Odhikar Annual Human Rights Report 2014

HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014
ON BANGLADESH
In
countries
like
Bangladesh,
where
democratic
transformation remains unaccomplished, the human rights
movement
is
directly
constitutive
of
democracy.
Constituting the state on the principles of human rights,
particularly to respect, defend and protect the values of
life and related spiritual and material embodiments, are
what determine the future trajectory of the people in an
increasingly competitive global economic world and the
system of states.
Odhikar defends the dignity, freedom and rights of the people as
human beings as well as citizens; consistent with declarations,
covenants, protocols and principles of human rights.
Odhikar unconditionally stands for the victim and acts to bring
offenders to justice. We investigate (through fact-finding
missions), expose and analyse human rights violations and hold
abusers accountable.
Odhikar considers dignity, rights and duties as historically
achieved global consciousness without essentialising human
rights as abstract international laws. Educating and organising
oppressed people to stand against inequality, injustice and
discrimination is a necessary condition for peace and stability for
all, both individually and collectively
Odhikar considers the human rights movement in Bangladesh as
constitutive of democracy and integral to the just struggle of the
people of Bangladesh to have a democratic constitution; and a
state corresponding to it.
| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014
CONTENTS
Contents...........................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................7
CHAPTER I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.....................................................................................10
Civil and Political Rights............................................................................11
Election...................................................................................................11
Political Violence.....................................................................................12
Media......................................................................................................12
Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearance.................................13
Border Killings.........................................................................................14
Public Lynching.......................................................................................14
Workers Rights........................................................................................14
Situation of Minority Communities..........................................................15
Violence Against Women........................................................................16
CHAPTER II: INCREASED RISKS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS............................17
Suppressing Human Rights Defenders: Case of Odhikar...........................17
The NGO Affairs Bureau: used as a tool of harassment..........................18
Anti-Corruption Commission: bias investigations....................................19
Human rights defenders harassed by DB police.....................................20
Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of Odhikar interrogated........................21
Attempt to kidnap Mohammad Nur Khan of ASK....................................21
The Cabinet approves the draft Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities)
Regulation Act, 2014...............................................................................22
Man arrested for speaking at Odhikars meeting....................................22
CHAPTER III: CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS.....................................................................24
Freedom of thought, speech and expression............................................24
Violations to freedom of expression and media......................................24
Amar Desh Acting Editor and his treatment in Jail..................................25
Police attempt New Age office search: intimidation to objective
journalism...............................................................................................26
ICT sentences David Bergman for Contempt of Court............................27
Attacks on journalists..............................................................................27
The attitude of the government towards freedom of association, assembly

and expression........................................................................................29
Freedom of Assembly................................................................................29
Body of Dr. Piash Karim barred from Shahid Minar.................................32
Freedom of Association.............................................................................33
Attack on folk singer for singing in public meeting.................................33
Repressive Policy, Laws and Sedition Cases..............................................33
Communication technology under surveillance......................................33
The Cabinet approves the National Broadcasting Policy 2014................33
Arrests under the Special Powers Act 1974............................................34
Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 (Amended in
2009, 2013)............................................................................................36
Sedition cases...........................................................................................38
Rights of Minority Communities................................................................39
Rights of the ethnic minority communities.............................................39
Table: Violence against ethnic minority communities (January December
2014)............................................................................................................... 42
Violence against religious minority communities....................................43

Table: Violence against religious minority communities (January - December
2014)............................................................................................................... 44
Table: Harm to the property of religious minority citizens 2014......................45
Violence against the Dalit community....................................................48

Attack on Bihari Camp at Mirpur: 10 persons died due to fire and
gunshots.................................................................................................48
Fair trial.....................................................................................................50
International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).........................................................50
CHAPTER IV: VIOLENCE BY POLITICAL PARTIES..............................................................52
Violence related to the Caretaker Government Issue................................52
The Upazilla Parishad Elections 2014........................................................59
The first phase of elections.....................................................................59
The second phase of elections................................................................59
The third phase of elections....................................................................60
The fourth phase of elections.................................................................61

The fifth phase of elections.....................................................................61
The sixth phase of elections...................................................................62
By-election in Narayanganj-5 constituency............................................62
CHAPTER V: ALLEGATIONS OF ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE.......................................64
Some incidents:......................................................................................66
CHAPTER VI: EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS...........................................................................70
Types of deaths.........................................................................................72
Crossfire/encounter/gun fight:................................................................72
Death due to torture:..............................................................................72
Shot and killed:.......................................................................................72
Beaten to death:.....................................................................................72
Identities of the deceased:.....................................................................72
Some incidents of extrajudicial killings:..................................................73
Public Lynching.......................................................................................76
CHAPTER VII: TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING
TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT..............................................................................................78
Torture and inhuman or degrading treatment...........................................78
Preventing acts of torture.......................................................................79
Torture in custody...................................................................................80
Lack of accountability of law enforcement agencies.................................83
Many people became disabled after being shot by law enforcers..........83
CHAPTER VIII: HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES ALONG THE BORDER AREAS........................87
Table: Human Rights Violations in Bangladesh-India Border Area (JanuaryDecember 2014)............................................................................................. 88
Incidents of border violence recorded by Odhikar..................................88

Bangladesh deprived of getting adequate water......................................90
Bangladesh-Myanmar relations.................................................................91
Human rights violations by Myanmar Border Guard Police.....................91
CHAPTER IX : WORKERS RIGHTS..........................................................................................92
Some incidents of workers unrest...........................................................93
CHAPTER X: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.........................................................................97

Dowry and related violence......................................................................97
Acid Attacks..............................................................................................99
Rape........................................................................................................102
Stalking (Sexual Harassment).................................................................104
CHAPTER XI: PERFORMANCE OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.......................................106
The Judiciary...........................................................................................106
Bangladesh Police...................................................................................108
Political use of the Police Force.............................................................108
Bribery and corruption within the police force......................................109
The National Human Rights Commission................................................110
The Information Commission..................................................................112
The Election Commission........................................................................114
Anti Corruption Commission and its accountability.................................115
The Parliament........................................................................................117
CHAPTER XII: RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................................................118
ANNEX 1: HIGHLIGHTED STATISTICS BY GRAPH FROM 2009-2014.............................121
ANNEX 2: COMPARABLE STATISTICS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS FROM 2009 2014..............................................................................................................................................127
ANNEX 3: TABLE OF UN TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS SIGNED/RATIFIED/acceded
BY BANGLADESH....................................................................................................................128
INTRODUCTION
1. The year 2014 started with all the symptoms of imminent political crisis,
violence and the nightmare of human rights violations. The flawed and
farcical elections and the consequent political situation pushed the
country further towards an abyss and raised questions about the future
trajectories of democracy in Bangladesh since 2007. We have, to the best
of our ability, given clear warning in our monthly and annual reports,
about the culminating violence. Consequently, disruption of the rule of
law and degrading human lives and human dignity are expected
outcomes of the past political activities. The Annual Report 2014 is an
attempt to document what we have witnessed during the year, through
our fellow human rights defenders, the media and through our own
investigations.
2. We always argued that the immediate need is to address the problem
from its core. The political crisis started to reveal itself more blatantly
from the early days of 2014. It reflects acutely and intensely the failed
effort to devise ways and means for peaceful transfer of power. The
challenge of peaceful transfer of power is nothing new and Bangladesh
has faced such crisis many times in the past. This time, holding of farcical
elections is the unique act of the incumbents in power. The Awami League
and associated Alliance members retained the reign of power in a manner
that is morally and constitutionally unjustified. The Awami Leagues
success in mobilising all coercive institutions of the State is significant in
understanding the nature of the present power structure; and its ability to
continue without any moral or constitutional legitimacy or respect to rule
of law. Local media and civil society activists are debating endlessly and
seeking peaceful alternatives for change. It is becoming increasingly clear
that the country can at any time fall into a major armed conflict. We could
avoid the present uncertainties, if we could address the core issues rather
than the symptoms. Odhikar has repeatedly said that the struggle of the
peoples of Bangladesh to constitute it into a democratic state, with
respect for human rights as a foundational principle, is the core challenge.
Bangladesh has been facing this recurrent crisis since its coming into
being in 1971. We have reiterated time and again that human rights are
not merely privileges enjoyed by an individual, neither are they merely
legal tools to protect a person from the criminality of the State; on the
contrary, they are embodiments of freedom and dignity of the people
internalised by the very structure of the modern democratic state. We
need a Constitution where protecting human rights is obligatory for the
State and relevant institutions are functional and active. The State has an
obligation also to international human rights norms and we must devise
ways to make it accountable to the global community.
3. The Constitution itself is not a guarantee to ensure human rights unless

the people themselves are aware of their relation to State. This is an
awareness they can build only through a constructive political process.
The people must believe and realise that they themselves are the actors
in determining the content of the Constitution, since it has direct
implications for their lives and livelihood. If one organ of the State violates
the rights of the people, then the people must have provisions in the
constitution to defend and protect themselves by empowering the
Judiciary or Legislative with appropriate empowering clauses and
arrangements. To achieve this goal, the minimum required is freedom of
expression particularly the right to dissent and criticise the government
and documenting, presenting and analysing the facts such as human
rights violations.
4. In countries like Bangladesh, where democratic transformation remains
unaccomplished, the human rights movement plays a crucial role, albeit
in the face of repression and threats. Constituting and reconstituting the
state on the principles of human rights, particularly respecting and
defending the values of life and related spiritual and material
embodiments, is what we at Odhikar have always understood as our
primary tasks.
5. The political environment in Bangladesh was never conducive for human
rights education and awareness building. The inability to take into
cognisance the inherent relation between human rights and democracy,
divided the human rights and the political activities as if belonging to two
separate spheres; making it a difficult task to organise the categories that
address them both and contribute to the constitution of a democratic
Bangladesh.
6. Major hindrances in resolving this political crisis, or even addressing the
problem in a comprehensive manner, are the challenges and the
problems relating to our electoral process. However, we have always
argued that, while there is a need to remedy the electoral process, the
most critical issue is the Constitution and State structures and examining
the ability to respect and protect human rights. A shift from the singular
focus on the electoral process to constitutional questions is vital, if we
indeed, are concerned about the future trajectories of democracy in
Bangladesh.
7. The assertion that democracy is a form of the state and not merely an
electoral practice to select a ruler every five years has direct implications
for human rights defenders. In a community where people are yet to
constitute themselves as a democracy, with appropriate institutions to
defend their dignity and rights, the task of human rights defenders
assume a meaning that cannot be reduced merely to activities to protect
victims of human rights violations by the State. However, by their very

gesture of defending the dignity of human beings and rights of citizens,
human rights defenders are already challenging the existing power. The
rule by coercion, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, deaths in
custody and other violent means destroy the moral, social and cultural
fabric of society.
8. The late publication of Odhikars Annual Report 2014 is an indication of a
situation beyond our control. It is becoming increasingly difficult to protect
the human rights defenders who are working with Odhikar from the
surveillance, harassment and threats, implicit and explicit, by the
Bangladesh government.
CHAPTER I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

9. Defending human rights has always been a risky endeavour in countries
like Bangladesh. The heightened level of disproportionate violence the
State demonstrated in the year 2013, to deal with dissenters, revealed its
infinite power and the concrete nature of the risks involved in human
rights activities. The farcical national elections (2014) and highly
repressive way of dealing with the political opponents by the government
(2013-14) made it clear that the government is not willing to leave any
space for civil and political rights. As a result, the situation worsened in
2014 compared to 2013.
10. The nature of the political power in 2014 is not merely authoritarian.
The unrestrained use of force coupled with a high degree of surveillance
on human rights defenders and civil society activists drastically reduce
the civil and political space. Elimination of any potential voice of dissent
and opposition has become the order of the day. A section of the media
generates consent from the privileged urban middle class and thus
reinforces the tactics of terror unleashed by the government. They
demonise any legitimate protests of the people and justify the violation
human rights as a necessity to combat terrorism.
11. The rhetoric now deployed by the government and their supporters is
extremely important: It argues, what Bangladesh needs now is
development and not democracy or human rights. Therefore,
extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other crimes against
humanity with total impunity are justifiable as long as Bangladesh can
maintain a high growth rate. The qualitative shift from human rights to
development is an alarming sign and civil society in general is yet to put
forward a credible critique of such silencing of civil and political rights.
12. A weak opposition has further undermined the capacity for popular
mobilisation within the limits of a liberal political principle and legitimate
moral resistance. Political ambiguity and the lack of a clear civil and
political goal to achieve rights and dignity for the people, has become the
major challenge of human rights defenders in the face of the rule of terror.
13. Since the beginning of 2014, restrictions on freedom of expression,
freedom of assembly and movement have sunk to the lowest level,
unforeseen in the past, making it almost impossible for human rights
defenders to articulate their concerns without fear of reprisals and
intimidation by the government agencies. Over and above, experience
shows that recourse to judicial protection is also minimal and in most
cases ineffective. Violence and intimidation has become the primary
modes of engagement by the ruling elite.
10
CIVIL
AND
POLITICAL RIGHTS
Election
14. The controversial 10th Parliamentary Elections were held on January 5,
2014. Most of the political parties, registered with the Election
Commission, including the main Opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist
Party (BNP)-led 18-Party Alliance, did not contest. They opposed the
election on the ground that elections could not be free and fair with the
Awami League in power. The Awami League had already repealed the
previous caretaker1 government provision in the Constitution. Practically,
all opposition political parties and alliances did boycott the elections. The
Opposition alliance called for a countrywide boycott and for the people to
resist the elections. As a result of this boycott, 153 candidates from the
ruling Awami League and its alliance were elected uncontested, out of the
300 constituencies, even before the polls were held; which is an
unprecedented incident in a democratic electoral system. Of these
constituencies, Awami League got 127, Jatiya Party (Ershad) got 20, Jatiya
Samajtantrik Dal got three, Workers Party of Bangladesh got two and
Jatiya Party (Monju) got one seat. Later, polling took place in 147
constituencies on January 5, 2014. A total of 40,802,739 voters out of
91,948,861 could not cast their vote, as the candidates for the 153
constituencies, to which they belong, were declared elected unopposed.2
15. According to information from the Election Commission, 40.56 percent
voters cast their votes. On the contrary, various media and election
observers reported very low turnouts. For instance, Fair Elections
Monitoring Alliance (FEMA) reported the voter turnout as 10 percent till
2:00 pm on the polling day and after the polling ended, it stated that the
voter turnout was 14 percent.3 Meanwhile, the daily New Age reported
that in most of the polling centres, the turnout was in the range of 10-12
1
A caretaker government is a type of government that rules temporarily. The Caretaker

Government of Bangladesh was a form of non-partisan government system in which the country was
ruled by a selected government for an interim period during the transition from one elected
government to another, after the completion of tenure of the former. As the outgoing government
hands over its power, the caretaker comes into place. The main objective of the caretaker government
is to create an environment in which an election can be held in a free and fair manner without political
influence by the outgoing government. The head of the Caretaker government is called the Chief
Adviser (in place of Prime Minister) and is selected by the President. The Chief Adviser selects the
other advisers. The top positions of the administration are generally distributed among the advisers.
The Chief Adviser and the other advisers are committed for their activities to the President. This
provision has been repealed unilaterally by the ruling Awami League through the 15 th Amendment to
the Constitution.
2 The daily Manab Kantha, 08/01/2014 and Bangladesh Election Commission,

http://www.ecs.gov.bd/English/index.php
11
percent. Furthermore, candidates who lost the elections alleged largescale rigging. During the polling, candidates both from political parties
and independent ones, boycotted elections in at least 30 constituencies in
protest against vote rigging.4 Not a single vote was cast in 38 polling
centres across the country, as recorded by the media. 5 In many polling
centres, very few voters were present. Representatives from European
Union and the Commonwealth; and organisations like National Democratic
Institute, Asian Network for Free Elections and other election monitoring
bodies refrained from observing this farcical elections.6
16. Odhikar refrained from directly observing the elections since the
Election Commission could not ensure the participation of most of the
political parties, especially of the opposition. However, Odhikar gathered
primary and secondary level information on elections through its human
rights defenders across the country and from the people working with
different media outlets.
Political Violence
17. Political violence is a major destabilising factor in Bangladesh. There
was a rise in political violence since 2008, the year of the ninth National
Parliamentary Elections, which brought the Awami League led alliance to
power. There was another rise in political violence in 2013 before the
controversial 10th Parliamentary elections where 506 people were killed. In
the last six years (January 2009-December 2014), approximately 1471
people were killed and 91,856 people were injured in political violence7.
Media
18. Earlier, the Awami League and the BNP owned and controlled the
media, especially the electronic media. Potential to maintain some form of
balance was still available in a polarised media environment. However,
since 2009, after assuming power, the Awami League started to clamp
down on electronic media controlled by the opposition. Police raided and
harassed dissenting daily newspapers such as the daily New Age without
any justifiable cause or complaints. Similarly, another newspaper, Inqilab,
was also intimidated.
3 The daily New Age, 10/01/2014
4 The daily Samakal, 06/01/2014
5 The daily Manabzamin, 06/01/2014
6 http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2013/12/22/9979/print
7 Data compiled from Odhikars documentation activities and monthly reports.
12
19. Major threats to media freedom came from repressive laws and a
policy enacted by the government to repress the dissent. The Information
and Communication Technology Act 2006 (Amendment 2009 and 2013) is
a law deemed contrary to the freedom of speech and expression. On
August 4, 2014 the Cabinet approved the National Broadcasting Policy
2014, that imposes restrictions and keeps room for the government to
manipulate and misuse the policy on the pretext of maintaining the
standard of news, programmes and advertisements in the electronic
media. The Ministry of Information published a gazette of this Policy on
August 7, 2014. According to the policy, the media cannot broadcast any
news or statement that demeans the armed forces and law enforcement
agencies.
20. TV channels are restricted in terms of selecting discussants/presenters
in talk shows, which has been prompted after the approval of the
Broadcasting Policy. The editors and reporters of different media face
defamation and other charges for conducting their professional duties.
The Channel 1, Diganta TV, Islamic TV and the daily Amar Desh are still
closed. Mahmudur Rahman, the Acting Editor of Amar Desh who was
arrested in April 2013, is still detained in Kashimpur Jail. Criminals backed
by the ruling party and influential groups also attacked journalists.
21. In 2014, organised groups declared that eminent citizens of the
country critical of the government cannot attend any event at Shahid
Minar, the public place where people assemble for social, cultural and
political causes. According to them, this applied not only to the living
persons but also to Dr. Piash Karim, an eminent intellectual and a teacher.
Government supported gangsters did not let Dr. Karims body be taken to
the Shahid Minar where people could pay Dr. Karim their respects, a
custom for eminent persons of the country who pass away.
Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearance

22. Extrajudicial killings have increased in 2014 compared to past years
except 2013. The number of people shot dead was also very high in 2014.
23. High numbers of extrajudicial killings occurred in the month of January
(39) and October (20). The highest number of killings took place in from
January to April (88). Among the law enforcement agencies unlike
previous years, the police was mostly involved in extrajudicial killings.
Police allegedly killed 119 people in the year 2014 compared to Rapid
Action Battalion (29) and Joint Forces (11). According to information
gathered by Odhikar, from January to December 2014, 39 persons have
been disappeared after being picked up allegedly by the men claiming to
be members of law enforcement agencies. Among them, 10 people were
found dead after being disappeared, four were returned with blindfolds,
13
17 were later shown arrested in cases after a long time of disappearance

and whereabouts of eight are still unknown.
24. Many incidents of enforced disappearance took place across the
country before and after the controversial elections on January 5, 2014.
These incidents continue. The whereabouts of persons remain unknown
after allegedly law enforcement agencies picked them up. The families of
the victims claim that the members of law enforcement agencies are
making arrests and since then the victims have been disappeared or their
bodies are later found.8 Many members of law enforcement agencies have
reportedly been involved in criminal activities, as the government has
politically misused these agencies for a long time. This is a dangerous
indicator of the deteriorating law and order situation. Responsible persons
of the government routinely deny incidents of enforced disappearance. As
a result, incidents of enforced disappearance continue.
Border Killings
25. According to information collected by Odhikar, between January and
December 2014, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) killed 35
Bangladeshis and injured 68 Bangladeshis. The sovereignty of Bangladesh
is constantly under threat due to continuous misuse of force by the BSF
and there is hardly any protest and action from the Bangladesh
government.
Public Lynching
26. Public lynching is an area that remained unaddressed by the human

rights defenders in a comprehensive and effective manner. The issue is
extremely serious and reflects the peoples lack of trust in law
enforcement and the judicial process. Each incident needs to be followed
closely to understand the circumstances within which such brutal
behaviour of the masses could take place. The role of the law
enforcement agencies should also be determined. From January to
December 2014, a total number of 116 people were allegedly killed due to
public lynching.
Workers Rights
27. On December 5, 2013, the government declared a minimum monthly
wage of BDT 5,300 for the garment workers. The new wage structure
8
Odhikar only documents allegation of enforced disappearance where the family members or
witnesses claim that the victim was taken away by people in law enforcement uniform or by those who
said they were from law enforcement agencies.
14
legally came into effect on January 1, 2014. However, concerning the

implementation of the new wage structure it can vary from 87%
(according to employer organisation BGMEA) and 40% (according to local
trade unions). The workers of this sector are unhappy with their present
salary.
28. After the Rana Plaza building collapse, the Bangladesh government and
Western retailers set up an inspection regime for more than 3,500
garment factories to ensure structural integrity and fire and electrical
safety. North American retailers including Walmart and Gap formed an
Alliance and inspected around 587 factories. A compensation fund was
set up through the International Labour Organization (ILO) and was
designed to raise US$40 million. Nevertheless, 16 months later, just under
$20 million had been raised.
29. The report of the retailers group said that worker representative
structures such as trade unions and worker participation committees
remained weak in the RMG sector and workers who had tried to exercise
their freedom of association rights had been intimidated and harassed.
The government amended its labour laws to make it easier for workers to
form and join unions. However, workers said they continued to face
tremendous negative pressure from the factory authorities.
30. Inadequate infrastructure, bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption are
still the major problematic factors in industrialisation and for the growth of
an industry. These are also increasing the entrepreneurs cost of doing
business. They are also losing price and delivery competitiveness to their
business competitors. Furthermore, political stability of the country is a
key to steady growth of the industry.
Situation of Minority Communities

