL President Maksudul Rahman engaged in an altercation at Boiltali union Saturday night over the party‟s candidature in the upcoming union parishad elections. A clash took place between followers of the two leaders. Later, supporters of Maksud attacked Kabir‟s group with locally-made guns, leaving 10 people injured, said witnesses.69
On February 27, 2016 At least 10 people were injured as two groups of Awami League men clashed over controlling sand lifting at Najirganj in Sujanagar upazila of the district. Police and locals said men of the president of upazila unit of AL Abul Kashem, and secretary of upazila unit of AL Abdul Wahab have been trying to take control of the sand field at Najirganj. Both groups, armed with lethal weapons, confronted each other in Najirganj ferry ghat area at about 7:00pm and locked in a clash that left 10 people injured.70
On February 03, 2016 At least four activists of Barisal Government Brojmohun College Chhatra League unit were injured in a clash on the campus. Tension runs high over the possibility of further clashes, campus sources said. Followers of Moin Tushar and Nahid Serniabad, two joint conveners of the college unit, attacked each other as Munna, follower of Tushar, was left injured by Nahid‟s man Sunil Baroi earlier.71
On February 24, 2016 At least 10 students of the capital's Government Titumir College were injured in an alleged attack by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists on a human chain formed on the campus protesting charging of “excessive fees” for the registration of the honours final year exam Two of the injured, Rahmat Hossain, 21, and Riazul Islam, 22, were treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The protest organisers claimed that 10 to 12 fellows had been detained by police.72
On February 27, 2016 A Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader of Dhaka University was critically injured in an attack by some leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League on the campus. Later, the BCL leaders handed the victim, Shipan Biswas, who is the joint convener
of Salimullah Muslim Hall unit of JCD, and at least four of his friends to police, witnesses February’16 | | said. Police took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital from where he was shifted to a private hospital in Mouchak.73
69 http://newagebd.net/203106/al-factional-clash-leaves-10-injured-in-ctg/#sthash.igNWFhGK.dpuf 70 http://www.dailynayadiganta.com/detail/news/97060#sthash.DKygjQyd.dpuf 71 http://newagebd.net/199499/4-injured-as-bcl-men-clash-at-bm-college/#sthash.iOhZ23hd.dpuf 72
http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/780001/ Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human 73 http://www.thedailystar.net/city/bcl-attack-sends-jcd-leader-du-hospital-783541
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 26 ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE
The crime regarding enforced disappearance can be considered a way to create terror in society when victims are picked up and never be seen again; and where victim families are left in a turmoil and fear, uncertainty and in many cases economic crises. The international community has condemned this form of human rights violation through resolution 65/209; where the UN General Assembly expressed its deep concern regarding the increase in enforced disappearances in various regions of the world, including arrest, detention and abduction, when these are part of or amount to enforced disappearances. Through this resolution, the Assembly also adopted the International convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance.
The government of Bangladesh has ratified the Convention against Torture but has yet to accede to the International convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance. In Bangladesh today, the human rights violation of enforced disappearances is on an alarming rise. In fact, when a person is arrested or picked up by people claiming to be from a law enforcement agency, the common fear is that he would be subjected to tortured or disappear.
According to the information gathered in ‘Human Rights Support Center’ (HRSC), in the month February 2016, a total 02 people have disappeared by LEA.
On February 13, 2016 the family of a former leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) alleged that he had been missing since some people identifying themselves as law enforcers picked him up more than two weeks ago from the capital's Bashundhara area. SM Moazzem
Hossain Topu, 28, a former president of a ward-22 unit of BCL, was picked up by "plainclothes detectives" from a friend's flat on February 26, said the family members who
formed a human chain in front of the capital's Jatiya Press Club for his return.
