Bangladesh

Bangladesh: The Overall Human Rights Situation is Somewhat Alarming

Abuse of digital security laws is creating fear in speech. According to the sources of Digital Security Tribunal, a total of 2,249 cases has been registered under this Act in the current year in only Rajshahi, Chittagong and Dhaka in the eight divisions.

Report from Hasan Hamid, Writer and Human Rights Activist; January, 2023

Although the incidence of extrajudicial killings and disappearances in Bangladesh is lower than the previous year, the overall human rights situation has not improved. Not all cases of human rights violations are reported in the media. Although the amount of comparative violence seems low, the situation is actually not good. The Human Rights Commission needs to be made independent and effective to improve the situation. Bangladesh has advanced four steps in the Human Development Index of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Earlier, Bangladesh was ranked 133 out of 189 countries in the Human Development Report in 2020. This year, Bangladesh has risen to the 129th position among 191 countries. (1)

In response to long-standing demands of civic organizations, the Bangladesh government introduced the ‘Anti-discriminative’ Bill 2022′ in the National Parliament on April 5, 2022, to establish equal rights and ensure human dignity. It is currently under review by the Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. However, although the Bangladesh government’s commitment to establishing an exploitation-free society was highlighted at the beginning of the proposed law, discrimination was not considered a punishable crime. At the same time, the bill would have been more progressive and inclusive if the term transgender had been used instead of the third gender for gender diverse people. (2)

Extrajudicial killings and Torture

On February 10, 2022, police of Shantiganj police station arrested Uzir Mia in the case of theft in Shatrumardan village of Sunamganj. Then on February 11, after being released on bail, Uzir Mia fell seriously ill and was admitted to the hospital. Uzir Mia died on 21 February. (3)

The family alleges that he was subjected to inhuman torture at the police station. Uzir Mia himself told the family before his death that the police brutally tortured him in the police station. But every human being has a constitutional right to live. But as usual extrajudicial killings; in particular, the Bangladesh government has denied allegations of torture and death in custody, including extrajudicial killings in the name of ‘crossfire’ or gunfights.

Although the numerical aspect of extrajudicial killings decreased in 2022, extrajudicial killings did not stop at once. Analyzing the news published in the media, it can be said that 19 people were victims of extrajudicial killings in 2022. Not only that, 15 people were killed in the custody of various laws and order forces in 2022. Among them, four people died due to physical abuse by law enforcement forces after arrest, one person died of a heart attack and four people died due to physical abuse before arrest. Besides, two people committed suicide in police custody, and four people died due to illness. (4)

Suppression of opposition to the government

Politics and organization are constitutional rights in Bangladesh. (5) But it is sad but true, the field of exercising this right is gradually narrowing in Bangladesh. Political parties or ordinary citizens all face adversity in exercising their right to peaceful assembly. Allegations of violation of these rights, attacks, incitement of violence and various forms of harassment, filing cases and arrests against the police administration, government party workers or supporters are intensifying.

In particular, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held 10 rallies in different places in Bangladesh in the last few months. Allegations have been made that BNP has faced various obstacles while holding this rally. In addition, ordinary people are also suffering indescribable hardships. A few days before the rally, the transport owner authorities have stopped public transport. There are allegations of the government’s tacit support for such undeclared strikes.

Apart from this, filing of absentee cases and conducting mass arrests before and after any protest or political program seems to have become a regular practice. According to the information of the police headquarters, 23 thousand 968 people were arrested during the 15-day (From December 1 to December 15, 2022) special operation of the police across the country. (6) Even though it was called a special securities operation by the police, BNP alleged that a large number of their activists and supporters were booked and arrested in absentia in this operation.

Freedom of Expression

Abuse of digital security laws is creating fear in speech. According to the sources of Digital Security Tribunal, a total of 2,249 cases has been registered under this Act in the current year in only Rajshahi, Chittagong and Dhaka in the eight divisions. On the other hand, the government has taken initiatives to tighten the control of online or digital media.

Another law has been drafted called the Data Protection Act, 2022, which is inconsistent with the constitutionally recognized right to privacy and information. In addition to the use of laws, various actions of the authorities violate the principles of freedom of expression. On July 27, 2022, Hero Alam was taken to the DB office at six in the morning and released at noon. Hero Alam alleged that the police picked him up and detained him for eight hours and took him on bail. Police said, he (Hero Alam) is ugly. How did he become a hero? They (police) asked to drop ‘Hero’ from his name. A bond has been taken from him that he will not sing Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Sangeet. Hero Alam has accused the police of mentally torturing him. Police treatment of Hero Alam is a grave violation of the Constitution, human rights and the UN Charter against Torture. (7)

Rights of Religious Minorities

In 2022, there were 12 incidents of vandalism and arson of Hindu worship halls and houses, business establishments and temples in different parts of the country. On July 15, 2022, miscreants attacked, vandalized, looted and set fire to houses and businesses of Hindus in Dighlia Sahapara and Dighlia Bazar of Lohagara Upazila of Narail. At the same time various house temples including Dighlia Akhrabari public Durga temple were vandalized, some including a local teacher named Tarun Kumar Saha were beaten up. (8)

Women’s Rights

Like previous years, this year also there have been incidents of various types of violence against women including rape, sexual harassment, family violence, arbitration and fatwas. In 2022, a total of 936 women was victims of rape and organized rape across the country. (9) Among them, 47 people were killed after rape and 7 people committed suicide after rape. Maximum 88 cases of rape occurred in Dhaka district. Apart from this, 83 incidents of rape have occurred in Narayanganj, 52 in Chittagong, 49 in Gazipur and other districts. It should be noted that in 2021, a total of 1321 women were raped. In addition, in 2022, a total of 479 women was victims of domestic violence.

Children’s Human Rights

In Bangladesh in 2022, a total of 516 children was killed due to various reasons including death due to physical abuse, murder after rape, murder after failed rape attempt (source – ASK). In addition, in 2022, 1088 children were subjected to torture in various ways. Among them, 560 children were victims of rape. 100 children were victims of attempted rape and sexual harassment and 52 boys were victims of rape. Allegations of molestation of boys in different madrasas were alarming. In 2022, 52 boys were victims of rape.

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