31. Social, economic and political vulnerability increased for groups
belonging to Hindu, Christian and other religious and cultural minority
communities. Their vulnerability has two aspects. Socio-economic
vulnerability has decreased their political standing locally, where local
political thugs are always ready to exploit the situation. Secondly,
communalisation of such incidents obscures the possibility of arresting
and punishing the offenders. Unilaterally blaming the so-called Islamists
or Islam to prove that the minorities are not safe in Bangladesh, has
further aggravated their situation, since it creates mistrust and alienation
at the local level. The systematic politicisation of these incidents and the
ensuing blame game makes the situation more vulnerable. Apathy of the
government and the administration is the single most worrying issue for
human rights defenders concerned about the safety and security of these
15
vulnerable communities.
Violence Against Women

32. When it comes to issues relating to violence against women, the
government has never had a good record. There are several laws
specifically dealing with this issue but lack of effective implementation,
corruption, threats, fear, and financial constraints are some of the factors
that ensure that such crimes continue. The number of victims and
incidents of rape, dowry violence and acid violence were high in 2014.
Stalking and sexual harassment are also becoming alarmingly common.
33. Odhikars data shows that a total of 666 women and girls were raped
and 272 were victims of sexual harassment. Furthermore, 237 women
became victims of dowry violence. These are figures reported in the
media or sent to Odhikar by its local level human rights defenders. Many
instances of violence go unreported. It can be safely assumed that the
actual statistics for violence against women is much higher.
16
CHAPTER II: INCREASED RISKS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

DEFENDERS9
34. Risks for human rights defenders (HRDs) have increased compared
with the situation in 2013. The Information and Communication
Technology Act (2006) (amended in 2009 and 2013), the absence of legal
and judicial protection, and the governments refusal to pay heed to
criticisms or opinions given or published by any institution, organisation or
any individual, all shed a dark cloud over HRDs. The Government plays an
extremely aggressive role and seeks revenge against any voice that might
undermine its image and power. Such organisations or individuals are
characterised as militants or anti-state and are held in contempt and
harassed in various ways. Human rights organisations and human rights
defenders have become the primary targets of the government.
SUPPRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS: CASE
OF
ODHIKAR
35. Since its inception in 1994, Odhikar, a human rights organisation, has
been contributing to the peoples struggle for democracy, rule of law and
human rights. Its strategic area of work has always been documenting
and exposing human rights violations impartially and objectively. Because
of its strong position, along with its credible and regular reporting, Odhikar
has faced state oppression, surveillance and harassment in various forms
during all regimes. However, after assuming power in 2009, the Awami
league government, in power from 2009 to 2014, increased its
surveillance, intimidation and harassment of Odhikar. The Detective
Branch of Police (DB) kept Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of Odhikar,
under constant surveillance. He is also a lawyer of the Supreme Court of
Bangladesh. A heightened level of surveillance was experienced after the
Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session of the UN, which was held in
Geneva on April 29 2014, and where Odhikar and the Asian Legal
Resource Center (ALRC), a Hong Kong based human rights organisation,
jointly submitted a UPR report10 that highlighted the human rights
situation in Bangladesh. Odhikar conducted a fact-finding mission in June
2013 and found that 61 persons were allegedly killed extra-judicially by
Bangladeshi security forces at a rally of Hefazate Islam supporters on 5
and 6 May 2013. Odhikar published the resulting report on its website and
disseminated it to different stakeholders, including the Government. The
Government, through the Ministry of Information, sought the list of victims
9 Human rights defender is a term used to describe people who, individually or with others, act to
promote or protect human rights.
10 http://1dgy051vgyxh41o8cj16kk7s19f2.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wpcontent/uploads/2012/10/report-UPR-report-ALRC-and-Odhikar-2012-eng.pdf
17
included in the report and their addresses from Odhikar. Odhikar sent a
reply indicating that it would only give the list to an independent inquiry
commission, if such a commission was formed to investigate the incidents
concerned. Following this, on August 2010 at 10:20 pm, the DB police,
without any warrant, arrested Odhikars Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan.
He and Odhikars Director ASM Nasiruddin Elan were kept behind bars for
62 and 25 days respectively. The Government then claimed that the
report published by Odhikar was fabricated and filed a case under Section
57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 (Amended
2009) against Adilur Rahman Khan and ASM Nasiruddin Elan. Three
laptops and two central processing units (CPUs) belonging to Odhikar
were confiscated by the DB Police on 11 August 2013 which contained
many confidential documents with information on victims and their
families. These documents have yet to be returned to Odhikar. During this
period of uncertainty, Odhikars human rights defenders at the grassroots
level faced intimidation and harassment by State agents. Due to constant
security threats and financial constraints, seven Odhikar staff members
and human rights defenders left their jobs and several field level female
human rights defenders11 ceased human rights activism out of fear. Soon
after the turmoil in August 2013, in the same month, the Anti-Corruption
Commission started investigations into the financial transactions of
Odhikar, as dictated by the Government. The Government also carried out
a strong media campaign against Adilur and Odhikar through private
television channels owned by pro-government party supporters.
36. The ongoing harassment against Odhikar continued in 2014. Besides
the surveillance and harassment of human rights defenders associated
with Odhikar, the Government hindered Odhikars operational activities.
This involved the refusal to release funds for human rights projects,
including approved projects, in order to hamper Odhikars human rights
work.
The NGO Affairs Bureau: used as a tool of harassment

37. The NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB), a government body under the
auspices of the Prime Ministers Office, has been putting up barriers to the
release of funds for the implementation of Odhikars human rights
programmes. Some examples are given below:
38. Activities related to Odhikar's `Human Rights Research and Advocacy
project funded by the Dutch Embassy were completed in June 2013, but
as of the date of publication of this report, the NGOAB has refused to
11 Odhikar has 400 trained HRDs, mostly volunteer human rights defenders working in the field.
18
authorise the disbursement of the last phase of funds to Odhikar until

date. The goal of this project was to document and research human rights
violations by the Indian Border Security Force along the Bangladesh-India
border along with violations committed by the Bangladeshi Government
including extrajudicial killings, political violence, rights of the religious and
ethnic minority communities and violence against women. In order to
implement the project on time, Odhikar had to borrow money from its
general funds. It should be noted that the NGOAB has delayed the release
of funds of this project since its inception in October 2010.
39. After completing the first year of activities under the Education on the
Convention against Torture and OPCAT Awareness Programme in
Bangladesh project, funded by the European Union, Odhikar applied for
the release of funds related to the second year of activities on 6 March
2013. On 15 May 2013 the NGOAB released 50% of the funds for the
second year, three months after Odhikar submitted its funding request.
On 21 August 2013 Odhikar submitted a further application to the NGOAB
to release the remaining 50% of funds, along with a project completion
audit report of the first year. The NGOAB has been reluctant to approve
fund clearance for this project. Over a year has passed and the NGOAB
has still not released the remaining 50% of the project funds.
40. On 9 April 2014 Odhikar submitted an audit report and applied for the
release of the funds for the second and final year (January to December
2014) under Empowering Women as Community Human Rights
Defenders project, funded by the Finnish NGO Foundation for Human
Rights (KIOS) after the completion of the first year activities. The project
was designed to take effective action in order to stop violence against
women in four districts. The funds were not released by the NGOAB and
the project period expired on 31 December 2014.
41. Along with human rights monitoring, Odhikar monitors pre-election and
post electoral violence. Projects were prepared to address electoral and
gender violence during the 10th Parliamentary elections, the funding
agency being the International Federation for Electoral System (IFES).
However, these two election-monitoring programmes run by Odhikar have
been pending approval and fund clearance by the NGOAB since April
2013. The NGOAB has refused to approve the projects, stating that it
cannot approve any project without a clearance from the Ministry of Home
Affairs. It should be noted that Odhikar monitored and reported electoral
violence during the ninth Parliamentary Elections with IFES support.
Anti-Corruption Commission: bias investigations

42. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has subjected Odhikar to
harassment since August 2013, in the name of an 'investigation'. This
19
harassment escalated in January 2014 after Adilur Rahman Khan was

released on bail. This is despite the fact that Odhikar has cooperated with
the ACC and submitted all the documents that the ACC has requested.
After one and a half years of investigation, the investigating officer and
Deputy Director of the ACC, Harun-ar-Rashid, recommended that the
Commission settle the case against Odhikar. However, the Commission
decided to reinvestigate Odhikar, deeming the report submitted by Harunar-Rashid unsatisfactory. Assistant Director of the ACC, Rafiqul Islam, has
been given authority to investigate the matter again.12
43. The ACC is attempting to generate controversy around Odhikars
activities and achievements in order to put an end to its human rights
work, following the repressive dictates of the government. Odhikar has
often criticised the discriminatory actions of the ACC and its nontransparent activities. The ACC has the right to investigate Odhikars
financial transactions at any time with due process of law. However, the
ACC is harassing Odhikar in the name of investigation, a continuation of
the government's attempts to silence Odhikar by putting pressure on it
from different quarters/numerous angles.
Human rights defenders harassed by DB police
44. Odhikar commemorated the International Day of the Disappeared on

30 August 2014. To mark this international day and express solidarity with
the families of the victims of enforced disappearance, Odhikar organised
rallies and human chains in Rajshahi, Khulna, Chittagong and Sylhet.
Under this programme, at around 10:30 am, local human rights defenders
associated with Odhikar held a rally in Rajshahi City and formed a human
chain in front of the press club. The programme was coordinated by Moin
Uddin, a local human rights defender working with Odhikar at Rajshahi.
Following the programme, at around 5:30 pm, some officials from the
Detective Branch (DB) of the Rajshahi Metropolitan City Police, led by Sub
Inspector (SI) Mahabub, visited Moin Uddin's office. As Moin Uddin was
absent from his office, DB Police called him on his cell phone and
requested that he meet them at the DB office that night. The DB police
called Moin Uddin several times throughout the night, threatening him in
an attempt to elicit information about the programme and Odhikar,
including a list of human rights defenders associated with Odhikar. On 31
August 2014 SI Mahabub and constable Mannan visited Moin Uddins
office and asked to see the banner and placards used in the programme
and upon inspecting them noted down the headlines and slogans written
on them. The DB police told Moin Uddin that he must obtain permission
from the local authority before organising such events in the future.
12 The daily Naya Diganta, 12/03/2015
20
Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of Odhikar interrogated

45. Adilur Rahman Khan is regularly invited to attend seminars and
conferences abroad. In 2014 he was repeatedly interrogated by
immigration police at the airport and kept waiting for long periods of time,
usually over an hour. For example, upon travelling to the USA on 14
November 2014 to receive the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award 13,
Adilur was interrogated by immigration officers at the Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport in Dhaka and kept waiting for one and a half hours
while the police obtained clearance from several intelligence agencies. By
this time a number of human rights organisations, including the RFK
Center for Justice & Human Rights and FIDH intervened and finally he was
permitted to travel.
Attempt to kidnap Mohammad Nur Khan of ASK

46. On 15 May 2014 there was an attempt to abduct Mohammad Nur
Khan, the Director (Investigation) of Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) from in
front of the ASK office in Lalmatia, Dhaka. Mohammad Nur Khan informed
Odhikar that at around 5:10 pm he and one of his colleagues took a
rickshaw from outside the office after finishing work. At that time he saw a
microbus about 30/35 yards ahead. When he took a left turn with the
rickshaw, the microbus started following them. One of the passengers in
the microbus was looking at him through the window. He also saw one
man sitting in the microbus with a shotgun. Sensing he was in danger, Nur
Khan jumped off the rickshaw and ran back to the office. It should be
noted that Nur Khan is very vocal against human rights violations,
especially extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.
47. It is the duty of human rights defenders to highlight human rights
abuses and take appropriate action in order to prevent future violations.
But the government of Bangladesh is harassing Odhikar, those associated
with the organisation, and other vocal human rights defenders and
victims of human rights violations, silencing their voices and obstructing
their activities. Odhikar believes that all institutions in Bangladesh must
be accountable for their actions. Odhikar too, has ensured accountability
in every activity it undertakes. Odhikar submits its project-related audit
reports to the NGO Affairs Bureau every year. However, in spite of
Odhikars cooperation, the NGOAB continues to impede and interfere with
Odhikar's work and human rights defenders associated with Odhikar
continue to be targeted.
13 http://odhikar.org/adilur-rahman-khan-receives-31st-annual-robert-f-kennedy-human-rights-award/
21
The Cabinet approves the draft Foreign

(Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act, 2014
Donations
48. Throughout 2014 the government took several initiatives to silence the
voices of human rights NGOs operating in Bangladesh. Of these
initiatives, the Cabinet approved the draft Foreign Donations (Voluntary
Activities) Regulation Act (2014), which regulates the funding
contributions made to Bangladeshi non-governmental organisations by
foreign sources. On 1 December 2014, the Cabinet gave the final approval
to the draft Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act (2014),
which requires mandatory registration with the NGO Affairs Bureau for all
NGOs receiving foreign funds. Under this Act, the government will be
empowered/able to monitor and evaluate the voluntary activities of NGOs.
Individuals or NGOs who receive funds in order to implement projects will
come under constant monitoring and evaluation under this Act. The
decision-makers have also been given the authority to accept or reject the
registration of NGOs under this law. In this regard, NGOs or voluntary
organisations must satisfy the decision makers in order to be registered
and subsequently be eligible to receive foreign funding. Moreover, the
decision makers are also authorised to suspend or cancel the registration
of an NGO if any irregularities are found during project implementation
by that NGO, without clearly defining the term irregularities. The
government can further appoint an administrator to file cases against
persons involved in targeted organisations or to bring proceedings against
an NGO in order to close it down or dissolve it. The affected NGO or
person involved with such an organisation may appeal to the Secretary of
the Prime Minister's Office within 30 working days of receipt of the order,
but the decision given by the Secretary shall be deemed final in this
regard. Furthermore, the law also prohibits the reception of foreign
donations by any autonomous organisation such as a university.
49. The NGO Law violates freedom of expression and association and
controls human rights NGOs and other voluntary organisations which are
vocal against human rights abuses perpetrated by the State. Many human
rights organisations which provide support to victims of human rights
abuses may be erased and their actions blocked, leading these victims
voiceless and without recourse.
Man arrested for speaking at Odhikars meeting
50. On 10 March 2014 Odhikar organised a meeting on the ratification of

the Optional Protocol of Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and the Mass
Awareness Campaign for the Prevention of Torture in Narayanganj District.
At this meeting a victim of torture, Mohammad Ezaz, a businessman from
the Riverview Market in Narayanganj, shared how he was abused by
police. That is, upon assisting two businessmen whose wallets were
22
confiscated by police without reason on 6 March 2014, Ezaz was asked to

accompany Sub Inspector (SI) Nazrul to the Narayangani River Police
Camp. Upon arrival, Ezaz was blindfolded, his hands and feet were bound
and his shoes taken away. On 7 March 2014, Ezaz was summoned before
the court on charges relating to a land dispute, yet the court granted him
bail. On 8 March 2014 Ezaz briefed journalists at the Narayanganj Press
Club as to the events and on 10 March 2014 gave his testimonial at the
meeting organised by Odhikar, which were subsequently published in
various local newspapers on 11 March 2014. Following his testimony, on
16 March 2014, Ezaz was arrested by SI Shafique of the Narayanganj
District DB Police from his shop at the Riverview Market. On 17 March
2014, Ezaz was summoned to court on charges under the Narcotics
Control Act, and was released on bail on 25 March 2014.
23
CHAPTER III: CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

FREEDOM
OF THOUGHT, SPEECH AND EXPRESSION
51. Article 39(1) of the Constitution of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh

guarantees freedom of thought, speech and expression 14 and Articles 18
and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) recognise
the freedom of expression as a basic human right. However, these rights
are regularly curtailed in the name of state security, public order,
protection of religious sentiment and maintaining good relations with
friendly countries. The situation in 2014 further deteriorated because of
the repressive nature of the State and its draconian laws, 15 including
national security legislation, along with sedition and criminal libel laws.
Violations to freedom of expression and media

52. There is no neutral electronic media in Bangladesh owned by any
professional journalist. Previously, the Awami League and the BNP owned
and controlled the media, especially the electronic media. In a polarised
media environment there was some form of balance. However, after
assuming power since 2009, the Awami League started shutting down the
Opposition (BNP) controlled electronic media. The state owned Television
channel, BTV, focuses predominantly on news about the government and
remains engaged in negative campaigns against the BNP led 20-Party
Alliance (formerly 18-Party Alliance). The government has approved 13
other private electronic media channels, yet all of the owners are
supporters of the ruling party. Meanwhile, the government has closed
down the electronic and print media owned by pro-opposition supporters
such as Channel 1, Diganta TV, Islamic TV and the daily Amar Desh. The
broadcasting of Diganta TV and Islamic TV was shut down for airing live
the violence carried out by law enforcement agencies on the early
morning of 6 May 2013, focusing on a rally conducted by Hefazate Islam.
Both the TV channels remain closed. The Acting Editor of the daily Amar
Desh, Mahmudur Rahman, was arrested in April 2013 and is still detained
in Kashimpur Central Jail-2.
14 Article 39 (2) of the Constitution of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh: Subject to any reasonable
restrictions imposed by law in the interests of the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign
states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement
to an offence (a) the right of every citizen to freedom of speech and expression; and (b) freedom of
the press, are guaranteed.
15 Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006 (amendment 2009 & 2013), Special Powers
Act, 1974 and section 124 of the Penal Code, 1860.
24
53. A major threat to media freedom comes from the passing of the
Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006 (Amended in 2009
and 2013), which is contrary to the freedom of speech and expression.
This Act was enacted during the BNP regime and the present ruling party,
the Awami League, has rendered it more repressive through the latest
amendments.
54. TV channels are restricted as to whom they can invite as presenters in
talk-shows as a result of the approval of the broadcasting policy. The
editors and reporters of print media face defamation and other charges
over conducting their professional duties. Needless to say, talk-show
guests and news reporters must show the government in a positive light,
or face repercussions.
55. On 24 May 2014 the daily Prothom Alo published a report titled The
local government assistance project at Bauphal exists on paper not in
reality. Due to this report, on 26 May 2014, Shaheen Hawlader,
Organising Secretary of Kanokdia Union unit of the Awami League under
Bauphal Upazila and a supporter of the Chief Whip of the Parliament, ASM
Firoze, filed a case at the Speedy Trial Court in Patuakhali against the
Bauphal correspondent of the daily Prothom Alo, ABM Mizanur Rahman,
accusing him of extortion and mugging. On 3 June 2014 police submitted
a report to the Court after investigation. On 9 June 2014 the Court issued
a warrant of arrest under sections 4 and 5 of the Law and Order
Disruption (Speedy Trial) Act (2002) against ABM Mizanur Rahman. It is to
be noted that the ruling party members had earlier filed two more cases
against Mizanur Rahman accusing him of initiating a quarrel and of rape.
Mizanur Rahman had been acquitted from the case relating to the quarrel
and there were significant delays in the police's investigation and
submission of a final report relating to the rape case, in which they found
no proof supporting the charges laid.16
Amar Desh Acting Editor and his treatment in Jail

56. Mahmudur Rahman17 was deprived of proper medical treatment in a
specialized hospital despite a Court Order. On 19 April 2014 he was
brought to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) from Kashimpur
Central Jail for better medical treatment. The Chairman of the Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Professor Dr. Moinuzzaman,
16
The daily Prothom Alo, 17/06/2014
17
It is to be noted that the Acting Editor of the daily Amar Desh, Mahmudur Rahman has been
detained in Kashimpur Jail-2 from April 11, 2013. A total of 69 cases are filed against him under various
Acts, including the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 (Amended in 2009). There are
allegations that Mahmudur Rahman had been tortured in various ways during remand.
25
advised him to visit the hospital from Kashimpur Jail for treatment every
alternate day and did not admit him to the Hospital. However, Mahmudur
Rahmans family said that he was in no physical condition to make the
near six-hour journey to and from BSMMU for physiotherapy every
alternate day, due to severe pain in his hands and body. He was suffering
from osteoarthritis, had blood pressure problems, had severe pain in his
right shoulder and hands and had been suffering from decay of vertebra
for over a month.
57. It should be mentioned that, upon his application on 16 April 2014, the
Court ordered the jail authority to provide Mahmudur Rahman with proper
treatment in a specialised hospital.18
58. On 28 April 2014 the charges against Mahmudur Rahman were framed
by a District and Session Judge, Basudeb Roy, when Rahman appeared
before the Special District and Session Judge Court-3 from Kashimpur Jail
in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Mahmudur
Rahman addressed the Judge, stating: [t]he Prime Minister had asked the
ACC to file fabricated cases to punish me, as a report was published in the
daily Amar Desh regarding corruption against the Prime Minister, her son
and the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Affairs Adviser. 19 On 28
May 2014 the hearing of a case filed by the ACC against Mahmudur
Rahman commenced in the Special Judge Court established at the Alia
Madrassa grounds in Bokshi Bazaar, Dhaka. Deeming the ACCs case to be
false, baseless and politically motivated, the lawyers of Mahmudur
Rahman stated that this case cannot be continued under any
circumstances.20
Police attempt New Age office search: intimidation to

objective journalism
59. On 28 December 2014 at around 8:20 pm, a group of 20 policemen led
by the Officer-in-Charge of Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station,
Salauddin, stormed the New Age premises without giving any reason and
began a search that lasted for approximately half an hour. OC Salauddin
said that he had serious information about something for which they
needed to search the newspaper office. However, OC Salauddin refused to
explain the serious information. New Age journalists asked the police to
provide a search warrant. However, the policemen, including OC
Salauddin, did not disclose the reasons for their presence and OC
Salauddin ordered the policemen to search each corner of the office. New
19 The daily Amar Desh online version, 29/04/2014
20 The daily Amar Desh online.com, 29/05/2014
26
Age employees assured OC Salauddin of their cooperation, if he could

give specific reasons for the search. OC Salauddin shouted and
threatened the journalists saying that they would see New Age
employees later on, when asked why the police were not showing any
official order. After they had failed to enter the newsroom, the police
officers left the New Age premises, threatening the journalists. Later,
following instruction of the higher authority, the police team left the
area. Before leaving the area, the police team videoed the New Age staff
and journalists who were present.21
ICT sentences David Bergman for Contempt of Court

