Highlights of US Human Rights Report on Bangladesh

FE Team | Published: April 18, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

The State Department of the US has brought out a human rights report on Bangladesh for 2010.According to this report, Security Forces in Bangladesh have continued extra-judicial killings. Judiciary has become problem-ridden and it is becoming increasingly difficult for the opposition politicians to get justice. Only members of the opposition are included in the list of those who are being tried as war crimes suspects. Freedom of assembly has been limited. Detention in prison for a long time prior to trial is a problem. Full particulars of those killed in the hands of security forces are not disclosed. According to the above report, Rapid Action Battalion(RAB) killed 68 persons in 2010 compared to 41 in the previous year. These deaths are said to be due to cross-fire, gunfight and encounter. Security forces torture people during investigation. RAB and Police are given immunity against such behaviour. At the end of the year, there were 69,650 prisoners but the capacity of the prisons was29,240.The prisoners sleep by rotation because of large numbers. The police is under the ministry of home affairs and its personnel are unwilling to investigate cases against those people who are associated with those in power. Although the executive is separate from the judiciary, judicial appointments are made by the executive. The executive often interferes in the judiciary. Govt banned the opposition newspaper 'Amar Desh' and arrested the editor who was later jailed, said the report According to World Bank Assistance Strategy paper, the government is weakening the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The Commission has been asked to withdraw thousands of cases against. Awami League members who are associated with such cases. Justice is delayed due to corruption. Magistrates, attorneys and court officials are asking for bribe. On the day of hartal on June 27,RAB officials entered into the house of Mirza Abbas without warrant and the members of the family were beaten. About 20 people were injured, Salahuddin Quader's case was mentioned in this connection. According to family sources, Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury was tortured during investigation. On the day of hartal, Samsher Mobin Chowdhury and Mirza Abbas were arrested, said the report. The law minister of Bangladesh does not agree to the human rights report of the US. But the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP has said that human rights situation in Bangladesh is much worse than the US report. The US report reflects the opposition views expressed during the last two and half years. The law minister is of the opinion that US report is an interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh. Bangladesh does not make any comment about human rights situation in the USA but why they poke their nose in our affairs. He is of the view that meetings of opposition parties is never disrupted. Many accused in the Peelkhana tragedy died in police custody. Many of them were given electric shock. The supporters of government party attacked the opposition meetings and did not allow them to hold meetings. Many opposition leaders were not allowed to travel abroad. Jaamat did not get a single permission during last one year to hold meetings. The president of the Supreme court bar association has said that he US report has depicted the correct situation regarding govt. interference in the judiciary. The law minister has said that the US report has tarnished the image of the country. According to him, the judiciary is independent and will protect its own image. He said that the allegation of politicisation of judiciary is not correct Government has not taken any action about extra-judicial killings. Newspapers and electronic media are under pressure from the govt. and intelligence agencies. More than one TV channel has been closed down by the govt. Security forces are harassing the journalists all the time. Television talk-shows have been stopped at the instructions of intelligence agencies. Controversial persons have been appointed judges. The court has given directive to stop extra-judicial killings but without any result. Political activists are the victims of extra-judicial killings. The workers of revolutionary political parties were particularly affected. People are denied justice against extra-judicial killings. This year's human rights report of the US is quite critical of Bangladesh. This may have negative effect on Bangladesh. The left political parties commented that interference of the US in Bangladesh has intensified. They have condemned the US interference in respect of Dr Yunus. Third World countries are the victims of US interference. The left parties protested against the hegemony of the US imperialism. Human rights workers have commented that the US report is an warning for Bangladesh. Unless the govt. takes steps to improve the situation, they will have to be accountable internationally. The Inspector General of Police has said that he is training the police about human rights. The Director General of RAB did not agree to comment on newspaper reports. Dhaka University prof Imtiaz has said that the govt. did not take any step to stop extra-judicial killing. No investigation was made against RAB. It is not only the US report ,reports of other agencies also show the same trend. The state has failed to protect the citizens. The human rights commission in Bangladesh is not effective. In a meeting, the donors have told the government. that in order to qualify for aid, they will have to stop extra-judicial killings, ensure independence of judiciary and guarantee justice. Human rights situation has to improve. The powers of anti-corruption commission can not be curtailed. These comments came when the draft sixth five year plan was presented to the donors. The constitutional organisations must be given authority to function independently. Rule of law has to be established in all areas. In official response, our foreign minister has termed the US human rights report as weak. Bangladesh will oppose the findings of the report and take up the matter with US govt. According to her, Bangladesh is being ranked at a satisfactory level by UN Human Rights Council. Bangladesh has been relentlessly working to improve the human rights situation. The US human rights report is unfavourable for Bangladesh. Denying the report is not enough. Govt. has to improve the human rights situation to prove good governance and earn the confidence of the international community. The writer is an economist and columnist. He can be reached at e-mail: syedjamaluddin22@yahoo.com