HUMAN RIGHTS
KNOW NO BORDERS
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| Photo: Elite anti-crime team RAB. Rights groups blame RAB for extrajudicial executions and other violation of human rights, but government argues that such incidents have been reduced (but not stopped) |
Some 30
extrajudicial executions were reported. State security forces were implicated
in torture and other ill-treatment and at least 10 enforced disappearances. Political
violence resulted in the death of at least four men. Women continued to be
subjected to various forms of violence. The government failed to protect
Indigenous communities from attack by Bengali settlers. At least 111 workers
died in a factory fire, some allegedly because officials refused to let them
leave the premises. More than 20 Buddhist temples and monasteries, one Hindu
temple and scores of Buddhist homes and shops were set on fire during a
communal attack. One person was executed and at least 45 people were sentenced
to death.
Background
In
January, the Prime Minister stated that no human rights violations had been
committed in the country.
Political
violence escalated in December, when opposition parties tried to impose day-long
general strikes. At least four people died and dozens of strikers and police
sustained injuries. Jamaat-e-Islami demanded the release of their leaders
currently being tried on war crimes charges. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
demanded that the forthcoming general elections be held under a caretaker
government. Members of a group affiliated with the governing party attacked
opposition members, beating and stabbing one bystander to death.
National
and international concern about allegedly high levels of corruption were echoed
in June when the World Bank cancelled US$1.2 billion credit for the construction
of Padma bridge in central Bangladesh, due to the government’s insufficient
response to allegations of corruption. An inquiry by the Anti Corruption
Commission remained open.
The
authorities continued to raise concerns with India India
Extrajudicial
executions
At least
30 people were victims of alleged extrajudicial executions. Police claimed they
had been killed in gun battles with security forces. Families said they had
been killed after being arrested by people in plain clothes identifying
themselves as Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel or other police. No one was
brought to justice for these killings.
RAB personnel allegedly shot dead Mohammad Atear Rahman (also known as Tofa Molla), a farmer, in Kushtia district on 12 September. RAB said he was killed in “crossfire”, although Atear Rahman’s family and other witnesses said RAB had arrested him at his home the previous evening. His body reportedly bore three gunshot wounds, two in the back.
Torture
and other ill-treatment
Torture
and other ill-treatment were widespread, committed with virtual impunity by the
police, RAB, the army and intelligence agencies. Methods included beating, kicking,
suspension from the ceiling, food and sleep deprivation, and electric shocks. Most
detainees were allegedly tortured until they “confessed” to having committed a
crime. Police and RAB allegedly distorted records to cover up the torture, including
by misrepresenting arrest dates.
Enforced
disappearances
At least
10 people went missing throughout the year. In most cases the victims were
never traced. Those bodies that were recovered bore injuries, some caused by
beatings.
Ilias Ali, Sylhet division secretary of the opposition BNP, disappeared together with his driver Ansar Ali on 17 April. The government promised to investigate the case but provided no information by the end of the year.
Violence
against women and girls
Women
continued to be subjected to various forms of violence. These included acid
attacks, murder for failing to pay the requested dowry, flogging for religious
offences by illegal arbitration committees, domestic violence, and sexual
violence.
Aleya Begum and her daughter were arrested without a warrant on 9 September and were allegedly tortured at Khoksa police station in Kushtia district. After two days they were transferred to Kushtia city police station and kept in a dark room. The daughter, a college student, was separated from her mother at night and sexually abused by police officers. The two women were released on 18 September, after appearing in court. Aleya Begum and her daughter shared their story with the media, and were arrested and jailed again on 26 September.
Indigenous
Peoples’ rights
As in
previous years, the authorities failed to settle Indigenous Peoples’ claims to
land that had been seized from them during the internal armed conflict (1975-1997),
or recently occupied by increasing numbers of Bengali settlers. Tension between
the two communities and the failure of the security forces to protect local
Indigenous people against attacks by Bengali settlers led to several clashes
and injuries on both sides.
At least 20 people were injured in a clash between Indigenous people and Bengali settlers in Rangamati on 22 September. Local people said security forces came to the scene but failed to stop the violence.
Workers’
rights
Trade
union leaders supporting garment factory workers’ rallies against low pay and
poor working conditions were harassed and intimidated. One man was killed.
Trade union leader Aminul Islam went missing on 4 April. He was found dead a day later in Ghatail town, north of
At least 111 workers died from burns and other injuries, some allegedly because factory officials refused to open the gates to let them escape a fire that broke out at Tazreen Fashion in Savar town, north of the capital
Communal
violence
Attacks
against members of minority communities took a new turn in late September. Thousands
of people protesting against an image posted on Facebook of the Qur’an, which
they considered derogatory, set fire to more than 20 Buddhist temples and
monasteries, one Hindu temple and scores of homes and shops in the southern
cities of Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong
Death
penalty
At least
45 people were sentenced to death. One man was executed in April.
Amnesty International Report 2013:
The State of the World Human Rights
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