60. On 2 December 2014 the International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced
British journalist David Bergman22 for using derogatory and unfair words
and phrases to describe a Tribunal judgement, in two articles posted in
his personal blog. The three-member Tribunal unanimously passed the
sentence of simple imprisonment till rising of the court with a fine of Taka
five thousand. The fine should be paid within seven working days or
serve imprisonment for seven days. The presiding judge, Justice Obaidul
Hassan, pronounced the verdict in the presence of two other judges
Justice Mozibur Rahman Mia and Justice Shahinur Islam. 23 David Bergman
paid the fine. In support of David Bergman and in order to uphold freedom
of expression, 49 prominent citizens also issued a joint statement for
which they also came under the scrutiny of the Tribunal.
Attacks on journalists
61. From January to December 2014, according to information gathered by
Odhikar, one journalist was killed, 92 were injured, 24 were assaulted, two
were attacked, 19 were threatened, six were arrested and 33 were sued
for performing their professional duties. In addition, incidents of attacks
on newspaper offices and journalists occurred during times of information
gathering or over publishing reports. Allegedly, in most cases, leaders and
activists of the ruling party were involved in such incidents. Some
examples are given below:
62. On 16 April 2014 the video camera of Shomoy Televisions Rangpur
correspondent, Ratan Sarkar, was confiscated when he was filming the
21 The Daily Star, 29/12/2014
22 David Bergman is a contributing special correspondent of the New Age, who has been observing
the trial process of the International Crimes Tribunal with regard to crimes against humanity committed
during the Liberation War in 1971. On February 18, 2014 Abul Kalam Azad, a Supreme Court lawyer,
filed a case of Contempt of Court.
23 The daily New Age, 03/12/2014 http://newagebd.net/73014/ict-sentences-bergman-to-tokenimprisonment/#sthash.Jk1SB6EC.dpbs
27
casting of fake votes by Thakurgaon District unit Jubo League General

Secretary, Abdul Mazid Apel, at Thakurgaon Road Girls High School polling
centre, during the Upazila Elections. 24 Ratan Sarkar was also severely
beaten by Abdul Mazid Apel. The members of law enforcement agencies
present at the time remained silent spectators.25
63. On 1 August 2014 city correspondent of the local daily Juger Alo,
Harun-ar-Rashid; senior reporter of the daily Dabanol, Shariful Islam
Sumon; and city correspondent of the daily Dabanol, Mia Mohammad
Sohel, were returning from Burirhat, Rangpur when they witnessed 15-20
plain clothed policemen beating a youth in front of the Town Hall in
Rangpur City. When the journalists took pictures on their cameras, the
police stepped forward in anger and, using abusive language, broke the
cameras and, after taking away their notepads, beat them.26
64. On 23 October 2014 the Jubo League organised a procession
brandishing weapons in Chuadanga town. Police escorted the procession.
Journalists took photographs when the procession came near the Press
Club. When Chuadanga correspondent of Maasranga TV, Faizar
Chowdhury, was taking footage with his camera, Jubo League activists
attacked him. Faizar Chowdhury ran to the Press Club as the armed Jubo
League activists attacked journalists. Four journalists, including
Maasranga TV correspondent, Faizar Chowdhury; Boishakhi TV
correspondent, Moriom Shely; and District correspondent of the daily New
Nation, Mizanul Huq Mizan, were injured during this attack. Jubo League
activists ransacked furniture in the Press Club and vandalised five motor
bikes parked outside. Police, who followed the procession, remained
silent. It should be mentioned that there was a dispute between the two
factions of the Chuadanga District Jubo League over establishing
supremacy in the area and for tender bids. One faction of Jubo League
brought out this procession as a show of force.27
65. On 15 December 2014 the Supreme Court summoned the daily
Prothom Alo Editor, Matiur Rahman, and its Joint Editor, Mizanur Rahman
Khan, to appear before the Court on 5 January 2015 in connection with a
contempt petition in relation to publishing an article entitled Prodhan
Bicharpoti Bechche Neowa (Selection of the Chief Justice). Supreme
Court lawyer, Sirajum Monir, filed the petition before the Court. An eightmember Bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, headed by
Chief Justice Md. Muzammel Hossain, issued a show-cause notice on the
24 This upazila election was pending and scheduled to hold on April 16, 2014.
25 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Thakurgaon.
26 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Rangpur
27 The daily Prothom Alo, 24/10/2014 and information gathered by Odhikar
28
two journalists.28
66. It has been observed that a majority of journalists are often attacked
by criminals backed by the ruling party and influential groups. Odhikar
believes that the government must be proactive in order to prevent
attacks on journalists and also demands that the criminals involved in
attacking journalists should be arrested and tried for their crimes.
Furthermore, it is also very important for the media to publish and
circulate fair and impartial news, free from any kind of bias or negative
influence. Odhikar believes that there is a wide scope for the Information
and Communication Technology Act (2006) (Amendment 2009 and 2013)
to violate freedom of expression and of the media. The government is
putting journalists, human rights defenders and government critics in jail
after arresting them under this repressive Act.
THE
ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT

ASSOCIATION, ASSEMBLY AND EXPRESSION
FREEDOM
OF
TOWARDS
FREEDOM
OF
ASSEMBLY
67. The government pursued an extremely intolerant policy in 2014 to

curb dissenting voices and assemblies. The government used section 144
of the Code of Criminal Procedure to stop different meetings and
assemblies organised by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on the
pretext of mitigating violence. The government used its security forces
and in many cases hired thugs to attack opposition parties with lethal
weapons.
68. Section 14429 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (1898) allows the
Government to ban meetings, assemblies and rallies. The Government
sometimes prohibited meetings and rallies for security reasons. The
Government imposed section 144 to ban the programmes of the 20-Party
Alliance (formerly known as 18-Party Alliance) led by BNP, after the
supporters of the ruling party scheduled their own programmes at the
same venue and time. This occurred even when authorities granted the
BNP permission to hold a meeting, only to cancel it later. Police rarely
interfered with ruling party processions on such occasions, but police
often worked in tandem with ruling party activists to disrupt and
discourage opposition processions. Prohibition of and attacks on such
meetings and rallies shrink democratic space. Some incidents are given
below:
28 The daily Prothom Alo, 16/12/2014
29 Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 provides power to the Magistrate to issue
orders to stop any meeting or gathering. See http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/sections_detail.php?
id=75&sections_id=20789
29
69. On 9 March 2014 Gono Morcha30 and UBINIG31 jointly organised a

human chain in protest of BT Brinjal32 in Pabna district. A group of men,
led by Chholimpur Union unit of the Awami League President Abul Hashem
Promanik, attacked UBINIG official Arfan Ali and forced the participants of
the human chain to disperse. Later, the protesters went to form a human
chain in a BT Brinjal field in Mathalpara village when 20-25 local men,
including UP member Wazed Ali, Astol Ali and Khokon Sardar, led by Abul
Hashem Promanik, attacked them again and put an end to the human
chain programme. Men also prevented journalists present from taking
photos of the attack. The central leader of the Sommilito Nari Somaj,
women's rights activist Farida Akhter, was assaulted by attackers and 12
persons were injured at that time. It should be mentioned that the
government has initiated moves to cultivate the controversial genetically
modified, BT Brinjal, in Bangladesh. Many voluntary organisations and civil
society groups are protesting against this initiative. The human chain
programme was organised as part of this movement.33
70. On 24 May 2014 police put an end to the rally organised by
Jatiyotabadi Ainjibi Forum34 at the Supreme Court premises, held in protest
of the killing of Advocate Chandon Kumar Sarkar35 and on-going incidents
of enforced disappearance and killings. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was
supposed to deliver her speech as the chief guest in the meeting. From
the night of 23 May 2014, police interfered in and tried to halt the
preparations being made for the programme. The entry points of the
Supreme Court were blocked with iron fences by police, who also
harassed and checked lawyers entering the Court premises. Furthermore,
police kept the whole area blocked by taking control of the roads around
the Supreme Court. They also arrested 15 lawyers from the Supreme
Court.36As a result the meeting could not be held.
30 A left leaning political
organisation
31 UBINIG is a policy and action research organization in Bangladesh, by a group of activists to

support peoples' movement for social, economic, political and cultural transformation.
32 BT Brinjal is a genetically modified variety of eggplant that is reportedly extremely hazardous to

health if consumed.
33 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Pabna, 11/03/2014; protest
note of anti BT Brinjal Morcha, 10/03/2014
34 An organisation of lawyers supported by BNP

35 He was one of the seven people, who were disappeared and then murdered in Narayanganj
district. Some high level members of Rapid Action Battallions (RAB) gave their confessional statements
that they were involved in the abduction and murder after police arrested them after a huge public
outcry.
30
71. On 21 September 2014 activists of Chhatra League37 and Jubo League38

attacked and opened fire on a Munshiganj District BNP rally organised in
support of the dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the 20-Party Alliance on 22
September 2014 in protest of the Sixteenth Amendment to the
Constitution allowing Parliament to impeach judges. Chhatra League and
Jubo League activists chased BNP activists and dispersed them before
making a procession in front of the BNP office at the Chottor supermarket
in Munshiganj. BNP activists took shelter in their party office. Later in the
evening, BNP leaders and activists organised a meeting in front of the
party office where Chhatra League and Jubo League activists opened fire
at the meeting in the presence of inactive police.39
72. On 8 November 2014 the BNP sought permission from the Dhaka
Metropolitan Police (DMP) to organise a meeting at Suhrawardi Uddan on
the occasion of National Day of Revolution and Solidarity declared by BNP
on 7 November 2014. The DMP authority did not grant permission and as
result BNP decided to organise a protest rally across the country.
However, the protest rallies in various districts were stopped by police. 10
BNP activists, including a woman Councillor of Gazipur City Corporation,
Shirin Chaklader were shot when police opened fire at the protest rally in
Gazipur. Police also baton charged the procession, which resulted in at
least 50 BNP leaders and activists, including Gazipur City Corporation
Mayor M A Mannan, being injured. In Sirajganj 10-12 BNP activists were
injured when police opened fire at a protest rally. Police also stopped BNP
protest rallies in Thakurgaon, Bagerhat and Manikganj.40
73. On 27 December 2014 BNP called rally to gather public support for a
fresh anti-government movement demanding general elections under a
non-party administration. But the Chhatra League threatened to foil the
programme until BNP chief Khaleda Zia's elder son Tarique Rahman
apologised for terming Sheikh Mujibur Rahman 41 a big Razakar.42
Occupying the venue, Chhatra League called a counter-rally in protest of
Tarique's comments against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. As a result, local
37 Student wing of Awami League

38 Youth wing of Awami League
41
He was the first president of Bangladesh and father of the current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina;
who was assassinated on August 15, 1975.
42 On January 5, 2015 Tarique Rahman made a statement in a meeting in UK calling January 5, 2014 a
death of democracy day. He stated against the Chief Justice, made provocative statements about the
BDR mutiny and mentioned Sheikh Mujibur Rahman a big Razakar.
31
administration of Gazipur imposed section 144 of the Cr.PC.43
Body of Dr. Piash Karim barred from Shahid Minar

74. On 13 October 2014 BRAC University teacher and political analyst
Professor Dr. Piash Karim died of cardiac arrest. His family and other
renowned citizens decided that as an eminent citizen of this country, the
body of Dr. Piash Karim would be kept for some time at the Shahid
Minar,44 so that the general public could pay their respects. After this
announcement, certain government affiliated organisations declared they
would prevent the body of Piash Karim from entering the Shahid Minar. Dr.
Amena Mohsin, wife of Dr. Piash Karim and Professor of Dhaka University,
appealed to the Dhaka University authority in order to obtain permission
to keep the body of Piash Karim at the Shahid Minar. The University
authority refused her application and gave permission to the government
supported organisations to organise a meeting there. The family of Piash
Karim changed their decision to take his body to the Shahid Minar; but
protesting ruling party supporters under the banner of Muktijoddha
Sangsad Sontan Command organised a meeting at the Shahid Minar
where nine eminent citizens, including two Editors of daily newspapers,
were prohibited from coming to the Shahid Minar. An organisation named
CP Gang also made a public call to prevent these persons from
displaying their names and photographs at the Shahid Minar. The
prohibited persons are: Professor Dilara Chowdhury; Dhaka University
Professor Amena Mohsin; senior journalist Mahfuz Ullah; TV talk show
presenter and the Chief Editor of the daily Manabzamin, Matiur Rahman
Chowdhury; Editor of the New Age, Nurul Kabir; Poet and columnist Farhad
Mazhar; Dhaka University teacher, Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul; journalist and
talk show discussant, Golam Mortuza; and Advocate of the Supreme Court
of Bangladesh, Dr. Tuhin Malik. The President of the Muktijoddha Songsad
Sontan Command, Mehedi Hassan, said in a meeting that the nine have
been declared persona non grata at the Shahid Minar as they have
requested that the body of traitor Piash Karim be brought to the Shahid
Minar. Twenty organisations applied to organise meetings at the Shahid
Minar, but the University authority permitted only two organisations to do
so. Leaders and activists of various government supported organisations
and the student organisations associated with the government were
present in the meeting.45 It should be mentioned that late Dr. Piash Karim
and the nine eminent citizens of the country prohibited by the groups
44 The Shahid Minar is a martyr monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh, was established to commemorate
those killed during the Bangla Language Movement demonstrations of 1952.
32
were vocal against the repression, corruption and injustices perpetrated

by the current government. A majority of them have made strong
statements at various meetings and TV talk shows and have also been
critical of the 5 January 2014 elections.
FREEDOM
OF
ASSOCIATION
Attack on folk singer for singing in public meeting

75. On 2 November 2014 JASAS46 President and folk singer Abdul Khaleq
was attacked by criminals who beat with hammers, cut his hair with
scissors and said you sang at Khaleda Zias public meeting, now you will
pay for it. He was rescued and taken to the hospital with injuries. It
should be mentioned that on 1 November 2014 Abdul Khaleq presented a
song in front of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Natore SN College field at
a public meeting of the 20-Party Alliance.47
REPRESSIVE POLICY, LAWS
AND
SEDITION CASES
Communication technology under surveillance

76. It has been reported in the media that a law enforcement agency of
Bangladesh has purchased expensive software from Germany for
scrutinising the communication technology network in the country. The
names of the software purchased are Finfisher (alias Fin-spy) and Fin-fly.
This information was disclosed by Wikileaks. However, it was not clearly
mentioned in the report which particular law enforcement agency bought
this spying software. The report reveals that Bangladesh purchased three
licensed Fin-fisher software and three Fin-fly USB in November 2012,
which cost about 8 hundred 31 thousand Euros.48 Fin-fisher software is
being used for intelligence surveillance. Everyone who uses the internet in
Bangladesh will come under this surveillance.
The Cabinet approves the National Broadcasting Policy

2014
77. On 4 August 2014 the Cabinet approved the National Broadcasting
Policy (2014) by imposing restrictions and
keeping room for the
government to misuse the policy on the pretext of maintaining the
standard of news, programmes and advertisements in the electronic
46 JASAS: Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha, a cultural organisation of BNP.
33
media. The Ministry of Information published a gazette of this policy on 7

August 2014. According to the policy, any news or statement that
demeans the armed forces and law enforcement agencies cannot be
broadcast. The policy restricts the airing of anything that demeans
government officials who are in a position to punish people for criminal
offences. Inconsistent and misleading information must also be avoided in
talk-shows. Any incident that may hurt religious sentiments; cause hatred
among the people; and anything relating to mutiny, anarchy and violence,
cannot be aired. Various restrictions are also imposed on advertisements.
The policy will be implemented after forming a Broadcast Commission by
a selection committee.49
78. It is clear that the government has approved the broadcasting policy to
control the media and curb freedom of expression. According to the
policy, any news or statement that demeans the armed forces and law
enforcement agencies cannot be broadcast. Through this policy, the law
enforcement agencies and armed forces will enjoy impunity and their
accountability will be unquestioned. It should be mentioned that the
activity of the present Election Commission, which has been created by
such a Selection Committee, is already the cause of much debate in the
country.
Arrests under the Special Powers Act 1974

79. Odhikar observes with concern that the repressive Special Powers Act
enacted in 1974 is still being used against people who are engaged in
opposition politics. In the past, those who were in power also used this
repressive law against opponents. Despite election promises to do away
with this Act, there are no indications that it will be repealed in practice.
80. In January 2014, a student of Northern University in Khulna claimed
that a teacher of the Law Department of the University, Rajib Hasnat
Shakil, criticised Bangladeshs former President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,
current President Abdul Hamid and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
in the class room. Based on this allegation, Sub Inspector Ahmed filed a
case with Sonadanga Police Station against Rajib Hasnat Shakil under
section 16(2) of the Special Powers Act (1974). On 3 July 2014 police
arrested him. The Officer-in-Charge of Sonadanga Police Station, Maruf
Ahmed, informed Odhikar that he investigated this case. On 6 July 2014he
submitted a final report to the Court stating that he could not find any
evidence. On 10 July 2014 Rajib Hasnat Shakil was released from jail on
bail.50
49 Odhikars statement issued on 06/08/2014, http://odhikar.org/odhikars-statement-the-nationalbroadcast-policy-2014-empowers-the-government-to-put-draconian-restrictions-on-media-and-curbthe-freedom-of-expression/ and the daily Prothom Alo, 05/08/2014
34
81. On 25 October 2014 police arrested 63 leaders and activists of BNP

and its affiliated organisations, including Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal,
President of Central unit Jubo Dal.51 Sub-Inspector Shihab of
Mohammadpur Police Station told Odhikar that on 26 October 2014 Syed
Moazzem Hossain Alal was holding a meeting at his residence with
leaders and activists for plotting destruction during a hartal 52 called by
Islamic political parties. Based on the information, police conducted an
operation and arrested them from his house. A case was filed in this
regard with the Mohammadpur Police Station under section 15/1 (ka) 53 of
the Special Powers Act (1974).54
82. On 20 November 2014, the Organising Secretary of Magura District
unit Chhatra Dal55, Abdur Rahim, was released on bail by a District and
Sessions Judge from 10 cases filed by police under the Special Powers Act
(1974), including vandalising vehicles and attacks on an election office.
Police of Magura Sadar Police Station arrested him again from the jail gate
soon after he was released. On 27 November 2013 the General Secretary
of Magura District unit Krishok League56, Shamim Ahmed, filed a case
under sections 16/2 of the Special Powers Act (1974), mentioning 18
names and 20 to 25 unknown persons for vandalising vehicles, detonating
crude bombs and shooting. In this case, police recorded Abdur Rahim as
arrested under suspicion and sent him to court. His lawyer Wasiqur
Rahman informed Odhikar that police arrested his client improperly in a
case filed one year ago and where his name was not even mentioned.57
83. Odhikar believes that filing such politically motivated cases and
making arrests merely based on unproven allegations are violations to
freedom of thought, speech and conscience. This has created an
undemocratic political culture. It is to be noted that the Special Powers Act
(1974) has been used as one of the main tools to violate human rights
and prevent dissenting voices of opposing political parties. This repressive
50 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Khulna
51 Youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
52 General strike
53 No person shall do any act with intent to impair the efficiency or impede the working of, or to
cause damage to,(a) any building, vehicle, machinery, apparatus or other property used, or intended
to be used, for the purposes of the Government or of any local authority or nationalised commercial or
industrial undertaking ;
54 Information gathered by Odhikar

55 student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
56 Farmers wing of Awami League
57 Report sent by human rights defender associated with Odhikar from Magura
35
law has mainly been used against the opposition since its birth. Odhikar
demands the repressive Special Powers Act (1974) be repealed
immediately, so that rights and freedoms are not abused.
Information and Communication

(Amended in 2009, 2013)
Technology Act 2006
84. At least 14 persons were arrested under the Information and

