Human rights situation continues to decline

Shakhawat Hossain

At least 139 people fell victim to ‘crossfire’ and 86 to enforced disappearance in Bangladesh in 2017, says annual report of the human right organisation Odhikar.

The Odhikar report which was released on Friday last, also said that 59 people ‘died’ in jail custody and 77 people were killed in political violence last year. Besides, 783 women and girls  became victims of rape, 242 were subjected to sexual harassment, 256 women became victims of violence for dowry and 52 were injured in acid attacks during  2017.

The report said 13 apparel workers were killed, 362 were injured and 3141 were terminated from their jobs. Besides, 82 workers of other sectors were killed and 80 others were injured in 2017.

The Odhikar report said 32 citizens were arrested under notorious ICT Act ( Information and Communication Technology Act) , one journalist was killed, 24 injured, 9 were assaulted and 11 journalists were threatened in 2017. 

It also reported that Indian border security force (BSF), killed 25 Bangladeshis injuring 29. Another 28 Bangladeshi citizens were victims of abduction by BSF in last year. 

The annual report of 2017 is the outcome of a compilation and analysis of the monthly human rights situation monitoring reports published every month in 2017.

The Odhikhar  report  illustrates  systematic  violations  of civil  and  political  rights, including  violations   of  the  rights  to  freedom  of  expression, a  shrinking   democratic   space   and dysfunctional justice   delivery   system due   to politicization in  the  judiciary; and  deprivation  of  the  right  to  life.  

Odhikar  says,  human rights violations continued in an endemic form in 2017, since  the rule of an authoritarian regime has been in operation in Bangladesh 

If  the state  is  not  established  on  a democratic  foundation, its  potential  political  target  cannot  be  achieved,  the  report  says  recalling  that  Bangladesh has  ratified  eight out  of  nine  core  international  Conventions  and  Treaties,  including  the  International  Covenant  on  Civil  and  Political  Rights  (ICCPR),  Convention  against  Torture  and  Other  Cruel,  Inhuman  or  Degrading  Treatment  or  Punishment  (UN CAT).  It has  also  ratified  the  Rome  Statute  of  the  International  Criminal  Court.

The human rights situation of Bangladesh in 2017 remained   detrimental due   to   the   failure of   implementation of the   mandatory obligations of these treaties. The Awami League has remained in power since 2009, thus the background of the human rights situation of 2017 is the continuation of the 2009 human rights record, says the report.

Furthermore, another  trend, of  shooting  in  the  leg or  knee capping by  the  security  forces, was added to  the  list  of human  rights  abuses since  2011, of  which  a large  majority  of  victims  were  leaders  and  activists  of  the  opposition  political  parties.

On many occasions, the ordinary citizens became victims during political violence. In 2017, the government imposed various repressive  laws, targeted  at dissenters  and  also  suppressed  and  harassed  the  opposition  and people  belonging  to  alternative beliefs and ideology, by accusing  them  of different  criminal acts, including  sedition and   defamation.  

The  Adhikar mentions  that  accurate   and   independent   news reports were barred from publication due to the government’s imposition of restrictive policies and by putting pressure on the media  by different  ways  and  means;  and  in  most  cases  journalists  were  forced  to  maintain  self-censorship  while  publishing  reports.

The  government  controls  most  of  the  media;  particularly  the  electronic  media,  which  are  mostly owned or controlled by supporters or members of the ruling party and closed down some  pro-opposition  electronic and  print  media.  Many journalists were attacked by criminals backed by and supporters of the ruling party while performing their duty during this period.

In  2017,  surveillance  and  monitoring  on  social  media  by  the government was  wide and the  Information  and  Communication  Technology  Act  2006  (amended  2009,  2013)  and the  Special  Powers  Act  1974  were imposed  against  people who were critical of the decisions and activities of  those in high positions of the government.

• Courtesy: Weekly Holiday/Jan 19, 2018