February’16 | |
Maruf Hossain Sorder, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told that they did not arrest him. An inhabitant of Rampura, Topu used to visit his friend's flat near Apollo Hospital at Block D of Bashundhara area, said his elder brother SM Moinul Hossain. Three men identifying themselves as detectives picked him up around 11:00pm on that day, Moinul said, quoting Topu's friend Arnab. One of the men carried a pair of handcuffs, he added.74
thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human
Mon 74 http://www.thedailystar.net/city/bcl-man-missing-18-days-510808
27 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org RECOVERY OF DEAD BODY
Security of life is the foremost right for enjoyments of all others human rights. In Bangladesh, due to worsening law and order situation recovery of the dead body from the different place of the country has been regular incidents. Most of the killers of these incidents are not identified on the other hand sometimes dead bodies‟ identities are not found.
The presented the chart illustrates information about the recovery dead body. According to information gathered by HRSC in the month of February 2016, a total of 57 dead bodies were found in the different area of the country, among them 19 bodies were male, 11 bodies were female and 27 bodies were unidentified.
19 26 Male 11 Female Unidentified
Figure 9: Recovery of Dead Body
Selected cases are as follows:
On February 6, 2016 the police recovered the throat-slit body of an unidentified man from February’16 | | the jungle of sadar union of Guimara in Khagrachhari. The police said they recovered the body being informed by local people. The body was sent to Khagrachhari Modern Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examinations.75
On February 10, 2016 Police recovered the body of a man from a pond at Fatepur village in Manda upazila of Naogaon. The deceased was identified as Momtajuddin, 35, son of Ainal Haque of Mohammadpur village in the upazila. He was a guard of a pond in Fatepur area. Mozaffor Hossain, officer-in-charge of Manda Police Station, said locals found the body floating on the pond and informed the police. 76
On February 11, 2016 Police recovered the body of an unidentified man, aged about 55, from a pond in Tongibari upazila of the district. Police and locals said the victim was mentally challenged and used to rove through different alleys of the upazila headquarters. Officer-in- Charge Alamgir Hossain of Tongibari Police Station said local people spotted the body floating on the pond at local Betka Primary School and informed the police around 9:00am.
75
http://newagebd.net/200443/man-found-dead-in-khagrachhari/ Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human 76 http://www.thedailystar.net/country/man-found-dead-409081
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 28 The body was sent to Munshiganj General Hospital morgue for autopsy. Away in Sadar upazila, a rickshaw puller allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a mango tree in Joginighat area of the district town the same day. The deceased is Nayan Mia, 18, son of Siraj Mia of Dakkhin Islampur village in the upazila. 77
On February 13, 2016 Residents of Dhaka's Demra area found the body of a preteen boy left in a marsh near the Balu River. The boy, aged around 10 to 12, had stab wounds in his abdomen and a bruise on his throat, said Kawsar Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Demra Police.78
On February 23, 2016 the police recovered the body of a newborn child in Sylhet. The Jalalabad police officer-in-charge Akhter Hossain said they recovered the body, which was wrapped in a towel, near a private school at Pathantula in the city, being informed by local people. The body was sent to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for post- mortem examinations.79
On February 26, 2016 Police recovered the body of an unidentified person, aged around 40, from Toll Road area in Chittagong city. Pranab Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Halishahar police, said, "The man might have been killed after being hit by any unidentified vehicle."Quoting locals, the police official said that the man was psychologically impaired and used to stroll here and there.80
February’16
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77
thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/767500 78 http://www.thedailystar.net/city/boys-body-found-marsh-capital-510760 79
Mon http://newagebd.net/205588/newborn-found-dead-sylhet/#sthash.BcR09qTs.dpuf 80 http://www.thedailystar.net/city/mans-body-recovered-ctg-782980
29 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org AT A GLANCE HUMAN RIGHT SITUATION OF BANGLADESH (FEBRUARY’16)
60
56 50
40
36 30 30
20
10 12 13
7 7 3
0 1
Rape Extra Injured Killed in Killed in Killed in Killed in Killed for Recovery Judicial Attack on Child Public Violent Border Dowry Dead
Killing Journalist Violence lynching Attack Dispute Body February’16
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Figure 10: At a glance Human Right Situation of Bangladesh
Monthly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 30 CONCLUSION
Subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the public interest, every citizen shall have the right to move freely throughout Bangladesh, to reside and settle in any place therein and to leave and re-enter Bangladesh. (BD Constitution, article 36);
To put it in a nutshell, it is said that the representation of Bangladesh‟s regarding human rights related problems in February 2016 was pitiful as in maximum cases the country was unable to meet the be regulation of treaties. In some extent police and other security forces have failed to ensure their responsibilities as a protector and caretaker of the citizens‟ interest. In addition, higher unemployment rate, massive corruption in the administration, lack of democratic values and transgresses of the rule of law have intensified this situation more complicated and pathetic.