Communication Technology Act, 2006 (amended in 2009 and 2013) in the
year 2014.
85. The repressive Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006
(amended in 2009 and 2013)58 (ICT Act) is used by the government
against human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers and people who
have alternative beliefs. The latest amendment to the ICT Act was made
on 6 October 2013. Section 57 of the ICT Act states that publishing or
transmitting any defamatory or false information on a website in
electronic form, is considered to be a cognizable and non-bailable offence.
Moreover, punishment for committing this offence has been increased for
a term of a minimum of seven years and maximum of 14 years
imprisonment. This law has curtailed the freedom of expression and has
become a tool of repression. Ironically, when the very same news is
published in the newspapers in print form, if there is defamation, the
maximum punishment is only two years imprisonment and a fine. Some
examples are as follows:
86. On 19 August 2014 the Detective Branch of Police (DB) arrested
Shamsuzzoha from Dhaka over the allegation of ridiculing Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina. The investigating officers said that Shamsuzzoha had
made a comment on his Facebook account about a photograph of the
Prime Minister where she was wearing a Saree and a Scarf, Achcha, etai
ki Pakhi dress? (Is this called the Pakhi dress 59?) A case was filed against
him with Kafrul Police Station under section 57 of the ICT Act.60
58 In 2013, the amendment made to the Act made the offence mentioned in Section 57 non-bailable
and cognizable. Section 57 of the ICT Act states: (1) If any person deliberately publishes or transmits
or causes to be published or transmitted in the website or in electronic form any material which is fake
and obscene or its effect is such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely, having
regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it, or
causes to deteriorate or creates possibility to deteriorate law and order, prejudice the image of the
State or person or causes to hurt or may hurt religious belief or instigate against any person or
organization, then this activity of his will be regarded as an offence.(2) Whoever commits offence
under sub-section (1) of this section he shall be punishable for a term of minimum of seven years
imprisonment and a maximum of 14 years or a fine of Taka one crore or both.
59 Pakhi dress is a style of dress made famous by an Indian television serial, that was much in
demand by young women and girls at the last Eid festival in Bangladesh.
60 The daily Nayadiganta, 21/08/2014.
36
87. On 3 September 2014 police arrested Imran Hossain Arif (30 years old)
from Kumarkhali Upazila in Kushtia, under section 57(2) of the ICT Act
(2006) (amended 2009 and 2013). On 20 August 2014 Imran Hossain Arif
posted this status on his facebook page: if Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman was the father of the nation, then Sheikh Hasina is my sister and
Sajib Wajed Joy is my nephew 61. For this reason, local Jubo League leader
Anik Hossain filed a case against him with Kumarkhali Police Station under
the ICT Act.62
88. On 24 September 2014 Cyber Crime Tribunal Judge AKM Shamsul Islam
sentenced Tanmoy Mallik to seven years imprisonment and a 10 thousand
taka fine, along with six months of additional imprisonment for nonrecovery of a fine under the ICT Act. Tanmoy, of Gurkathi village under
Dakop Upazila in Khulna, allegedly circulated a song mocking former
President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his daughter the Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina.63
89. On 17 October 2014 police arrested Shukur Ali (35 years old) and his
son Sizan Hossain (13 years old) for playing parodies mocking Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina on a cell phone in Shitlai village under Kahalu
Upazila in Bogra District. The Officer-in-Charge of Kahalu Police Station,
Sumit Kumar Kundu filed a case against the arrestees under the ICT Act.64
90. On 20 October 2014 the Court framed charges against a member of
BNPs Standing Committee, M K Anwar, under section 57(1)(2) of the ICT
Act. Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Mohammad Zahurul Huq made this
order. This is the first time that a charge has been framed under the ICT
Act against any political leader for giving a political statement at a press
conference. It should be mentioned that on 6 May 2013 M K Anwar made
a comment during a press conference at BNPs central office regarding
the violence at a Hefazate Islam rally on 5 May 2013. He said, Incidents
of looting at Baitul Mokarram65 were conducted under the leadership of
Shechchasebak League66 leader Debashish Biswas. Religious books,
including the Quran, were set on fire. Police initially lodged a General
Diary alleging that this kind of communal and provocative statement has
61
Sheik Mujibur Rahman was the former president of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is
her daughter and Swajeeb Wazed Joy is her son- Translation. Actual version was in Bangla.
62 Report sent by human rights defender associated with Odhikar from Kushtia
65 located in
southern part of Dhaka
66 Voluntary wing of ruling Awami League , an associate organisation of Awami League The daily
Inqilab, 12/11/2014
37
created a public disturbance and later submitted a report on 27 June 2013

concerning MK Anwar after investigation.67
91. On 11 November 2014 Jhenaidah Municipality Mayor and the Joint
Secretary of the Central unit of Shechchasebak League, Saidul Karim
Mintu, filed a case under section 57(1) of the ICT Act against Jhenaidah
District correspondent of the daily Bangladesh Protidin, Sheikh Ruhul
Amin; District correspondent of Shomoy TV, Shahnewaz Khan Sumon;
Editor of the daily Naya Diganta, Alamgir Mohiuddin; News Editor,
Jhenaidah correspondent of the daily Aurthonity, Sajjad Ahmed; proprietor
of Smart Computers, Rony Saha; Editor and Publisher of the daily Nir
Bangla published from Narayanganj, Imdadul Huq Milon; and the News
Editor of the daily Nir Bangla, for publishing a report against the Mayor.
The Court took cognizance of this case and ordered the Officer-in-Charge
of Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station to take necessary measures.68
92. It is clear that a wide scope has been created to violate freedom of
speech, expression and media under the ICT Act as the Law is being used
indiscriminately and violating democratic process. The government is
putting journalists, human rights defenders and citizens who have
alternative beliefs and who are critical of the government behind bars by
arresting them under this Act which was made even more repressive
after the amendments introduced in August 2013. This repressive law
immediately needs to be repealed as it is contrary to the freedom of
expression.69
SEDITION
CASES
93. A sedition case was filed against Jalal Ahmed (20), a first year student
of the Television and Film Studies Department of Dhaka University; and a
final year student of the English Department of the same University
Mohammad Ashique (30), for allegedly plotting to topple the present
government. On 9 August 2014 Detective Branch (Motijheel zone team)
Inspector Mohammad Rafiqul Islam arrested Jalal, a resident of Mohsin
Hall at Dhaka University, at the Baitul Mokarram Mosque, under section
54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 70, claiming he was in possession of a
draft of a handwritten guidebook of a master plan of their movement.
The police claimed that the 24-page book was full of hatred and
disobedience towards the government and involved a plot to topple the
68 The daily Inqilab, 12/11/2014
69 The ICT Act 2006 (Amended in 2009) is also the law under which the Secretary and Director of
Odhikar have been charged.
70 Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure lays down instances when the police can make an
arrest without a warrant.
38
government through a violent movement with leaders and activists of

various political parties. Jalal was taken into remand in two phases, since
his arrest and a proposal was later sent to the Home Ministry for its
approval to prosecute the two students for the offence of Sedition. On 4
October 2014 Detective Branch (Motijheel zone) Sub-Inspector Mizanur
Rahman filed a case with the Paltan Police Station against Jalal and
Ashique for treason under section 124A of the Penal Code after obtaining
permission from the Home Ministry on 29 September 2014. Currently Jalal
is detained at the Dhaka Central Jail and Mohammad Ashique is
absconding.71
94. Jalals lawyer, Advocate Mesbah, told Odhikar that the allegation of
treason against a 20-year-old student is laughable. Furthermore, police
kept Jalal detained for 56 days under section 54 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, violating a High Court Order. As per the High Court directive,
an arrested person cannot be detained for more than 15 days under
section 54 of the Cr.PC. Jalals uncle told Odhikar that he met Jalal on 26
September 2014 in Dhaka Central Jail. Jalal informed him that he was
picked up after his prayers at Baitul Mukarram Mosque on 9 August 2014
and police put a paper in his pocket. An allegation of treason was made
against him based on this paper.72
RIGHTS
OF
MINORITY COMMUNITIES
Rights of the ethnic minority communities

95. More than 48 indigenous ethnic communities live in Bangladesh in
addition to the Bangalees. According to the official census of 2011, the
total number of Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh was 1,586,141 which
represent 1.8% of the total population of the country.73 The Chittagong Hill
Tracts (CHT) is the only region in the country where ethnic minority
communities are largely concentrated. People belonging to the ethnic
minority communities also live in several other districts of Bangladesh,
namely Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Mymensingh, Tangail, Sylhet, Patuakhali,
Barguna, Barisal, Chittagong and Coxs Bazaar.74
96. The Constitution of Bangladesh does not afford the ethnic, linguistic
and cultural minorities of Bangladesh any special status. Article 23A of the
73 Survival under Threat: Human Rights Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh, edited by Prof.
Mong Shanoo Chowdhury. http://kapaeeng.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/HR-Situation-of-ips-inBangladesh.pdf
74 Human Rights Report 2012 on Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh, Kapaeeng Foundation
39
Constitution of the Bangladesh defines ethnic minority communities as

tribes, minor races, ethnic sects and communities. Article 6(2) of the
Constitution states that the people of Bangladesh shall be known as
Bangalee as a nation. However, the people belonging to the ethnic
minority communities are not Bangalees, but Bangladeshis as citizens.
They are separate from Bangalees. Over the years, many members of
the ethnic minority communities have faced racial discrimination,
inequality and deprivation at a local level. Despite the Constitutional
provisions, where it is stated that all citizens are equal before law and
are entitled to equal protection of law75 and that there will be no
discrimination against any citizen on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex
or place of birth.76
97. The Chittagong Hill Tract Accord (CHT Accord) was signed on 2
December 1997 by the Government of Bangladesh and Parbatya
Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) with the aim of resolving the CHT
problem by political and peaceful means. It has been 17 years since the
signing of the CHT Accord yet it remains to be implemented, despite the
fact that the manifesto of the Awami League promised its full
implementation to uphold the rights of ethnic minorities. Except for the
reconstitution of some committees and appointments to some posts, the
government has not taken any effective measures towards
implementation of the Accord. The government has not even come up
with a time-framed Road Map regarding the implementation of the CHT
Accord.
98. Though it is the constitutional responsibility of the State to protect the
fundamental rights of ethnic minority communities along with their land
rights and property, the government did not perform its responsibility to
prevent incidents relating to unlawful arrest and torture, abuse and
harassment of ethnic minority groups, rape and sexual assault against
ethnic women and children, killings, arson and land grabbing of minority
groups. Incidents of killings, injuries and rapes have increased in the
Chittagong Hill Tracts area. Some examples are as follows:
99. On 16 December 2014 approximately 50 houses and seven shops
belonging to an ethnic minority community were set on fire at three
villages at Nannierchar upazila in Rangamati Hill District. Rangamati
District unit United Peoples Democratic Front leader Sachal Chakma said
that Bangalee settlers set 37 houses on fire at Suridas Para village, seven
houses at Bagachari village and six houses at Nabin Talukdar Para village.
75 Article 27 of the Constitution states that all citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal
protection of law.
76 Article 28 (1) of the Constitution states that the State shall not discriminate against any citizen on
grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
40
The attackers also beat up Ogasa Bhikkhu at a Buddhist temple and

robbed four bronze statues of Buddha from the temple. The attackers also
robbed seven shops on the Rangamati-Khagrachari road and set them of
fire. Victims and angered ethnic minority citizens continued their blockade
on the Rangamati-Khagrachari road for an indefinite period at Bagachari,
protesting against the attack and looting, demanding protection of the
lands of hill people allegedly occupied by Bangalee settlers and
requesting the removal of Bangalee settlers from the area.77
100.On 25 November 2014 a gunfight took place between the Parbatya
Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (MN Larma group) and Parbatya
Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (Shantu Larma Group) in the Jibtali area
under Baghaichhari upazila in Rangamati. During the hour long fight,
Shyamol Chakma (35), a member of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati
Samiti (MN Larma group), was killed.78
101.On 4 August 2014, Bichitra Tirki (36) was working in her rice field along
with her fellow workers at Jinarpur village under Parbotipur Union of
Gomostapur Upazila in Chapainawabganj District. A group of about 30 to
35 miscreants, led by Afzal Hossain, attacked her using sticks and sharp
weapons with the intent to take the land which she had inherited from her
husband. Furhter, three of the perpetrators, namely Rezaul Karim, (30),
Akbar Ali (25), and Akhter Hossain (35), sexually harassed her. As a result
of this attack, Bichitra incurred serious physical injury. Shortly thereafter,
she was taken to a local hospital and later transferred to
Chapainawabganj General Hospital for better treatment. She filed a case
accusing 18 persons for the incident with the Gomstapur Police Station
that same day. The police have arrested 10 out of 18 persons. However,
Afzal Hossain, the mastermind of the attack, and some of the main
perpetrators, continue to enjoy impunity for the attack. After about four
weeks of her stay in the hospital, on 31 August 2014, Bichitra returned
home.79
102.On 30 May 2014, 20 people of the Khasi community were injured in an
attack by Bangalee land grabbers at Nahar Punjee, a locality of the ethnic
minority community at Srimangal in Moulvibazar District. The victims
were beaten with sticks and attacked with sharp objects when they
resisted the attackers advance. About 200 people led by Pijush Kanti
Bhattacharya, manager of Nahar Tea Garden, which has long claimed
approximately 200 acres of land where the Khasi people reside, started
marching towards Nahar Punjee in order to evict its residents and occupy
77 The New Age, 28/12/2014
79 http://kapaeeng.org/update-bichitra-tirki-fights-back/
41
the land.80 On 5 June 2014 Nitay Tanti (40), a tea worker who was injured
during a clash with Khasi people, died at Osmani Medical College Hospital,
Sylhet.81
Table: Violence against ethnic minority communities (January

December 2014)
Month
Killed
Injured
Abducted
Property
damage
Rape
Total
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total
2
0
2
4
3
2
2
1
3
1
1
0
21
14
8
1
2
29
0
2
0
1
0
0
1
58
0
0
0
0
2
2
4
0
0
0
0
0
8
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
54
63
2
1
1
1
0
2
0
1
0
0
1
2
11
27
9
4
7
34
6
8
2
4
1
2
57
161

42
Statistics on Violence against Ethnic Minority Communities

2014
Violators
The violators responsible for the

numbers of
Killing Injury Abduction
Rape
Grand
Total
Bangalee Settlers
Parbatya Chattagram Jana
Samhati Samiti (PCJSS)
UPDF & JSS (Santu group)
20
10
31
MN Larma Group
United People's Democratic
Front (UPDF)
Pahari Chhatra Parishad
(PCP) and Bangali Settlers
Parbatya Chattagram Jana
Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and
United People's Front
(UPDF) jointly
Swapon Mahato group and
Shreebesh Mahato group,
ethnic community groups
Army
Unknown Miscreants
Total
10
10
1
10
21
0
15
58
0
8
8
0
1
11
1
34
98
Violence against religious minority communities

103.Article 41 of the Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees citizens the right
to practice their religion and to establish, maintain and manage religious
institutions. Although Islam is recognised as the state religion of the
People's Republic of Bangladesh, Article 12 of the Constitution states that,
[t]he principle of secularism should be realised by the elimination of any
discrimination against or persecution of, persons practising a particular
religion. In addition, any offence against religious places or practices is a
criminal offence.82
82 See section 295 298 of the Penal Code
43
Table: Violence against religious minority communities

(January - December 2014)
Month(s)
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total
44
Killed
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Injured
30
12
6
0
4
10
0
0
0
9
0
7
78
Assaulted
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Table: Harm to the property of religious minority citizens

2014
Month (s)
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total
Land
Grabbing
4
8
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
14
Property
damage
329
0
1
30
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
7
371
Temple
attack
19
3
4
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
32
Looting
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Idol
damage
52
23
15
23
5
12
0
2
44
5
0
12
193
104.Attacks on religious minority communities after elections have become a

common phenomenon. Despite the known areas of vulnerable localities
where such violence could take place, the apathy of the government and
the local administration is the single most worrying issue for human rights
defenders who are concerned about the safety and security of these
vulnerable communities. Such incidents occur repeatedly due to the
failure to arrest and punish perpetrators or sometimes due to the fact that
the perpetrators enjoy the support of the government. Furthermore, the
systematic politicisation of these incidents and the ensuing blame game
makes the situation more vulnerable. The practice of attacking socially,
economically and politically vulnerable groups belonging to Hindu,
Christian or other religious and cultural minority communities by the local
thugs associated with the ruling party, opposition and other power elites,
during the pre and post-election period are extremely worrying. Some
influential and vested interest groups attacked citizens belonging to the
Hindu religion, taking the opportunity of violent political situations, and
also vandalised and set fire to places of worship. Incidents of attacks on
citizens belonging to the Hindu community occurred across the country
during and after the 5 January elections. Houses, shops and business
offices belonging to members of religious minority communities and
places of worship were attacked during that time. 83 There were allegations
83 It has been seen since the independence of Bangladesh that after every elections the religious
minority communities have been deliberately targeted for political and financial benefits. Awami
League, BNP, Jatiya Party and Jamaat - all are allegedly involved in these attacks.
45
that the activists of ruling Awami league, BNP and Jaamat-e-Islami were
responsible for perpetrating such attacks. Some incidents are given
below:
105.On 5 January 2014 supporters of the BNP-led 820-Party Alliance ransacked
and set fire to at least 150 houses and shops belonging to Hindu citizens
at Kornai village of Chehelgazi union in Dinajpur. Victims alleged that the
local UP member Nazir Ahmed; Akbar Ali of Dumurtoli; Mahbubul Alam of
Katapara; Sahabul Alam of Mohadebpur; Abul Kana of Bokripara; and
Nuhu Mia of Kornai village, led the attack. All of them were supporters of
BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Moreover, before the Election Day, BNP and
Jamaat activists threatened citizens belonging to religious minority
communities not to go to the polling stations.84
106.On 5 January 2014 at least 40 families from the Hindu community were
affected by post-election violence in Malopara village in Abhoynagar
Upazila in Jessore District. In retaliation, four houses were attacked in an
area inhabited by Muslims at Chapatola Village adjacent to Malopara on 6
January 2014. At least seven persons from both sides were injured in
these incidents. On 27 December 2013 Awami League leader and Whip of
the 9th Parliament, Abdul Ohab, who was not nominated by the Awami
League to be a candidate for the 10 Parliamentary elections, threatened
religious minority groups in a public meeting at Sundaly Primary School
field to vote for him as an independent candidate. Odhikars fact-finding
reveals that 202 votes were cast out of 400 votes in specified booths
under Champatola Madrassa polling centre in Malopara. Among them,
Awami League candidate Ranjeet Roy received 132 votes with the symbol
Boat while Abdul Ohab received 70 votes with the symbol Kolosh 85.
Supporters of Abdul Ohab expressed their anger against citizens
belonging to the religious (Hindu) minority at Champatola Madrassa area.
At around 10:00 am, four Hindu citizens were beaten by supporters of the
18-Party Alliance while on their way to the polling centre at Pukurkanda in
Malopara. At around 4:00 pm, tensions spread between both sides over
the incident that took place in the morning when inhabitants of
Champatola were returning via Malopara. A rumour was spread that two
Muslims were killed by Hindus. After hearing this rumour, the supporters
belonging to the BNP led alliance, which had control over the
Champatola area, attacked the supporters of the Awami League which
had control over Chengutia Bazaar. Before this attack, more than 100
outsiders gathered at Chengutia Shalbon. During this attack, at least 43
houses of citizens belonging to the minority community were vandalised.
On the night of 6 January 2014, four houses belonging to Muslim families
85 A Kolosh or Kolshi is a large water pot usually made of clay.
46
were vandalised and looted in the presence of police.

107.On 7 January 2014 a group of criminals attacked some Christian families
at Bhagra in Shreepur Union under Jamalpur District. 15 persons were
injured in this attack. The victims claimed that they were attacked by men
who opposed the elections and because they voted for Boat.86
108.On 9 February 2014, three local AL leaders and their four aides, Rabiul
Islam alias Miron (46), Nazrul Islam (52), Mukul Hossain (37), Anar Ali alias
Anar (52), Sultan Ali Khan (67), Abdus Samad (42) and Nasimuddin (60)
forcibly occupied 43 decimals of land belonging to Bhabani Kanta Sen at
Rasulpur Village under Hatibandha Upazila in Lalmonirhat. Bhabani and
his two sons, Bidhan Chandra Sen and Bidyut Chandra Sen, were later
picked up by a group of ruling party men and forced to sign a non-judicial
stamp which stated that they were willingly handing over the ownership
of the land. Meanwhile, the accused built a house on the land but police
did not take any steps to remove the illegal structure. On 2 March 2014
Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a legal aid organisation, filed a
writ petition at the High Court Division. Police submitted a charge sheet in
the case, accusing seven Awami League men.87
109.On 11 May 2014 a group of criminals, led by local Awami League leader
Bazlur Rahman Nayeem, attacked and beat citizens belonging to the
Hindu community while taking property belonging to a Hindu crematorium
in Moharajpur village in Niamotpur Upazila in Naogaon District. During the
attack, criminals vandalised images of Lord Shiva at a temple close to the
crematorium and also set fire to the temple.88
110.On 26 October 2014 supporters of Abul Khayer, Khaulia Union chairman
and Union AL president, attempted to occupy Samir Shikder's land at
Sonnasi village in Morelganj Upazila in Bagerhat. During this time, Samir
Shikder and his family tried to stop them. But supporters of the president
of the local Awami League beat them, leaving five injured.89
111.On 1 December 2014 followers of a leader of the student wing of the
Awami League vandalised seven idols of a Hindu temple and seven
houses of the members of the Hindu community. The attack on the Hindu
families was carried out after they had protested against the use of
substandard construction materials in a school building which was being
constructed by Shawon Hawladar, a leader of the Gournadi Unit student
wing of the Awami League. In this incident, 20 people (including seven
86 The daily Prothom Alo, 09/01/2014. The boat is the symbol of the Awami League.
88 The daily Manabzamin, 14/05/2014. The boat is the symbol of the Awami League.
89 The daily Amader Shomoy, 2/11/2014
47
Hindus) from both sides were injured. A case was lodged with Gournadi
Police Station against 64 people in this connection. Police arrested four of
the accused - Titu Mridha, Saiful Islam, Harun Molla and Kamrul Sardar.
Hasanuzzaman, Sub Inspector of Dashar Police Camp, was withdrawn and
closed to the district police line for negligence in duty.90
Violence against the Dalit91 community

