The Amnesty International (AI) said on Wednesday that Bangladesh authorities must end impunity for torture and other ill treatment by police and other security forces, hold perpetrators to account and ensure reparations are given to victims.
The AI made the view in a media statement on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
Despite ratifying the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) in 1998 and enacting the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act 2013, there has only been one conviction under the torture law in more than a decade as impunity continues to prevail for police and other security forces in Bangladesh.
In a recent alleged case of drug possession, on 2 June 2024, 40-year-old Afroza Begum died in police custody following her arrest in Abhaynagar of Jashore district.
Her elder son, Arif Hossain Munna, told the Amnesty International that he witnessed two police officers planting drugs on her and beating her before taking her to Abhaynagar police station. She died the next morning while in police custody.
"Torture and other ill treatment are abhorrent and never justified. Bangladesh's authorities must ensure that allegations of widespread and persistent torture and other ill treatment at the hands of law enforcement officers are thoroughly, impartially and independently investigated, and suspected officers are brought to justice through fair trial," said Taqbir Huda, AI regional researcher for South Asia.
"Those suspected of causing harm must be suspended from their positions, pending the completion of investigations, so they cannot commit further violations."
"It's a damning indictment of the entrenched impunity that this law has only seen one solitary conviction despite mounting reports of custodial deaths over the last 10 years. Afroza Begum's death is one in an appallingly long and ever-growing list of those allegedly tortured and killed in custody," Mr Huda said.
In September 2023, the Bangladesh government reported to the UN Human Rights Council that 24 cases had been filed under the 2013 torture law so far.
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