There was no action of law enforcement agency other than rescuing the dead body of abducted people. Sometimes, it signs surrounding the incidence such as crossfire and enforced disappearance indicated that the member of the law enforcer‟s agency was directly or indirectly involved in abduction and killing. The incidence regarding torture, oppression, and arbitrary arrest by law enforcement agencies are increasing in such a way seems to be banal matter in Bangladesh. The government authority, civil servants, and law enforcing agencies have legitimized power and randomly abusing of power as well as committing torture over the common people for articulating their self-desire as well as securing the vested interest of the ruling party which is totally unexpected. The government was found not taking any effective measures to improve the situation rather blaming oppositions to avoid
their responsibilities.
Domestic violence, rape, extra-judicial killings & custodial deaths were also proving the
gradual decay of human rights situation in Bangladesh in February 2016. Political turmoil
February’16 | | between rival political parties even among groups of ruling party was found to notably increase. Without allegation, many innocent citizens were facing different forms of suppression, discrimination and exploitation by different vested quarters even by LEA. The harassment of general people by LEA was mainly due to the snatch of money and sometimes these reports were brought to light in different daily newspapers. But the matter of regret was the tendency of government to avoid cleverly all sorts of responsibility.
The law and order situation will be declined day by day. In that situations government will be unable to ensure the basic and fundamental rights of the citizens. Then entire human rights situation in 2016 was not satisfactory rather in maximum cases deteriorated very severely which would bring uprising among the common people and lead to undisciplined, unstable underdeveloped Bangladesh.
In this conditions, Human Rights Support Center (HRSC) call to every conscious citizen, journalists, political person, national and international human rights organizations & UN agencies to be more vocal against these sorts of deplorable human rights situations in our thly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights Observation on Report thly Human country.
Mon
31 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org
RECOMMENDATION
The Government should take immediately all necessary steps to stop violence against women especially in the case of rape, gang rape, and child rape issues. Criminal of such incidents must be fetched before the law.
Arbitrary arrests of persons with opposite ideology must be stopped. The Government should immediately retract the repressive special powers act of 1974 and the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 (Amended 2013).
The Government needs to establish a special and independent agency as an approach to investigate the real scenario behind the violation of human rights such as extra-judicial killings. The judicial investigation needs to carry out in every case of regarding the involvement of law enforcement agency.
The state should explain all incidents of enforced disappearance, killings, torture, and abduction which are allegedly perpetrated by law enforcement agencies. We believe that victims of disappearance should be handed back to their families. HRSC urges the government to abide by the agreements of International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance, adopted by the UN on December 20, 2006.
The authority should ensure the judiciary process in a right way as it where the victim can get justice. The state should ensure the judiciary system in such a way that convict must be punished regardless the member of LEA, ruling party members even the person involve in judgment. Compensation should be provided to the victim‟s families and give proper security of their normal life.
The respective authority should carry out dialogue with BSF (Indian border security
February’16 | | force) and find out the proper way to reduce the killing in the border by BSF. Government adequate compensation for the families of the victims and trial and punishment for the offenders.
The government should be flexible in the matter of freedom of expression. All types of print and electronic media should be enjoyed fearless opportunity from the government to express their news even against the government.
Political violence should be stopped with continuing dialogue with all political parties. The Government should take unbiased and effective legal action against criminal acts.
The state should respect all national and international human rights rules, regulations and treaties to protect human rights. Also follows the instruction of United Nation Human
Rights Mechanism System which is working for human rights. Monthly Human Rights Observation Report on Bangladesh Rights MonthlyObservation on Report Human
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.hrscbd.org 32