112.Members of the Dalit community are one of the most neglected groups
within Bangladeshs Hindu community. The government must ensure the
protection of citizens belonging to the Dalit community and ensure their
right to perform their religious and cultural practices. However, Odhikar is
concerned that the attitude of a section of the society towards the Dalit
community remains discriminatory.
113.On 7 November 2014 an attack on the Dalit community took place over a
football match at Baka at Paikgachha Upazila in Khulna. The attackers
vandalised their houses and sexually abused Dalit women. The President
of the Khulna City Corporation unit Dalit Parishad, Sanjoy Das, informed
Odhikar that on 7 November 2014, some men belonging to the Ghosh
community, Bholanath Ghosh, Ripon Ghosh, Liton Ghosh, Taposh Ghosh,
Sumon Ghosh, Uttam Ghosh, Mithun Ghosh, Ujjal Ghosh and Nuruddin,
attacked Baka Daspra (of the Dalit community with axes, sticks, crowbars
and iron rods while the football match was in play. In order to evacuate
Dalits from their land, criminals vandalised the houses of approximately
100 Dalit families, robbed them, injured six people and sexually abused
Dalit women. Police of Baka Outpost failed to protect the Dalits. A case
was filed with Paikgachha Police Station in relation to this matter. In the
meantime, the men belonging to the Ghosh community filed a counter
case in an attempt to mask these events.92
Attack on Bihari Camp93 at Mirpur: 10 persons died due to

fire and gunshots
114.On the morning of 14 June 2014 altercations took place between the Urdu
speaking people94 of Bihari Camp and supporters of the ruling party of
the Awami League and Dhaka-16 constituency Member of Parliament, Ilias
90 The daily Jugantor, 3/12/2014
91 Dalits are a group of people traditionally regarded as untouchable and belonging to the Hindu
religion.
92 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Khulna
93 Bihari camp was made for the stranded Pakistanis who were not able to return to Pakistan after the
Independence of Bangladesh. The Camp is located at Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
48
Molla, at E & D Block of New Kurmitola in Mirpur-12 in Dhaka city. During

the clash, nine members of a family died in a fire and another person was
shot dead. At least 50 people were injured during the clash which started
at 5:30 am and continued until 12:30 pm. Those who died in fire were:
Baby (40), wife of Yeasin, a resident of Bihari camp; his elder daughter
Shahana (23); Shahanas son Maruf (3); his second daughter Afsana (20);
youngest daughter Roksana (9); elder son Ashique (25); Ashiques
pregnant wife Shikha (18); and twin sons Lalu and Bhulu (12). A Bihari
youth named Azad (25) was shot dead and one man named Mohammad
Josho (23) was reported missing. The link road of the Airport-Mirpur
flyover in Dhaka was made in 2007. During that time the New Kurmitola
area came under the Bihari Camp. At that time it was decided that those
families who lost land due to the construction of the link road would be
shifted to another place. According to the decision, the Bihari families
were rehoused in slums created on plots of land belonging to the National
Housing Authority, located at the northern side of the New Kurmitola
Bihari Camp. In 2009, Ilias Molla encroached on 30 Bighas of land
adjacent to Kurmitola Bihari Camp with the help of local Awami League
activists and created a slum called Raju Slum there. Local Jubo League
activists have maintained the slum since its creation. Electricity is
available
at Raju slum thanks to power connections to the Kurmitola
Bihari Camp.95The inhabitants of Raju slum have never paid any electricity
bills, yet Ilias Mollas men used nonetheless to collect money for
electricity bills from every house in Raju slum. They were collecting Taka
50 for a bulb and Taka 100 for a fan by producing illegal electric
connections. Likewise, they collected Taka 200 Taka 250 from every
house, which comes to a total of more than 150 000 taka per month. 96 On
10 June 2014 Bihari leaders cut the illegal electricity connections to Raju
slum and tensions ensued. On 10 June 2014 at around 10:30 pm, the
inhabitants of Raju Slum blocked roads around the Mirpur flyover area,
demanding electricity in the slum. In order to remove the blockade, the
police of Pallabi Police Station asked for help from MP Ilias Molla. At
around 10:45 pm, Ilias Molla arrived in the area. At one stage, the people
94 During the partition of the Indian Sub Continent in 1947, when India and Pakistan were being
divided, Muslims from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other areas of India took refuge in Pakistan. Many came
to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). During the Liberation War, a section of them supported Pakistan.
After Liberation on 16 December 1971, many became assimilated within Bangladesh. Those who
wanted to be repatriated to Pakistan, found refuge in the Red Cross sponsored camps, called Geneva
Camps in 1972. After several rounds of repatriation to Pakistan, those who were unable to go,
remained as Stranded Pakistanis in the Geneva Camps. They are stateless persons. They speak Urdu
and not Bangla. However, many of their children who were born after the liberation of Bangladesh
have become Bangladeshi nationals. This community remains vulnerable.
95 Fact finding of Odhikar

49
from Bihari Camp argued with Ilias Molla. Local witnesses testified that the
argument escalated into physical confrontation between some inhabitants
of Bihari Camp and Jubo League activists, who came with Ilias Molla. To
bring the situation under control, Ilias Molla called Jalal Uddin, President of
Kurmitola Bihari Camp, on his mobile phone and asked him to provide
electricity connections to Raju slum. When he refused this proposal, Ilias
Molla threatened the Bihari community leaders. On the evening of 11 June
2014 some inhabitants of Raju slum filed a case against Bihari community
leaders, including Jalal Uddin. Local people said that Jalal Uddin went into
hiding since the case was filed. On the night of 13 June 2014, Biharis were
celebrating the occasion of Shab-e-Barat97 with fireworks near Baunia
Dam and the link road off the Bihari Camp. In the early morning of 14 June
2014, activists of Ilias Molla deliberately attacked Kurmitola Bihari Camp
under the pretext of protesting against the noise of the fireworks. 98 During
that time clashes occurred between the two groups. The local police also
took side with the MPs men and attacked Biharis. MP Ilias Mollas men
locked four houses in the Bihari Camp from the outside, poured kerosene
on them and set them on fire, all in the presence of the police. When
Bihari Camp residents approached the houses to bring the fire under
control, police threw tear gas shells and rubber bullets at them. Police also
opened fire with live bullets. As a result, nine persons including women
and children were burnt to death and one Azad was shot dead by police.
Video footage on the news showed local Jubo League activists beating
Mohammad Josho, an inhabitant of Bihari Camp, which left him severely
injured. The whereabouts of Josho is now unknown. 99 A total of six cases
were filed in relation to this incident. Of them, police filed two cases and
four cases were filed by local people. Bihari community people alleged
that police are harassing Urdu speaking Bihari people, instead of taking
legal action against MP Ilias Molla. 100 Illias Molla is still at large and justice
for the deceased victims remains non-existent.
FAIR
TRIAL
International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)

115.Trials against perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and war
97 The preceding night is known as Laylatul Baraah or Laylatun Nisfe min Shaban in the Arab world,
and as Shab-e-barat in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. These names are
translated to the night of records, the night of assignment, the night of deliverance or the night of
salvation, and the observance involves a festive nightlong vigil with prayers.
98 Allegations made by local Urdu speaking Biharis.

100 Information gathered by Odhikar.
50
crimes committed during the 1971 liberation war continue. The Tribunals
have so far handed down verdicts against 15 people, among whom 12
were sentenced to death and three were served with life imprisonment.
116.On 3 November 2014 the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of
Bangladesh
upheld
the
death
sentence
against
Muhammad
Kamaruzzaman, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, for war
crimes, a verdict initially handed down by the International War Crime
Tribunal despite concerns regarding the fairness of the trial. 101
117.On 29 October 2014 the International Crimes Tribunal-1 sentenced the
Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, Motiur Rahman Nizami, to death for committing
crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. In protest of
this verdict, Jamaat-e-Islami called countrywide hartals on 30 October and
2 3 November 2014.
118.During the hartals, clashes took place between hartal supporters and
members of law enforcement agencies in various parts of the country and
picketers also vandalised and set fire to vehicles. Further, police arrested
about 300 people across the country during the hartal on 2-3 November
2014102 and arrested 200 people from all over the country during the
hartal on 5 November 2014.103
119.The Prosecution also urged the Law Minister to amend the Tribunals Act
to allow it to prosecute Jamaat-e-Islami, which had committed crimes
against humanity during 1971 and the issue is still pending before the
judges.
120.The majority of the people want the perpetrators to be punished for the
crimes they committed during the 1971 liberation war; they also want the
war crimes trials to be above and beyond any controversy. With several
cases nearing completion and several others underway, the State must
ensure that the trial process meets the expectations of transparency and
credibility.

102 The daily Amader Shomoy, 04/11/2014
51
CHAPTER IV: VIOLENCE BY POLITICAL PARTIES

VIOLENCE
RELATED TO THE
CARETAKER GOVERNMENT ISSUE
121.Politics in Bangladesh has never been beyond controversy. Since the birth
of the country in 1971, the people have continued to be trapped by
political violence under different regimes that have caused many deaths
and injuries and harm to public and private property. Many victims and
their families have become physically disabled and mentally traumatised
due to the political violence and in most cases victims and their families
have not obtained/been afforded justice.
122.During the peoples movement in the 1990s, when the Military dictator Lt.
General HM Ershad was toppled, there was hope amongst the people that
confrontational and violent politics would come to an end. Further, there
was hope that Bangladesh would move towards a healthy democratic
system where rule of law, human rights and good governance would
prevail and the country would be guided by the three basic principles of
the liberation war equality, human dignity and social justice. However,
after the 1990s the distrust between the two major political parties the
Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) - became so
heightened that a Caretaker Government system was introduced to the
Constitution in 1996 through pressure created by a joint movement, led
by the Awami League, the Jatiya Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, to conduct
elections under a neutral government.
123.However, the Caretaker system was abolished by the Awami League
government through the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, prior to the
holding of the controversial 10th Parliamentary Elections on 5 January
2014. On 30 June 2011, the then Awami League-led Grand Alliance
government104, in the presence of an absolute majority in Parliament,
passed the Fifteenth Amendment Bill to the Constitution of the Peoples
Republic of Bangladesh, without any referendum or public opinion and
ignoring protests from various sectors of society, including the main
opposition and other political parties. The Bill was adopted on 3 July 2011
after the then President, the late Zillur Rahman, gave his consent. This
amendment abolished the caretaker government system and
incorporated the provision that all future elections will be conducted
under the ruling party. Most of the political parties, including the then 18Party (now 20-Party) Alliance led by BNP and the Democratic Left Front,
104 On
December 29, 2008, the then Awami League led Grand Alliance won a two-third
majority in Parliament, under the 9th Parliamentary elections held under a military-backed caretaker
government, which was in power from January 11, 2007 for about two years, instead of the
Constitutional provision of ninety days.
52
boycotted the 10th Parliamentary Elections as they were not conducted

under a neutral government. The Opposition alliance also called for
resistance to these elections. As a result of this boycott, 153 candidates
from the ruling Awami League and its alliance were elected uncontested
out of the 300 constituencies, even before the elections were held. Across
the country, a total of 40,802,739 voters out of 91,948,861 voters could
not cast their vote, as the candidates for the 153 constituencies, to which
they belong, were declared elected unopposed. 105 The ruling party Awami
League reassumed power through these elections and its former political
ally, the Jatiya Party, has become the Opposition in Parliament; but have
also accepted ministries in the government. As a result, the same party is
both in opposition and in the Government. A vulnerable situation for
democracy has been established due to the absence of an effective
opposition in the Parliament.
124.Political violence started long before the 10th Parliamentary elections on 5
January 2014, as the Opposition alliance demanded that the elections not
be held without a neutral interim government system. The BNP led 18Party (now 20-Party) Alliance announced continuous blockades and
hartals soon after the declaration of the Election Schedule on 25
November 2013. Odhikar documentation shows that from 25 November
2013 to 10 January 2014, 21 persons died and 65 were injured in arson
and petrol bomb attacks. Many ordinary people were arbitrarily arrested
during the special operation conducted by Joint Forces across the
country, both before and after the polls. Incidents of violence in many
polling centres started the night before the elections. During this time,
several polling centres were set on fire. The Election Commission was
required to suspend polling at 392 centres in eight constituencies across
the country due to non-stop violence.106
125.The law-enforcers arrested and detained opposition leaders and activists
on a large scale prior to the political programmes announced by the
opposition alliance. The government also stopped the operation of public
transport systems to prevent opposition activists from travelling to join
programmes. The ruling party political activists, armed with lethal
weapons, joined the law enforcement agencies when they broke up or
attacked public demonstrations. Furthermore, acts of violence took place
between the activists of Awami League and BNP.
106 The Daily Ittefaq, 16/01/2014
53
Table: Statistics of Political Violence in 2014

Political Violence: 2014
Month(s)
Killed
Injured
Arrested
Total
January
53
1472
1533
February
10
1166
1176
March
22
1343
1366
April
17
593
283
893
May
17
412
437
June
13
246
102
361
July
599
612
August
497
503
September
14
652
46
712
October
12
918
432
1362
November
854
52
915
December
677
384
1070
Total
190
9429
1321
10940
126.According to information gathered by Odhikar, in 2014, 190 persons were

killed and 9,429 injured through political violence. 374 incidents of
internal violence within the Awami League and 39 within the BNP were
also recorded during this period. In addition to this, 43 persons were killed
and 4,247 were injured in internal conflicts within the Awami League,
while two persons were killed and 397 were injured due to BNPs internal
conflicts. Some incidents are given below:
54
Table: Party-wise statistics of political violence in 2014

Political Violence: 2014
Activists
/leaders
killed in
intraparty
clashes
AL
BNP
Others
AL
BNP
Others
Total
incidents
Killed
Injured
AL initiated
violence
BNP
Total
incidents of
intra-party
clash
AL
Month
Injuries: Intra
party clash
January
224
15
20
34
334
February
240
42
23
46
530
March
427
25
30
50
621
April
396
40
47
421
May
231
32
20
31
39
249
June
111
15
20
20
24
122
July
428
52
35
40
460
August
351
22
31
35
363
September
326
38
30
26
31
337
October
563
51
29
43
47
589
November
611
79
15
47
52
631
December
339
26
28
37
438
Total
43
4247
374
39
482
60
5095
397 119
127.On 4 January 2014, Jobaitul Huq (55), the Assistant Presiding Officer of
Molani Chheprikura Government Primary School polling centre, died in
Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital after being attacked by anti-election
protesters.107
128.On 5 January 2014 criminals led by Ashik Al Shams, son of the then State
Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Huq Tuku and his APS, Anisuzzaman,
stamped 475 ballot papers in the Ebtedaye Madrassa polling centre and
238 ballot papers in the Shahidnagar Government High School in the
Pabna-1 (Beda-Sathiya) constituency. The Presiding Officers of the two
polling centres, Atiqur Rahman and Shakhawat Hossain, filed written
55
complaints to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer in this regard.108

129.At around 6:00 am on Election Day, a group of criminals threw petrol
bombs and cocktails in Garozaripa Government Primary School polling
centre in the Sherpur-3 (Shreebardi-Jhenaigati) constituency. As a result,
many important documents, including ballot papers, were burnt. Polling in
this centre was suspended. Two polling officers, Kalpana and Hira Nasrin,
were injured by crude bombs at around 10:00 am in Bagrakosa Sherpur
High School polling centre.109
130.Activists of BNP and Jamaat attacked the Palpara and Sahapur polling
centres in the Tangail-2 (Gopalpur-Bhuapur) constituency at around 11:00
am on Election Day. The attackers fled when police fired blank shots. At
least five voters were wounded.110
131.A group of pro-opposition activists stole ballot boxes at around 2:00 pm
from the Chor Bhurungamari Government Primary School polling centre in
the Kurigram-1 constituency. The Assistant Presiding Officer, Swapon
Kumar, was injured during this attack.111
132.Eight activists of BNP and Jamaat were shot during a clash with police at
the Ramnagar Government Primary School polling centre at Manda
Upazila in the Naogaon-4 constituency. Among the injured persons, a Jubo
Dal activist named Babul Hossain (28) died.112
133.On 2 February 2014 at around 10:00 am, students of Rajshahi University
surrounded the University Administrative Building in protest of increased
tuition fees and for the removal of the evening Masters degree courses in
various departments. At around 11:30 am Chhatra League activists, led by
University Chhatra League unit President Mizanur Rahman and General
Secretary Touhid Al Hossain, brought out a procession. Chhatra League
activists threw crude bombs on the protesting students while passing the
administrative building. They chased the protesters and 8-10 cocktails 113
were detonated by the Chhatra League. The protesters retaliated by
throwing bricks, in response to which some Chhatra League activists took
out pistols and opened fire. The on-duty policemen allegedly fired rubber
bullets and threw tear gas shells at the students. At least 100 students
108 The online versions of the daily Prothom Alo and Manabzamin, 05/01/2014
111 Report sent by HRDs from Kurigram.
112 Report sent by human rights defender associated with Odhikar from Naogaon, 06/01/2014
113 Cocktails are crude home-made hand bombs.
56
were injured, including 12 with gunshot wounds, during this attack.114

134.On 2 May 2014, an altercation took place between Chhatra League
activists of F. Rahman Hall 115 of Dhaka University and a Sub-Inspector of
the New Market Police Station in a restaurant at Nilkhet, Dhaka. At one
stage police arrested a second year student of Political Science, Noushad;
a second year student of Economics, Bipul; second year students of
Bangla, Mukit and Rassel; and a first year student of English, Sohan, and
took them to the New Market Police Station. Due to this, Chhatra League
activists and students attacked the police station and liberated their
detained colleagues. Chhatra League activists also vandalised the
signboard of the New Market Police Station, the car of the Officer-inCharge and his name plate. Three students and Constable Shamim, SubInspectors Hanif and Iftekhar and Ansar member Sabuj were injured
during the attack.116
135.On 20 May 2014 criminals set fire to a car containing Awami League
leader Ekramul Huq and shot him to death in broad daylight on Academy
Road in Feni. Also in the car were Phulgazi Union Parishad Chairman,
Mohiuddin; the Editor of a local weekly newspaper Feni Samachar,
Mohibullah Farhad; and driver Abdulla Al Mamun, all of whom were
injured. On 21 May 2014 the elder brother of the deceased, Rezaul Huq,
filed a case with the Feni Police Station accusing BNP leader and BNP
backed Upazila Chairman candidate, Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury, for his
death, along with 35 unnamed men.117A murder case was filed against
BNP supporters and BNP activists were arrested. In the meanwhile, it has
been reported in the media that Awami League MP Nizam Uddin Hazari
was involved in this incident.118 On 24 May 2014, RAB arrested eight
youths from Bashundhara Residential Area in Dhaka who were allegedly
involved in the murder of Ekramul Huq. They were brought before
journalists at the media centre of Rapid Action Battalion. In their
statements, the arrestees said that Ekramul Huq was killed due to a
conflict with Awami League leader Zihad Chowdhury when he sought to
establish control over that area. However, some top level leaders of the
Awami League were also reportedly involved in the killing.119
136.On 16 August 2014 activists of the Government Kobi Nazrul Islam College
115 One of the Residential Halls for male students of Dhaka University
117 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Feni
119 The Jugantor, 25/05/2014
57
unit Chhatra League allegedly vandalised at least 12 buses after failing to

receive extortion money for organising programmes for National Mourning
Day120on 15 August 2014. The windows of four buses of the Victor
Paribahan Company were vandalised on the road running along the north
side of Bahadur Shah Park in Dhaka City. At the same place, six buses of
Ajmeri Paribahan and two more buses of Victor Paribahan were vandalised
on 17 August 2014. Chhatra League activists also blocked the road after
vandalizing vehicles at night on 16 August 2014, resulting in significant
traffic congestion. The activists vandalised 12 buses and some transport
workers as the money which was demanded was not paid. The police
were informed but no action was taken.121
137.On 24 December 2014 sudden attacks by ruling party men in the
presence of police left 50 people, mostly BNP supporters, injured. They
were waiting at Bakshi Bazar, Dhaka to greet Khaleda Zia, who was due to
appear at hearings in two graft cases at the Special Judges Court-3. The
ruling party men severely physically assaulted BNP activists with sticks
and kicked them. Video footage was taken of the violence by various
television channels. The clash spread to several areas. Five vehicles,
including a microbus belonging to the ruling AL lawmaker from Netrakona1, Chhabi Biswash, was set on fire, and a sports utility vehicle of the
Malaysian High Commission and a microbus of National Television were
damaged. Chhabi Biswash was admitted to Dhaka Medical College
Hospital with injuries to his head.122 Two cases have been filed against 150
leaders and activists of the BNP, Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal and Jatiyatabadi
Chhatra Dal in this connection.123 However, no case was filed and no
action taken against the ruling party activists.
138.The present government suffers from the problem of legitimacy. The
continuous violence and disruption of normal life has made people
pessimistic about politics and democracy. 124 Such pessimism does not
strengthen democracy; rather, it provides a scope for the third party
intervention. Democracy is of the people, by the people and for the
people, but this idea is served well only when it is participatory and
includes all shades of political colours. The following are instances of
120 On 15 August 1975, a section of the military assassinated the then President of Bangladesh,
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members except the present Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana.

122 The Newage, 25/12/2014
123 The Newage, 25/12/2014; http://newagebd.net/79834/150-bnp-men-sued-in-2-cases-overbakshibazar-violence
124 http://thediplomat.com/2013/08/political-uncertainty-looms-in-bangladesh/
58
political violence in 2014 that indicate the nature and degree of the
criminalisation and violent politics:
THE UPAZILLA PARISHAD ELECTIONS 2014

139.The Awami League announced the Upazila Election schedules immediately
after reassuming power through the 10 th Parliamentary Elections on 5
January 2014. During the Upazila elections, incidents of snatching ballot
papers and ballot boxes; rigging; inserting fake votes and capturing
polling stations recommenced. Many people were killed and injured due to
election-related violence. The Upazila Elections were held in six phases
between February and May 2014. Even though in the local government
elections where there is no provision for direct participation of political
parties, the major political parties take keen interest in the candidates.
BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami participated in the Upazila Parisahd Elections,
though they boycotted the 10th Parliamentary Elections. The first phase
of elections were held on 19 February 2014; the second phase on 27
February 2014; the third phase on 15 March 2014; the fourth phase on 23
March 2014; the fifth phase on 31 March 2014; and the sixth phase of
Upazila Elections were held on 19 May 2014.125
The first phase of elections

140.Elections were held in 97 Upazilas on 19 February 2014 during the first
phase. Clashes and altercations took place in many electoral areas and
incidents of vandalising and removing ballot papers and capturing
polling centres also occurred. The Election Commission postponed voting
in 10 polling centres.126 Incidents of casting fake votes; crude bomb 127
explosions; theft of ballot boxes; vandalisation and destruction of electoral
materials; entering polling centres and beating election officials took
place in 15 polling stations out of 49 in Sonatola Upazila in the Bogra
District.
The second phase of elections

141.On 27 February 2014 the second phase of elections in 114 Upazila
Parishads was held, with allegations of massive rigging. Clashes took
place in many Upazilas during the elections. About 200 people were
injured and two persons were killed at Sonaimuri in Noakhali during the
violence.128 Incidents of attacks and firing at supporters of the BNP
supported candidates; stuffing ballot boxes; capturing polling stations;
125 Election Commission Bangladesh, http://www.ecs.gov.bd/English/index.php
126 The daily Bangladesh Protidin, 22/02/2014
127 Cocktails are small, homemade explosive devises or bombs.
59
and casting fake votes also occurred during the polls. At least 20 persons
were injured.
142.Noakhali district was worst hit by electoral violence during the second
phase of elections. On Election Day, the supporters of Awami Leaguebacked Chairman candidate AFM Babul tried to capture the Nandiapara
Degree College polling centre by firing gunshots and detonating crude
bombs at around 1:30 pm. A clash broke out as the supporters of the BNP
backed Chairman candidate, Anwarul Haque, resisted the ruling party
men. At one stage, law enforcers opened fire to bring the situation under
control. Saddam Hossain (22), a resident of Nandiapara and a supporter of
Islami Chhatra Shibir,129 died on the spot. Voting was cancelled at all 117
polling stations in Noakhali Sadar Upazila as the situation went out of
control.130
143.During the violence, supporters of Awami League-supported candidate
Anisuzzaman Anis captured almost all 106 polling stations after 10:00
am during the polls. The ruling party activists and supporters illegally
stamped on ballot papers after forcibly driving out the agents of BNP
supported candidates. In addition to this, Awami League activists started
firing at supporters of the BNP candidate in front of Malirpathor
Government Primary School polling centre. During this attack, Panchsar
Union unit BNPs General Secretary Ayat Ali Dewan and his son Mamun
Dewan were stabbed.131
The third phase of elections

144.Three persons were killed in election related violence during the third
phase of the Upazila Elections held on 15 March 2014. On election day,
activists and supporters of Awami League captured polling centres;
ousted the opponents polling agents and intimidated and obstructed
voters at the polling stations in Bagerhat Sadar, Morelganj, Sharonkhola,
Rampal and Mongla Upazilas. Awami League activists placed check posts
at various polling stations and obstructed opponent candidates and voters
from entering the polling stations. Activists of the Awami League, led by
local UP member and Awami League leaders Zahidur Rahman, Sabur
Hossain and Motahar Rahman, obstructed female voters, including veiled
women, who were presumed to be the supporters of BNP and Jamaat at
the Karapara Union Parishad polling centre in Bagerhat Sadar Upazila.
128 The daily Manabzamin and Jugantor, 28/02/2014
129 The student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami
131 Report send by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Munshiganj, 28/02/2014
60
Upon receiving this information, 10 - 12 Islami Chhatra Shibir 132 leaders

and activists, including Shibir leader and student of Bagerhat Government
PC College, Mohammad Manzarul Islam, rushed to the site and helped
voters to enter the polling station. Awami League activists attacked Shibir
activists with sharp weapons and sticks. During this time Mohammad
Manzarul (24) was caught by Awami League activists and taken to the
Megnitola area where he was stabbed to death in broad daylight.133
The fourth phase of elections

145.Five persons were killed in election related violence during the fourth
phase of elections held on 23 March 2014. On election day, incidents of
capturing polling centres, confiscating ballot papers, rigging, violence and
shooting occurred in Gazaria Upazila under Munshiganj District. At around
11:00 am, clashes took place between supporters of Awami League MP
Mrinal Kanti Das-backed Chairman candidate Refaetullah Khan Tota and
supporters of Munshiganj District Awami League President Mohammad
Mohiuddin-backed candidate Amirul Islam in the Bororaipara Government
Primary School polling centre. During the clash, Baluakandi Union
Parishad Chairman, Shamsuddin Prodhan, was stabbed by supporters of
Tota. He died on the way to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. At around
12:00 pm, a group of criminals attacked journalists and vandalized their
vehicles on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway in the Chor Bausia
Dakshinkandi area. Four journalists were injured. 134 At least 50 persons,
including Lucky Akhter, wife of BNP rebel candidate Abdul Mannan Dewan
Mona, were injured during a clash between inhabitants of Dori Bausia
village in Gazaria. On 28 March 2014, Lucky Akhter died in Dhaka Medical
College Hospital while under treatment.135
The fifth phase of elections

146.The fifth phase of the Upazila Elections were held on 31 March 2014. One
person was killed in electoral violence. The BNP led Alliance-backed
candidates, Awami League rebel candidates, Jatiya Party supported
candidates, and independent candidates in 23 Upazilas, boycotted
elections due to massive irregularities. 136 From the morning of election
day, leaders and activists of the ruling party cast fake votes by openly
stamping the ballot papers in favour of the Awami League backed
132 Student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami
133 Report send by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Khulna and the daily
Bangladesh Protidin, 16/03/2014
134 Report send by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Munshiganj
136 The Daily Ittefaq and New Age, 01/04/2014
61
Chairman candidate, Obaidur Rahman, in different polling centers in

Madarganj Upazila in the Jamalpur District. This is also the electorate of
Mirza Azam who is a State Minister for Textiles and Jute. Voters were
allegedly forced to leave the polling booth without casting their votes. A
person carrying a badge of the Awami League supported Chairman
candidate Obaidur Rahman, entered the female polling centre of
Nurunnahar Mirza Kashem Degree College and started casting fake votes
openly by stamping the ballot papers. At that time, a few female voters
were waiting outside the polling centre. BNP supported candidate Foyezul
Islam boycotted the election at around 11:00 am on that day in protest of
the capturing of polling centres by the ruling party activists.137
The sixth phase of elections

147.On 19 May 2014, the sixth phase of elections was held in 12 Upazilas with
reports of massive violence and rigging. There were several allegations of
capturing polling centres; confiscating ballot papers and ballot boxes;
casting fake votes; forcibly ousting the polling agents of the opponents;
and barring journalists from entering the polling stations; perpetrated by
ruling party supported candidates.138 Allegations of stamping ballot papers
were found against the Assistant Presiding Officer, Ali Azam, of the
Chandpur Government Primary School polling centre in Panchthubi Union
in Sadar Upazila in Comilla.139 Activists of Awami League supported
candidate Abdul Matin Chowdhury allegedly ousted polling agents of the
opponent candidates and cast fake votes in Kamarkhand Upazila in the
Sirajganj District.140 Allegations of capturing polling centres and casting
fake votes were found against Awami League supported candidates in 29
polling stations in Taltoli Upazila in Barguna, despite the presence of law
enforcement agencies.141
By-election in Narayanganj-5 constituency

148.On 26 June 2014 a by-election in the Narayanganj-5 constituency was
held amid allegations and reports of rigging and irregularities. Allegations
of intimidation and obstruction of voters at the polling stations; ousting of
the polling agents of independent candidate, S A Akram; and intimidation
and obstruction of the members of law enforcement agencies who were
137 The daily Prothom alo (Online) 31/03/2014
140 Ibid
141 Ibid
62
on duty on election day, were reported. Voters presence was found to be

poor. Most of the polling stations were under the control of supporters of
the ruling party Awami League MP, Shamim Osman, brother of Jatiya Party
candidate, Selim Osman. The Returning Officer had declared the results of
104 polling centres out of 141. The result of the Malibagh Government
Primary School polling centre at Bondor was withheld due to rigging and
irregularities. Jatiya Party candidate, Selim Osmans brother and Awami
League lawmaker Shamim Osman, threatened and verbally abused
Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mohammad Basiruddin, via cell phone
as he did not allow Osmans men to capture the Madanpur Kewdhala
Government Primary School polling station. Independent candidate S A
Akram alleged that the supporters of the Jatiya Party were stamping ballot
papers after capturing various polling centres. The Election Commission
and the administration did not take any action after the specific
allegations were made. The Returning Officer told the journalists that
voters presence was poor. Initially the voter turnout was reported at 30 35 percent but the figure rose to 45 percent after the declaration of
election results. It should be mentioned that this constituency was vacant
after the death of Jatiya Party Member of Parliament, Nasim Osman,
another brother of Shamim Osman and Selim Osman.
149.Odhikar believes that it is very important to form a strong and effective
Election Commission in Bangladesh, which would hold free and fair
elections under a neutral interim government. Odhikar also believes that
the removal of the provision of elections under an interim government,
through the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution, has caused a
serious political crisis. Reconstituting a democratic state, having historical
achievements of principles of democracy and respecting internationally
accepted norms of human rights as its foundation is the order of the day.
The scale of violence and illegal activities reported during the 10th
Parliamentary Elections and the Upazila Elections establishes the fact that
Bangladesh still needs a neutral interim government to hold free, fair,
inclusive and credible polls. The people of the country are still not able to
freely practice their voting rights within a system of neutral government.
63
CHAPTER V: ALLEGATIONS OF ENFORCED

DISAPPEARANCE
150.Enforced disappearance is recognised as a crime against humanity. The
term Enforced Disappearance is defined in Article 2 of the International
Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
as the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of
liberty by agents of the State or by persons or groups of persons acting
with the authorisation, support or acquiescence of the State, followed by a
refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by concealment of the
fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person, which place such a person
outside the protection of the law.
151.According to information gathered by Odhikar, from January to December
2014, 39 persons have disappeared after allegedly being picked up by
men claiming to be members of law enforcement agencies. Among them,
10 people were found dead after disappearing, four were returned, 17
were later found arrested in cases after a long term of disappearance and
the whereabouts of eight are still unknown.
Table: Enforced Disappearance (January-December 2014)
RAB-DB
Police
DB
Police
64
Police
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
RAB
Month
Enforced Disappearances in 2014

Allegedly disappeared by
No. of
Unidentified
disappeared
law
persons
enforcement
agency
1
1
0
0
0
0
7
2
0
4
1
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
18
16
0
1
0
1
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
2
1
0
4
2
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
39
25
152.Many incidents of enforced disappearance took place across the country

before and after the controversial elections on 5 January 2014. These
incidents still continue. The families of the victims claim that the
members of law enforcement agencies or men stating that they were
from the law enforcement agencies were making arrests and since then
the victims have disappeared or their bodies were later found. 142 Many
members of the law enforcement agencies have reportedly been involved
in criminal activities, as the government has politically misused these
agencies for a long time. This is a dangerous indicator of the deteriorating
law and order situation in Bangladesh. Incidents of enforced
disappearance have been systematically denied by the responsible
persons of the government and, as a result, they continue.
153.Currently, the main reason for enforced or involuntary disappearances are
to silence the voices of dissenters, government critics, and members of
the opposition political parties in order to clear the platform for the ruling
party and sometimes over previous enmities. Political identities of the
disappeared persons show that they became victims of enforced
disappearance due to their involvement in the opposition political parties.
Thus, the acts of enforced disappearance have become an
institutionalised practice of repression resorted to by the government.
However, often the incidents of enforced or involuntary disappearances
conclude with extrajudicial killings. Those incidents that are publicised are
justified by state actors on the basis that the victims were engaged in
anti-state activities. There have also been instances where law enforcers
have received money from influential people to make a person disappear.
Those influential people exploit the law enforcement agencies to take
revenge on rivals in politics or in business.
154.Case studies also show an abnormal trend where suspected or accused
persons were either arrested without a warrant or picked up by the
members of law enforcement agencies and subsequently disappeared.
Due to the persistent and bold reporting in the media, several victims of
disappearance have been produced in the Court as arrested under
pending cases after a long time or are entangled in a gunfight where it is
often claimed that the person who disappeared died in crossfire between
members of law enforcement agencies and the accomplices of the
accused. According to the law, arrested people must be brought before a
magistrate within 24 hours of their arrest. But in many cases the law
142
Odhikar only documents allegation of enforced disappearance where the family members or
witnesses claim that the victim was taken away by people in law enforcement uniform or by those who
said they were from law enforcement agencies.
65
enforcers do not follow this legal provision and keep the arrestees under
their custody while their families have no idea where they are.
155.Family members of the disappeared and witnesses claimed that they had
little doubt that those who took away the victims belonged to the state
agencies. Those picked up were taken to destinations unknown to the
families. When relatives approached the local police stations and RAB
offices, the agencies denied their involvement. The victims names did not
appear in the list of detainees. However, many cases remain unreported
due to fear of threats. On the other hand, in those incidents where the
victims of enforced disappearance were found dead, family members face
harassment and receive threats not to complain, by the law enforcers.
Cases of enforced and involuntary disappearances also could not be filed
as there is no penal provision to define enforced disappearance under
the laws of Bangladesh.
156.Most of the time, the cases are filed as abduction against unknown
miscreants at the police stations. In reality, no law enforcement officer
will file any case against their colleagues. However, to seek legal
proceedings, members of the victims' families could file a habeas corpus
application under writ jurisdiction in the High Court Division under the
article 102 (2) (b) (i) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, which
reads:......."(2) The High Court Division may, if satisfied that no other
equally efficacious remedy is provided by law (b) on the application of
any person, make an order (i) directing that a person in custody be
brought before it so that it may satisfy itself that he is not being held in
custody without lawful authority or in an unlawful manner[...]." However,
in most cases, the family members of the disappeared victims cannot file
the Writ Petition in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court due to
poor financial conditions, threats from the perpetrators aimed at the
surviving members of the families or constant fear of not getting back the
victim if they proceed further. The level of psychological trauma faced by
family members goes without saying. Many have told Odhikar that if the
victims actually committed a crime, then why is he not being produced
before the Court? Why is he being hidden?
157.The Government of Bangladesh is yet to sign the International Convention
for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Odhikar
has been campaigning for Bangladesh's accession to this Convention and
also campaigning for anti-disappearance legislature in Bangladesh.
Some incidents:
158.On 29 January 2014 Nuruzzaman Nura was picked up by a group of people
from the Prem Road area in Shashongaon, Fatullah, in Narayanganj. Local
people identified one person from the group as Alam, a RAB informant.
66
Later they asked the group about their identity. The group of people
identified themselves as members of RAB-11 and left with Nuruzzaman
Nura. Later, the family contacted RAB and the Detective Branch office but
there was no news of Nura. They filed a General Diary on 4 February
2014. On 5 February and 7 February 2014 they went to file a case but
police did not accept the case. Finally, on 3 February 2014 the family filed
a case in the District Court accusing Alam. Odhikar gathered this
information from Saidur Rahman Shakil, a nephew of Nura, on 28 February
2014.143
159.On 9 April 2014 Rahmatullah Sentu, a transport businessman, was picked
up by Rab-10 men from Roy Shaheb Bazar intersection in Old Dhaka. At a
press conference at the National Press Club, Sentu's wife Afreen Lovely on
8 May 2014 said this occurred at around 11:00 am on 9 April 2014 when
she and her husband were returning from the office of a lawyer's
assistant. When they were nearing Jalal Store on Goalnagar Lane, 10 to 12
plain clothed men approached them and started dragging Sentu towards
English Road. "My husband and I started screaming for help and several
shop owners and other locals came forward and tried to save him," she
said. Locals even had a scuffle with the abductors, but they overpowered
them and forced Sentu into an off-white microbus parked before a shop
called Subu Hardware Store on Johnson Road. Lovely then sought help
from the policemen who were on duty in the area. When some police tried
to stop the microbus, three or four men in Rab uniform, and equipped with
arms, came from nearby. "The RAB men started beating the locals. In
panic, I stepped aside. The RAB men then made way for the microbus to
drive away," she said. Soon afterwards, a vehicle marked with RAB-10
arrived at the site and the uniformed RAB men left the area in that
vehicle.144
160.On 29 April 2014 seven people, including Panel Mayor of Narayanganj City
Corporation, Nazrul Islam, and Advocate Chandon Kumar Sarkar were
killed and their bodies thrown into the River Shitalakkha after
disappearing on 27 April 2014, allegedly due to RAB-11 Head, Lt. Col.
Tareque Sayeed; Major Arif Hossain; and Lt. Commander M M Rana. This
allegation was made by Nazruls father-in-law Shahidul Islam. Shahidul
Islam also alleged that these killings were conducted by RAB for six crore
taka, with the help of Sajedul Islam Chowdhury (alias Dipu Chowdhury),
son of Disaster and Rehabilitation Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury
Maya, and arranged by Siddhirganj Thana Awami League Vice-President
143 The daily Kaler Kantha, 10.02.2014 and Odhikar gathered information from members of victim
family
144 http://www.thedailystar.net/another-abduction-claim-against-rab-23344 , The Daily Star,

09.04.2014, accessed at about 2.28 p.m. on 12/01/2015
67
Noor Hossain, over internal conflicts in the ruling Awami League and in
order to establish supremacy in Narayanganj. 145 It is to be mentioned that
the head of RAB-11, Lt. Col. Tareque Sayeed, is also the son-in-law of
Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya. On 11 May 2014, a Bench of the High
Court Division comprising of Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice
Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed an order to arrest the three former RAB
officers. After the order from the High Court Division, Narayanganj District
Police arrested Lt. Col. Tareque Sayeed and Major Arif Hossain on 17 May
2014; and Lt. Commander M M Rana on 18 May 2014 from the Dhaka
Cantonment area. They were shown as arrested under section 54 146 of the
Code of Criminal Procedure and were produced before the Narayanganj
District Court. In the meantime all three 147 of them have made statements
before the Magistrate under 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
incriminating themselves. They have been transferred to Dhaka Central
Jail.148 On 14 June 2014 at night, one of the prime accused persons of the
seven murders, Narayanganj City Corporations Councillor Nur Hossain,
along with his associates Wahiduzzaman Selim and Khan Sumon, were
arrested by Indian police from Indroprostha Apartments located at
Koikhali, Baguihati in Kolkata. Currently they are detained in Dumdum Jail
in India.149 In the meantime, on 30 June 2014 Senior Judicial Magistrate of
Narayanganj, H M Shafiqul Islam, exempted Lt. Col. Tareque Sayeed, Major
Arif Hossain and Lt. Commander M M Rana from the case under section 54
of the Cr.PC; and fixed the next date of hearing for two cases filed in
relation to the seven murders on 20 August 2014.150
161.On 8 May 2014 Shahnaz Parvin, the wife of Laksam Municipality unit BNP
President, Humayun Kabir Parvez, in a press conference organised in
Laksam, Comilla, claimed that former Member of Parliament Saiful Islam
Hiru and Laksam BNP President, Humayun Kabir Parvez disappeared at
the hands of the former head of RAB-11, Lt. Col. Tareque Sayeed. Their
whereabouts have been unknown since 27 November 2013.151
146 Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 stated about the grounds, when police may
arrest someone without warrant.
147 Major Arif Hossain, Lt. Commander M M Rana and Lt. Col. Tareque Sayeed have made their
statements before the Magistrate on June 4, 5 and 14 respectively.

150 The Court ordered their arrest under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. However,
once they made statement before the Magistrate, incriminating themselves, they will be tried for the
crime of murder.
68
162.Zahidul Islam Sohel (30 years old), son of Yunus Ali of Moghbazar, Dhaka,
was picked up by and allegedly disappeared at the hands of men claiming
to be members of the law enforcement agency. Sohels wife Taslima
Akhter Sathi made this allegation. Sathi informed Odhikar that on 27
August 2014 she and her husband went to the house of her elder sister
Mahfuza Akhter Brishti in Badda, Dhaka. They stayed there until 29
August 2014. At around 11:00 am on 29 August 2014, her sister Brishtis
door-bell rang. Brishti opened the door and three men with cropped hair
entered the house, saying that they were from the law enforcement
agency and were looking for Sohel. Sohel came forward and identified
himself. One of the men held him by the collar and the other put
handcuffs on him and asked him to go with them. The men slapped him
when Sohel asked them why he was being taken. Brishti asked them for
identification and why they were hitting Sohel as he was ill. One of them
took out a pistol and said we are from the administration. We will shoot
you if you do not keep quiet. Sathi also said that Sohel had cancer. Sohel
returned to Bangladesh from Saudi Arabia in late 2013 after being
diagnosed with cancer. He was under treatment in Green View Clinic at
Dhanmondi, Dhaka. She said that he was not involved with any political
party and there was no case or General Diary (GD) filed against him.
Brishti further informed Odhikar that the men who claimed to be members
of the law enforcement agency had a mobile phone tracking machine with
them. While entering the house, they told the security guard that they
had come to check the mobile network. Brishti followed the men and
Sohel to the road. She saw six or seven more men waiting there. They left
with Sohel in two black microbuses NOAH, Dhaka-Metro Cha 53-6402
and VOXY, Dhaka-Metro Cha 53-2532. After that, the family searched for
Sohel at different places, including Badda Police Station, Ramna Police
Station, Detective Branch (DB) Office and RAB office, but did not find him.
Police, RAB and DB denied arresting Sohel. Brishti informed Odhikar that
she came to know from a news report on television, broadcast on the
morning of 28 September 2014 that five or six accused persons in a
murder case that took place in Moghbazar, Dhaka, were to be produced in
front of journalists by DB police. Hearing this news, she assumed that her
sisters husband Sohel might be produced along with those accused
persons. At around 5:30 pm, she and her sister Sathi went to the DB office
at Mintu Road in Dhaka. There they saw Sohel. Sohel informed them that
he was detained in the RAB-1 office for a month after being arrested. Soon
after his arrest, he was kept blindfolded in a room and his hands and legs
were tied for three days. He was untied only at meal times. After three
days he was detained in a room that looked like a lock-up. Brishti also said
that the spokesman of the DB Police, Monirul Islam, informed her that RAB
handed Sohel over to them after arrest. Monirul Islam also said that Sohel
might have been arrested due to mistaken identity. On 29 September
69
2014 DB Police produced Sohel in Court showing him arrested under

section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 152. The Court ordered that he
be sent to jail.153
163.Odhikar believes that a democratic state needs to be constituted based
on equality, human dignity and social justice; and there is no alternative
way other than peoples mobilisation and fight against injustice. Thus
human rights defenders must be vocal against human rights abuses,
including enforced disappearances. They must also stand beside the
families of the disappeared and build resistance against the crime of
enforced disappearance.
CHAPTER VI: EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS

164.Arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life continued in 2014. The right to
life154and personal liberty were under threat in Bangladesh, despite the
fact that they are guaranteed by the Constitution of the country.
Extrajudicial killings defy the rule of law and fundamental justice where
the state does not allow the victim to move the court effectively for
recourse. As a result, laws and the criminal justice delivery system are
under threat due to the prevalence of extrajudicial killings. Families of the
victims alleged that their relatives were being shot and killed by the
members of the law enforcement agencies. It is often seen that members
of a law enforcement agency arrest the alleged perpetrator from home
and later, according to the arresting officers, his followers attempt to
rescue this perpetrator and the law enforcement enters into a gunfight
with them and the perpetrator was the only one killed. Despite the
demand for bringing the perpetrators to justice, the government is
denying that incidents of extrajudicial killings occur. As a result, a culture
of impunity in law enforcement agencies prevails. Furthermore, the
Ministers of the government have made statements in support of
152 Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure lays down nine circumstances when police can
arrest anyone without warrant.

154 Right to life is embedded as a fundamental human right under article 32 of the Constitution of
the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Article 32 says: no person shall be deprived of life or personal
liberty, save in accordance with law. The right to life is a fundamental human right, internationally
recognised in article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 and in article 6 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 3 of the UDHR entails that everyone has the
right to life, liberty and security of person and according to article 6 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights adopted in 1966 and ratified by Bangladesh in 2000, every human being has
the inherent right to life. The Covenant also says: this right shall be protected by law. No one shall be
arbitrarily deprived of his life.
70
extrajudicial killings at various times. On 8 March 2014 Shipping Minister,

Shahjahan Khan, stated at a BBC-Bangladesh dialogue held at the BIAM
Auditorium in Dhaka that those who are involved in criminal activities,
set fire to vehicles in the name of protest, cut peoples tendons off, if they
are killed in crossfire that should not be called extrajudicial killing.
However, it was not proven by the court that the persons who were killed
in crossfire were in reality engaged in alleged crimes; rather, many of
the victims were affiliated with opposition political parties. Regrettably, all
these activities continued despite the pledge made by the Awami League
in its 2008 election manifesto to stop such killings. 155 In 2014, a total of
172156 people were killed by different law enforcement agencies.
165.The Government uses law enforcement agencies to hold on to power.
Hence there was a lack of political will to do away with impunity. Thus, the
image of law enforcement agencies has been tarnished before the
international community.
166.Odhikar believes that extrajudicial killings are miscarriages of the
countrys legal and criminal justice system. The culture of blatant
impunity in the law enforcement agencies only adds to this.
Table: Extrajudicial Killings (January-December 2014)
Month
RAB
Police
BGB
Joint
Forces
Ansar
Army
Coast
Guard
BGB-RAB
Information on extrajudicial killings by law enforcement agencies

from January - December 2014
Total
January
22
11
39
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
2
6
5
2
0
1
2
0
14
6
8
7
9
13
4
7
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
17
14
18
9
10
15
7
7
155 The daily New Age, 12.11.2014, http://newagebd.net/65782/extrajudicial-killing-continuesapace/#sthash.a3r99cyd.dpbs , accessed at around 4.25 pm, 10.02.2015
156 Among 172 people were extra judicially killed, 21 were killed in political violence which is also
included in the statistical part of the political violence.
71
October
18
20
November
December
10
Total
29
119
11
172
TYPES
OF DEATHS
Crossfire/encounter/gun fight:
167.Among the 172 persons extra judicially killed in 2014, 119 were killed
allegedly in crossfire/ encounters/gun fights. Among the deceased, 23
were allegedly killed by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), 83 by the police,
eight by Joint Forces, two jointly by RAB-BGB and three by the coast
guard.
Death due to torture:

168.Between January and December 2014, 11 persons were allegedly tortured
to death. Among the deceased nine were tortured allegedly by the police,
one by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and one by army.157
Shot and killed:

169.Among the deceased, 38 persons were shot and killed in 2014. Of them,
25 were killed by police, six were killed by RAB, two by BGB, three by joint
force, one by Ansar and one by the army.
Beaten to death:
170.Among the deceased, four persons were beaten to death during this
period. Among them, three were beaten to death by BGB and one by
police, which in a literal sense is not death in police custody, but a
manifestation of police brutality.
Identities of the deceased:

171.Of the 172 deceased persons killed extra judicially, reports alleged that 14
were activists of BNP and of the volunteer, student and youth wings of
BNP; one was an activist of the Jatiya Gonotantrik Party; 21 were activists
of Jamaat-e-Islami and members of the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami;
three were members of the ultra-left Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party;
seven were members of the ultra-left Purba Banglar Communist Party
(ML); one was a member of the ultra-left Purba Banglar Communist Party
(Janajuddha); three were members of the New Biplobi Communist Party;
157 The issue of torture will be dealt with in more detail later in this report.
72
one was a leader of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (MN
Larma); four were activists of the Awami League; one was a ruling Awami
League-backed chairman candidate in the Upazila polls; one was a
supporter of Chairman candidate Hamidul Haq; one persons profession
could not be identified; two were businessmen; one was a garment
factory worker; one was a welder; one was a day-labourer; one was a
mason; one was a student; one was a driver; one was a convicted
member of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB); one was the wife of
Abdul Mannan, a rebel chairman candidate of BNP in Gazaria Upazila,
Munshiganj; one was an agent of AL backed Vice Chairman Candidate;
one was a journalist; one was a tea vendor; one was a petty entrepreneur;
one was a waste trader; one was a ward member; one was a fisherman;
one was an unidentified youth; one was a contractor; one was an
assistant contractor; and 94 were alleged criminals.
Some incidents of extrajudicial killings:

172.On 20 January 2014 police recovered the body of Chhatra Dal leader
Atiqur Rahman (26 years old) from Nariadanga bypass road in Syedpur
Upazila in Nilphamari district. He was one of the accused in a case
concerning an attack on the motorcade158 of the then Member of
Parliament (currently Minister for Cultural Affairs) Asaduzzaman Noor on
14 December 2013, at Ramganj Bazaar in Nilphamari. Atiqurs elder
brother, Aminul Islam, said that Atiqur had been in hiding since the
incident. He came to know that Atiqur and Mohidul (26 years old) were
arrested by the Detective Branch of Police on the night of 13 January 2014
from a house adjacent to Shafia Girls School in Deldwar Upazila in Tangail.
After his arrest, his family went to police stations and other places looking
for him.159 Two days before that incident, on 18 January 2014, the body of
Golam Rabbani, another accused person involved in the alleged attack on
Asaduzzaman Noors motorcade and Laxmichap Union unit BNP
Organising Secretary, was recovered by Nilphamari police. The family of
Golam Rabbani alleged that RAB had arrested Rabbani from a relatives
home and later his body was found.160
173.On 27 January 2014, Vice-President of Tala Upazila unit Chhatra Dal 161,
Azharul Islam (28 years old) was shot dead by Joint Forces in Satkhira. On
158 On December 14, 2013, motorcade of the then Member of Parliament Asaduzzaman Noor was
stuck near Ramganj bridge in Nilphamari when Jamaat-Shibir activists cut off the roads. A clash
between police, Awami League and Jamaat-Shibir took place during that time. Four Awami League
activists and one Jamaat activist were killed during the clash.

161 Chhatra Dal is the student wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
73
26 January 2014, Azharul Islam was arrested by members of the Joint

Forces from a shrimp factory at Ghona. His wife Kamini Parvin Chompa
said that she waited with her mother-in-law and son at Tala Police Station
until 12:00 am after her husband was arrested. At around midnight, they
were forced to leave the police station gate. A few moments later 7 - 8
police vehicles arrived in front of the Station and took her husband away.
The next morning she learnt that her husband was shot dead sometime
between midnight and in the early hours of 27 January 2014 at the
Magura Kheyaghat area.162
174.On 3 March 2014 at around 11:00 am, contractor Mohammad Washim and
his assistant Songram Chowdhury were killed in crossfire by RAB at
Mohammad Washim's own residence at 131 New Jurain under Kadamtoli
Police Station in Dhaka. Families of the deceased men claimed that they
were shot and killed in their presence by RAB. Sonia Begum, wife of
Washim, and Salma Chowdhury, wife of Songram, alleged that some of
their workers were also beaten after being arrested by RAB and were
forced to make false statements that Washim and Songram had abducted
them. They claimed that RAB killed the two men in exchange for money
over a dispute with Babul, son of Alam of Alambagh, regarding the
collection of tolls from Postogola Bridge. Sonia Begum informed Odhikar
that Mohammad Washim used to control Alambagh CNG stand apart from
collecting tolls from Postogola Bridge. According to her, Washim woke up
at around 11:00 am on 3 March 2014 and went to the bathroom. His
business assistant Songram was waiting for Washim with some men at the
office on the fifth floor of the seven-storied building. During this time they
heard the sound of firing. A group of plain clothed armed men were
approaching their apartment on the 6 th floor and opened fire as they
climbed up. At that time, Sonia closed the main door of the house. RAB
members kicked the door and, fearing the door would break, Sonia
opened it. Four to five armed men entered the house, vandalised the
furniture and dragged Washim out of the house by breaking down the
door of the bathroom. After taking Washim out of the house, he was shot
on the stairs. Sonia begged a RAB officer for mercy for her husbands life,
who became angry and slapped her and pushed her into the house. Men
from RAB showed her some weapons and said these were recovered
from your house. At one stage, RAB members locked the apartment door
from outside. After some time, two female RAB members in uniform came
to their house and kept her and her mother locked in a room. At around
3:00 pm, neighbours freed them by opening the locked door. She
assumed that Washim had died on spot when he was shot. Sonia Begum
said that in June 2013, a team of RAB also threatened to abduct and kill
Washim in crossfire. RAB then told Washim that Babul had paid them 30
74
million taka to kill him in crossfire. He managed to pay RAB 60 million

taka for his freedom. The wife of deceased Songram Chowdury, Salma
Chowdhury, informed Odhikar that on 3 March 2014 at around 9:00 am,
Songram went to Washims house. At around 11:00 am she heard people
shouting and the sound of firing. She and her daughter Shanta came to
their veranda. From there they saw Songram climb down a pipe outside
Washims apartment building. Plain clothed RAB members then shot him
down. Later she heard more gun shots and a team of RAB, in uniform,
had come to the spot. Her daughter Shanta went down and requested a
RAB member to take her father to hospital, but RAB paid no heed and
forced her to go home.163
175.On 7 May 2014, Kusholia Union unit General Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami,
Ashraful Islam, was shot dead by police in Kaliganj Upazila under Satkhira
District. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kaliganj Police Station, Golam
Rahman, claimed that police were informed by their sources that a group
of criminals were holding a meeting at the Bhodrokhali Primary School
field. Receiving this information, a police team led by the OC reached the
site where Ashraful was killed in gunfight between police. Ashrafuls wife,
Papia Khatun, alleged that her husband was picked up by police from their
village home on 6 May 2014 at around 12:30 am and that Ashraful was
shot and killed at the Bhodrokhali Primary School ground.164
176.Mezbah Uddin Tareques father, Abu Zafar Shikdar, told Odhikar that on
13 September 2014 at around 3:00 am, approximately 10 men came to
his Dania, Dhaka residence and said they were from the Detective Branch
(DB) of police from Mintoo Road, Dhaka. They took away his son Tareque
in the presence of his family. Tareque is the eldest of three sons. Abu
Zafar claimed that there was no General Diary (GD) or case filed against
Tareque in any police station. He also said that Tareque started his career
with Adamji Garments at EPZ as a store keeper after his Higher Secondary
examination in 2010. Tareque left the job in August 2014 and he was
trying to go to Malaysia with a student visa. For this purpose Tareque had
submitted his passport to the Malaysian Embassy. He was supposed to
leave Bangladesh soon. After the arrest of his son, Abu Zafar was waiting
in front of the DB police office at Mintu Road on the morning of 13
September 2014. Failing to obtain any information about his until till dusk,
Abu Zafar went to Mugda Police Station to lodge a General Diary. At that
time, police informed him that an incident of crossfire took place in the
morning in the area under the jurisdiction of the Mugda Police Station. At
around 8:00 pm, Abu Zafar saw the body of his son with bullet wounds at
the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue. Local inhabitants informed
163 Fact finding report of Odhikar, 04/03/2014
75
him that Mezbah Uddin Tareque was beaten with handcuffs on the road
after he was arrested. At one stage Tareque became unconscious and he
was taken by armed men in a white microbus. On 14 September 2014 at
around 9:00 pm, the Public Relations Department of the Dhaka
Metropolitan Police sent a press release to various newspapers which
stated that on 13 September 2014, at around 2:30 am, a man named
Tareque Masud had been arrested in allegations of arms trading. Later, a
gun fight occurred between criminals at the Balur Math adjacent to
Mandra New Green Model Town in Mugda, Dhaka, where police took
Tareque in an operation to arrest his associates. During this time, Tareque
Masud died in the gun fight. Abu Zafar Shikdar said that the name of his
son is not Tareque Masud but Mezbah Uddin Tareque. He commented that
the police had perhaps killed his son based on false information and were
now staging a drama of gun-fight in order to conceal the incident.165
177.On 10 November 2014 Musharraf Hossain, an alleged criminal, was killed
in 'gunfight' while in the custody of RAB a few hours after his arrest at
Sandeep Upazila in Chittagong. RAB-7 commanding officer Lieutenant
Colonel Miftah Uddin Ahmed said that Msharraf Hossain (35 years old) was
arrested at Haramiya in Sandeep at about 10:00 am. According to his
informants, the battalion recovered 30 firearms from three places in
drives between noon and 3:30 pm. The battalion was locked in 'gunfight'
with Musharraf's associates who opened fire, sensing the presence of law
enforcers. The battalion claimed that Musharraf was shot dead by his
associates.166
Public Lynching
178.Public lynching or mob beating is the result of lack of respect for the rule
of law; distrust of law enforcement agencies; and a weak criminal justice
system. The tendency to take the law into ones own hands is increasing,
as people are losing confidence and trust in the Police and Judiciary. The
practice of public lynching shows a fault in the society that paves a way
for the non-functioning of the legal system. There is a fear thif such
violations of the right to life may continue until and unless the law and
order situation comes under control, through an institutional development
of the legal system. Thieves, gang of robbers, muggers and child
kidnappers are the usual victims of public lynching, yet sometimes it is
found that some of the lynching victims were actually innocent. In such a
scenario, the mob is usually unwilling to hand over the suspect to the law
enforcers because of their lack of confidence and faith in them. The
165 Information collected by Odhikar
76
general perception of the lack of accountability of the police propels

people to take matters into their own hands. It has been seen from data in
previous years that the reported trend of public lynching has two forms.
We see the public either spontaneously taking the law into their own
hands or the police encouraging the public to take matters into their own
hands.
179.From January to December 2014, a total of 116 people were allegedly
killed due to public lynching.
Table: Public Lynching (January-December 2014)

Month
Total
January
16
February
March
11
April
13
May
11
June
July
August
12
September
October
10
November
December
10
Total
116
180.On 11 June 2014 Shakil, a suspected mugger, was beaten to death by a

group of passengers. On that day, a gang of muggers boarded a Dhakabound Agnibina intercity train from Mymensingh. When the muggers
swooped on a passenger in a compartment of the train at Gafargaon
Railway Station, other passengers rushed in and caught two of the gang
members, named Shakil and Kabir, while the others managed to flee. The
passengers physically assaulted the two muggers and handed them over
to the Railway Police at Gafargaon. They were admitted to Gafargaon
Upazila Health Complex and then referred to Mymensingh Medical College
77
Hospital (MMCH) where Shakil succumbed to his injuries.167

181.On 5 September 2014 an unknown man (35 years old) was beaten to
death by a mob who suspected him of theft of a CNG-run Auto rickshaw in
the Rajabari area of Basta Union under the jurisdiction of the Keraniganj
Police Station in Dhaka District. Police said that the deceased man was
roaming around the area suspiciously before local people beat him. He
died on the spot.168
CHAPTER VII: TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL,

INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR
PUNISHMENT
TORTURE
AND INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT
182.Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment have occurred

under all regimes in the 43 years since the independence of Bangladesh,
although the Constitution of Bangladesh explicitly prohibits torture and illtreatment.169 People from all walks of life including political activists,
journalists, teachers and human rights defenders have been tortured
and become victims of inhuman or degrading treatment perpetrated by
the different law enforcement agencies. Torture is inflicted to humiliate a
person and as an exercise to show power and authority. Torture is also
applied as an alternative to intensive investigation. The premise is, once
tortured, the person will open up and tell the truth. Again, through
torture, law enforcement agencies are abusing their authority to extort
money or force people to confess crimes they did not commit. The high
level of corruption that prevails in police stations is also a catalyst for
torture in Bangladesh. Thus, torture is carried out when suspects are
collected by law enforcement agencies and taken into custody. When the
suspects are taken into remand for further questioning, torture is routine,
although it is sometimes stopped if the family of the victim can pay the
torturers what they demand.
183.After Bangladesh's ratification of the UN Convention against Torture in
1998, there was no specific law in the country corresponding to this
Convention for 15 years. As a result of the prolonged struggle of human
167The Daily Star, 13/02/2014, http://www.thedailystar.net/print_post/mugger-killed-in-mob-beatingon-intercity-train-28290 , accessed at around 3.34 pm, 11/02/2014

169 Article 35 (5) of the Constitution of Bangladesh No person shall be subjected to torture or to
cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment or treatment.
78
rights defenders, a
Chowdhury, presented
before the Parliament
Members of Parliament
ruling party Parliamentarian, Saber Hossain

the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Bill
in 2009 which was passed into an Act by the
through a voice vote in 2013.
184.The law had been passed primarily due to pressure by the families of
victims and human rights defenders. Odhikar had campaigned, since
2009, to enact this Bill and organised several meetings with the
government and the opposition in order to pass the law. Yet despite the
entry into force of this law, the level of torture has not declined; rather, a
new trend of shooting the legs of victims has been added and the
perpetrators are enjoying complete impunity under political shelter.
Nevertheless, Odhikar believes that this law is necessary for a democratic
society, especially if it is implemented fully.
Preventing acts of torture

185.The ultimate aim of an anti-torture legal regime must be to prevent acts
of torture before they occur. Several preventive measures are already in
place, yet they are not adequately implemented. Some of these measures
include: proper registration of every detainee from the moment of arrest
or apprehension;170 prompt access to legal counsel; 171 production before a
judge within 24 hours;172 and inadmissibility of evidence obtained under
torture.173 Furthermore, in the matter of BLAST and Others vs. Bangladesh
(55 DLR 323), the High Court Division of the Supreme Court laid down
fifteen guidelines in order to prevent torture in remand.
186.The most effective preventive measure against torture is the regular
170 Section 44 of the Police Act, 1861: It shall be the duty of every officer in charge of a policestation to keep a general diary in such form as shall from time to time, be prescribed by the
Government and to record therein all complaints and charges preferred, the names of all persons
arrested, the names of the complainants, the offences charged against them, the weapons or property
that shall have been taken from their possession or otherwise, and the names of the witnesses who
shall have been examined.
171 Article 33(1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh: No person who is arrested shall be detained in
custody without being informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds for such arrest, nor shall he be
denied the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice.
172 Section 61 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898: No police-officer shall detain in custody a
person arrested without warrant for a longer period than under all the circumstances of the case is
reasonable, and such period shall not, in the absence of a special order of a Magistrate under section
167, exceed twenty-four hours exclusive of the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest
to the Magistrate's Court.
173 Section 24 of the Evidence Act, 1872: A confession made by an accused person is irrelevant in a
criminal proceeding, if the making of the confession appears to the Court to have been caused by any
inducement, threat or promise having reference to the charge against the accused person, proceeding
from a person in authority and sufficient, in the opinion of the Court, to give the accused person
grounds which would appear to him reasonable for supposing that by making it he would gain any
advantage or avoid any evil of a temporal nature in reference to the proceedings against him.
79
inspection or monitoring of places of detention. Regular inspections can

ensure the adequate implementation of safeguards against torture, create
a strong deterrent effect and provide a means to generate timely and
adequate responses to allegations of torture and ill-treatment by law
enforcement officials. However, Bangladesh has not ratified the Optional
Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) (2002), the objective of
which is to establish a system of regular visits undertaken by independent
international and national bodies to places of detention.
187.While the new law represents a major step forward in efforts to bring an
end to the entrenched practice of torture and resulting custodial deaths
by the police and other law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh,
significant amendments are needed if it is to fully comply with CAT and
effectively end the impunity that has been enjoyed by perpetrators thus
far.
Torture in custody
188.Torture in the custody of law enforcement agencies is a widespread and
common practice in Bangladesh. When a person is arrested by law
enforcement agencies, the fear that he will be physically and mentally
tortured or suffer ill treatment are well-founded. Some instances of
torture that occurred in 2014 are as follows:
189.On 1 February 2014 Mohammad Mohsin (27 years old), a resident of
Baroigaon village in Chokrada Union under the jurisdiction of Shibpur
Upazila in Norshingdi, was arrested by police of Shibpur Police Station as a
suspect in a robbery case. Mohsins family alleged that he was tortured by
the police in a room on the first floor of the Police Station for three days
after he was arrested174 and died as a result. Later the police made a
public statement that Mohsin had committed suicide by hanging
himself.175
190.On 14 June 2014 a 22-year old youth named Shahin Molla was allegedly
tortured to death by police at Dasar Police Station in Madaripur District.
On 8 June 2014 at around 8:30 pm, Sub Inspector of the Dasar Police
Station, Nazmul Hassan, arrested Shahin and his friends Mukut and Shah
Alam from Naiarbari Bridge at Gaoranodi. The deceased's aunt, Selima
Begum, alleged that SI Nazmul Hassan sent messages to the guardians of
the three men through a police informer, Nazrul Islam, after they were
taken to Dasar Police Station. When their guardians reached the police
174 According to the Code of Criminal Procedure, a person has to be presented before a Magistrate
within 24 hours of his/her arrest.
175 Fact finding report of Odhikar
80
station, SI Nazmul Hassan demanded 75 000 Taka from them in exchange

for releasing each of the three arrestees. That night, the families of Mukit
and Shah Alam arranged their release by paying 70 000 Taka. Selima
Begum was ready to pay 20 000 Taka for the release of her nephew
Shahin, but SI Nazmul told her that he would not be able to release him
unless 70 000 Taka were paid. On 9 June 2014, Selima Begum managed to
collect the money by borrowing it from her relatives and went to SI
Nazmul. SI Nazmul told her that Shahin could not be released as a case
had been filed against him. On the same date, Shahin was shown as
arrested under the Narcotics Control Act and produced before the Court
and the Court sent him to jail. On 10 June 2014, Selima went to visit
Shahin in jail, who told her that he was severely tortured in custody by the
police, instructed by SI Nazmul Hassan, because they could not pay the
money. On 14 June 2014, Shahin became seriously unwell and was
admitted to Madaripur District Hospital, where he died.176
191.On 12 July 2014 a garment waste177 trader named Mahbubur Rahman
Sujon (30 years old) was allegedly tortured to death by police affiliated
with Mirpur Police Station. The family of the deceased claimed that police
killed Sujon as he failed to pay extortion money and that the police were
bribed by his rivals. Sujons wife Momtaz Sultana said that on 12 July 2014
at around 12:45 am, four policemen from Mirpur Police Station, including
Sub Inspector Zahidur Rahman Khan, along with Constables Asad and
Mithun, came to their house at Shongkor under the jurisdiction of the
Dhanmondi Police Station. Police caught Sujon when he opened the door.
They started ransacking furniture at their home. Policemen hit Sujon on
the head with an iron rod and also kicked him. They took Sujon to the
bathroom and put his head in a bucket full of water and tortured him.
Later Sujon, along with his wife Momtaz and their son Mosharaf Hossain (6
years old), were brought to Mirpur Police Station. Momtaz and Mosharaf
were locked in a room of the police station and Sub Inspector Zahid and
other policemen took Sujon to another room in the station and tortured
him. On 12 July 2014 at around 8:00 am, Momtaz was taken to another
room where SI Zahid told her to sign a blank sheet of paper. When she
refused to do, SI Zahid threatened her by showing her bullets, taken out
of his pocket, and told her that she would also be accused in a case and
sent to court. She then signed the paper in fear. After signing the
document, Momtaz was put in a vehicle. At that time Momtaz asked SI
Zahid as to Sujon's whereabouts and where she was being taken. SI Zahid
replied that Sujon was admitted to a hospital and she was being taken
there. Later Momtaz was dropped at Mirpur near the house of her in-laws.
177 Garment waste is the waste material produced by garment manufacturing factories. These are
bought by traders for recycling.
81
SI Zahid told Momtaz your husband has died and his body is kept in
Dhaka Medical College Hospital. You will go there with your mother-inlaw. Momtaz went to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with her in-laws,
where they saw Sujons body with marks of injuries. 178 It was revealed
during fact finding that marks of injuries were found in various parts of
Sujons body including his head, hands and legs. On 14 Jul, 2014 the postmortem was conducted under the leadership of Professor Dr.
Habibuzzaman, the Head of the Forensic Department of Dhaka Medical
College Hospital, and Assistant Professor Dr. AKM Shafiuzzaman, who
found these marks on Sujons body.179
192.It is to be noted that three persons allegedly died in the hands of Sub
Inspector (SI) Zahidur Rahman Khan in the current year. In January 2014,
SI Zahid shot a youth named Javed Hossain in the leg. Later Javed died
due to extreme bleeding at the National Institute of Traumatology and
Orthopaedic Rehabilitation. In February, SI Zahidur allegedly tortured and
killed a Bihari youth named Mohammad Jony. During that time, SI Zahidur
was posted in the Pallabi Police Station. He was closed from Pallabi Police
Station after that incident. There were several allegations against SI
Zahidur in relation to torturing people in custody for bribes and
extortion.180 On 17 July 2014 SI Rafiqul Islam Khan of Mirpur Police Station
filed a case against SI Zahidur Rahman Khan, ASI Rajkumar, Constables
Anwar and Rashedul, and police informers Nasim, Polash, Faysal and
Khokon, for allegedly torturing and killing Mahbubur Rahman Sujon.
Among the accused persons, police have arrested SI Zahidur Rahman
Khan and informer Nasim so far.181
193.Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (MN Larma) leader, Timir Baran
Chakma alias Duranto Chakma Babu (52 years old), died on 10 August
2014 under medical treatment while in the custody of the Army in
Matiranga Hospital. On the evening of 9 August 2014, members of the
Army commenced an operation in the Indumoni area under Guiyamara
Upazila in Khagrachhari Hill District and arrested Duranto Chakma Babu
(52 years old); Nishumoni Chakma (40 years old); Amarkanti Chakma (18
years old); and Romel Tripura (38 years old). Sudhakar Tripura, Youth
Affairs Secretary of the Central Committee of Parbatya Chattagram Jana
Samhati Samiti (MN Larma), alleged that Duranta Chakma died due to
torture. Meanwhile, the Army stated that Duranta Chakma suddenly fell
sick due to an asthma attack and he was admitted to Matiranga Hospital,
178 Information gathered by Odhikar and the daily Manabzamin, 14/07/2014
179 The daily Ittefaq, 15/07/2014
82
where he died.182 Elena Chakma, the wife of Nishumoni Chakma, said that
the Army surrounded their house at night and arrested the men at around
5:30 am and that, after making the arrest, all of them were severely
beaten and kicked by the Army men. Duranta Chakmas wife Alotara
Chakma said that her husband did not have asthma.183
194.Anita Bhattacharya, a nurse of a private hospital in Sylhet, was allegedly
tortured in police custody at the Sylhet Kotwali Police Station. Anitas
husband Kishore said that on 7 November 2014 police arrested Anita
along with him and their son from their house located at Alisakul in
Shreemongol, Moulavibazar, in connection to a kidnapping case. They
were taken to Sylhet Kotwali Police Station. Although police released her
son on 8 November 2014 and her husband on 9 November 2014, Anita
was brought before the Court and police sought a 5-day remand. The
Court granted a 3-day remand and the investigating officer of the case,
Sub Inspector Sirajul Islam, brought Anita back to the Kotwali Police
Station for interrogation. After failing to get any information during the
interrogation, the Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) Monir and Sub
Inspector (SI) Hasina Akhter Ankhi, physically tortured Anita. It is alleged
that the OC (Investigation) Monir put a pipe into Anitas throat and poured
in liquor. She was kicked and forced to acknowledge the incident of
kidnapping. SI Hasina Akhter Ankhi used a stick to torture her. On 12
November 2014 police brought Anita before the Court and took her to the
Osmani Medical College Hospital for treatment, as she became seriously
ill due to the torture. She was taken to jail after three days of treatment in
the hospital. On 16 November 2014 police took Anita into 3-day remand
again through the Court and interrogated her. Later she was sent back to
jail after remand. It is to be mentioned that on 21 Jul1, 2013, a 4-year old
girl, Joyee, daughter of school teacher Santosh Kumar Deb and Sorbani
Deb, was kidnapped from Bhangatikor area in Sylhet. Police arrested Anita
Bhattacharya under that case.184
LACK
OF ACCOUNTABILITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
Many people became disabled after being shot by law

enforcers
195.The trend of law enforcement agencies shooting the legs of victims as a
means of torture has been observed since 2011 and is a matter of grave
concern. The State Minister for Home Affairs mentioned in a statement
183 CHT News, 18/08/2014
83
that the incident of Limons shooting was a mere accident, which further
demonstrated the culture of impunity enjoyed by law enforcement
agencies.185 As a result, incidents of indiscriminate shooting at people by
members of law enforcement agencies continue. Some examples are as
follows:
196.On 14 October 2014 Abul Kashem, father of Nazrul Islam, filed a case
(Petition Case No. 2/2014) with the Noakhali District and Sessions Judge,
Mohammad Abdul Quddus Mia, under section 15 of the Torture and
Custodial Death (Prevention) Act (2013), against police for the attempted
murder of his son in the name of crossfire in Sonapur Union under the
jurisdiction of the Sonaimuri Upazila in Noakhali. Nazrul Islam is the
President of Sonapur Unions Ward No. 1 unit Chhatra Dal. The Court took
cognizance of the case and ordered the District Superintendent of Police
to take necessary action. 17 police officers, including the current Officerin-Charge (OC) of Sonaimuri Police Station, Ashraf Ul Islam; former OC
Abdus Samad; Sub-Inspector (SI) Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury; and Sub
Inspector Mohammad Asad, were named as accused. The lawyer of the
complainant, Advocate Mohammad Rabiul Hassan Polash, stated that
Nazrul Islam, son of Abul Kashem, was arrested from Chittagong Port area
on 16 September 2014 in connection to a murder case and taken to
Sonaimuri Police Station by Sub Inspector Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury. That
night the police shot him in his left leg in order to forcibly extract a
statement. Police left him seriously wounded in the corridor of Noakhali
Medical College Hospital. Later the family of Nazrul Islam admitted him to
the same hospital. Nazrul was shifted to the National Institute of
Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR - Pongu Hospital) at
Dhaka for better treatment, where doctors were required to amputate his
left leg in order to save his life.186
197.On 16 October, 2014, a woman named Sajoara Akhter Saju (40 years old)
went to save her younger brother, Osman Goni, from being arrested by
police in the Kottapara area under the jurisdiction of the Satkania Upazila
in Chittagong. Police shot her in her left leg. Sajoara Akhter informed
Odhikar that on 16 October 2014 at around 7:00 pm, her younger brother,
Osman Goni, was sitting in a road side tea stall near their house. Hearing
185 On March 23, 2011, Limon Hossain (16), sonof a day-labourer Tofazzal Hossain of Saturia village
under Rajapur Upazila in Jhalokathi district, and a HSC examinee of Kathalia PGS Polytechnic College,
wasshot in his left legby a team of RAB-8 led by Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) Mohammad Lutfar
Rahman, when he was returning home with grazing cattle in front of local resident Shahid Zomaddars
house. RAB members kept wounded Limon without medical aid for about two/three hours at the spot.
Later he was admitted to the Barisal Medical College Hospital in Barisal and shifted to the Orthopaedic
Hospital at Dhaka when his condition deteriorated. Limons left leg had to be amputated at the
Orthopaedic Hospital in Dhaka.For detail information, please see Odhikar Annual Human Rights Report
2011 and 2012 at www.odhikar.org
186 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Noakhali
84
Osman Gonis cries, she and her mother came out of their house and saw
two plain clothed men and three policemen forcibly taking Osman Goni
towards the main road. In response, Saju and her mother tried to free
Osman Goni from the police. At that time one policeman pushed her down
and shot her in her left leg. Sajoara Akhter was admitted to Chittagong
Medical College Hospital first and later she was referred to the National
Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation at Dhaka. On 18
October 2014, doctors had to amputate her leg from the knee down.
Sajoara Akhter learnt that the police of Satkania Police Station had filed a
case against her and some members of her family.187
198.Police of Jessore Kotwali Police Station allegedly shot two youths in the
leg. They were Mizanur Rahman (27 years old) and Hafizur Rahman (28
years old) of the Nursery Potti area, located close to the office of the
Deputy Commissioner, Jessore. They were admitted to the general
hospital in Jessore with severe injuries, under police custody. Mizanur
Rahman, while under treatment in the hospital, said that in the early
morning of 13 November 2014, policemen led by Sub Inspector Soyeb
Uddin of the Kotwali Police Station entered their house by breaking the
gate. After confirming his identity, police blindfolded him, handcuffed him
and put him in a van. He was taken out and thrown to the ground after a
while. Police shot him twice in his right knee. 188 Police claimed that the
injured men were muggers. They were shot during a gun-fight with police.
However, the families of the two wounded men alleged that police caught
them at night and shot them while they were in blindfolds and their legs
were tied. The police asked them the whereabouts of arms.189 On 20
November 2014, Hafizur was admitted to the National Institute of
Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation. His leg had to be
amputated. He was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital due to
severe bleeding. On 22 November 2014, Hafizur died in Dhaka Medical
College Hospital.190
199.On 7 January 2014 at around 5:30 pm, Jubo Dal 191 activist Mohammad
Arafat was surrounded by four or five men, claiming to be police, in front
of his hardware shop in Chittagong Metropolitan City. He was taken to
Pahartoli Police Station in a private car. Later the police blindfolded Arafat
and took him to Sagorika seashore in a car. He was then asked whether
187 The daily New Age, 26/10/2014; and information gathered by Odhikar
189 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Jessore
191 Student wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
85
he was a member of Chhatra Shibir 192 and also instructed to inform them
of the whereabouts of Shibir leaders. Arafat said that he was not a
member of Chhatra Shibir but a Jubo Dal193 activist. The men then shot
him in his leg. Arafat was taken to the Chittagong Medical College
Hospital. On 7 January 2014 Arafats leg was operated on. He had to go
for another operation on 12 January 2014 due to an infection and his left
leg had to be amputated. On 7 January 2014, Sub Inspector Abu Sadek of
Pahartoli Police Station, being a plaintiff, filed two cases accusing 13
persons, including Arafat, under the Arms and Explosives Act. According
to the law, arrestees need to be brought before the Court within 24 hours
of arrest. However, in this case, police detained Arafat in Chittagong
Medical College Hospital under their custody for 4 months and 22 days
without sending him to Court. On 13 March 2014 an investigating officer,
Sub Inspector Toyab Ali of Pahartoli Police Station, submitted a charge
sheet without showing Arafat as arrested. In the case document, Arafat
was recorded as being under treatment. The 12 other accused persons
were awarded bail from the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, but
Arafat was not released on bail as he was not shown as arrested; as a
result, Arafat's lawyers could not appeal for his bail in the Court. On 6 May
2014 when Arafats lawyers explained the situation to the Court,
Chittagong Metropolitan Session Judge, SM Mujibur Rahman, ordered the
police to bring Arafat before the Court on 14 May 2014. Due to a hartal
(general strike) on 14 May 2014, Arafat was brought before the Court of
Chittagong Metropolitan Session Judge, SM Mujibur Rahman on 19 May
2014. The Court rebuked Sub Inspector Toyab Ali of Pahartoli Police
Station and gave orders to the jail authority for Arafats proper treatment.
On 20 May 2014 Arafat was released on bail in both cases.194
200.Torture in custody is endemic and Bangladesh does not respect the
obligations under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. According to this
Convention, No person shall be subjected to torture whether in physical
or mental and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment. Torture and degrading treatment are strictly prohibited as
per Article 35(5) of the Constitution of the Peoples Republic of
Bangladesh as well. It is also prohibited by law under the Torture and
Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013.
201.Odhikar believes that torture in custody during remand or interrogation is
a serious violation of human rights. Despite the claim of zero tolerance
on torture, the Government has not taken steps or measures to curtail
192 Student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami
193 Youth wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
194 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Chittagong, 08/05/2014
86
torture and other forms of custodial violence and acts of impunity by law
enforcement officers. Such lack of action against perpetrators only
encourages human rights violations.
202.Odhikar urges the Government to implement the recommendations of the
High Court Division of the Supreme Court in the 2003 judgement of BLAST
vs. Bangladesh195 and to effectively implement the anti-torture law of
2013.
195 BLAST and Others Vs. Bangladesh and Others, 55 DLR 323. The High Court Division of the
Supreme Court of Bangladesh enumerated 15 directives regarding the arrest, detention and
interrogation of accused persons in order to avoid and prevent torture in remand/custody. In 2013, the
Parliament also passed a torture prevention Act.
87
CHAPTER VIII: HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES ALONG THE

BORDER AREAS
203.Bangladesh shares three of its borders with India. Human rights violations
by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) have long taken place along
these borders. Instances of Indian BSF shooting, killing, torturing and
abducting unarmed Bangladeshi civilians in the border areas violate
international norms and treaties.196 Members of the BSF also illegally enter
Bangladesh territory and attack people residing along the border, and
shoot and abduct Bangladeshis. Odhikar notes with mounting concern
that very little is being done about the continuous acts of violence, death
and terror perpetrated by the BSF on Bangladeshi citizens along the
Bangladesh-India
border.
Odhikar
questions
the
Bangladeshi
Government's continued lack of action over the years, in allowing its
citizens to be violated by a foreign entity in a perceived peaceful times.
204.According to information collected by Odhikar, between January to June
2014, 35 Bangladeshis were killed by the Indian Border Security Force
(BSF). Of them, 17 were gunned down, 13 were tortured to death and five
were killed by other means. During this period, 68 Bangladeshis were
injured. Of them, 43 were shot, 19 were tortured and six were injured in
different ways. In addition, 99 Bangladeshis were allegedly abducted by
the BSF.
196 According to the Memorandum of Understanding and related treaties signed between the two
countries, if citizens of both countries illegally cross the border, it would be considered trespass and as
per law those persons should be handed over to the civilian authority. However, we have noticed that
India has been repeatedly violating treaties, shooting at anyone seen near the border or anyone trying
to cross the border; and illegally entering Bangladesh, which is a clear violation of international law
and human rights.
88
Table: Human Rights Violations in Bangladesh-India Border Area

(January-December 2014)
Abducted
Missing
Other
Grand
Total
Gunned
down
Tortured
Other
Subtotal
Shot
Tortured
Other
Subtotal
Human Rights Violations in Bangladesh-India Border Area in 2014
January
February
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
1
2
2
2
1
0
0
4
3
13
8
0
0
0
0
18
12
March
12
17
April
13
May
17
22
June
10
19
July
15
August
13
28
September
17
October
10
16
November
12
21
December
11
Total
17
13
35
43
19
68
99
209
Killed by BSF
Month
Injured by BSF
Incidents of border violence recorded by Odhikar

205.In the morning of 19 May 2014, BSF killed a Bangladeshi citizen named
Sirajul Islam (40 years old) by stabbing him with bayonets at Putkhali
border under the jurisdiction of the Sharsha Upazila in Jessore District. On
18 May 2014 at around 10:30 pm, Sirajul went to India with some cattle
traders through the Putkhali border. The BSF chased them while they were
returning with cows. Sirajul was caught by BSF members and taken to
Angrail Camp where he was stabbed with bayonets. He died while under
treatment.197
197 The daily Amar Desh, online report, 20/05/2014
89
206.On 21 July 2014 a 12-year old boy, Nazmul Huq, went to cut grass at the
zero line near the international pillar No. 937 at Nonderkuti border under
the jurisdiction of the Phulbari Upazila in Kurigram District. At that time, a
BSF patrol team of the Thoraikhana Camp under the 124 BSF Battalion
stabbed Nazmul Huq with a grass cutting knife. Nazmuls left wrist was
cut.198
207.On 21 August 2014 Mohammad Akhtarul Islam (30 years old), a resident
of Prodhanpara village in Chaklahat Union under the jurisdiction of the
Panchagarh Sadar Upazila, had gone to the Shingrod border to catch fish,
where BSF members of the Sakati Outpost abducted him at gunpoint.
Hearing this, the BGB199 sent a letter to the BSF asking for the return of
Akhtarul Islam. The BSF denied arresting any Bangladeshis. On 22 August
2014 local people saw Akhteruls body floating in the river. Police
recovered the body from the river adjacent to the border. Eye-witness
Rafiqul Islam said that in the afternoon of 22 August 2014, he was
working in a field near the border. At that time he saw something being
thrown into the river from a BSF vehicle. The body of Akhtarul floated to
Bangladesh later on. Jahanara Begum, wife of the deceased Akhatarul
Islam, said, My husband went to catch fish in a flooded field. BSF beat
him to death after abducting him. The next morning, his body was
dumped into the river in the presence of local people.200
208.On the morning of 5 October 2014, 15 - 20 BSF members of the
Phashidewa Camp chased some cattle traders while they were bringing
cows from India through Goalgoch border, near the main pillar 448 at
Banglabandha Union under the jurisdiction of the Tetulia Upazila in
Panchagarh District. The BSF also chased Bangladeshi labourers who were
lifting stones from the Mohananda River at the border. In protest,
Bangladeshi labourers threw brickbats at the BSF. At one stage BSF
members entered Goalgoch village inside Bangladesh and searched for
cows in five houses. At that time they beat Bangladeshi citizens and fired
several rounds of bullets. A Bangladeshi citizen named Abu Bakkar
Siddique (50 years old) was shot and injured by them. Meanwhile,
villagers claimed that BSF took gold ornaments and cash at gunpoint,
entering some houses. Azizul Huq of Goalgoch village said, BSF took one
hundred thousand taka and gold ornaments from my house at gun-point.
Apart from that the BSF took 20,000 taka from Rustam Ali; 30,000 taka
from Safiqul Islam; and 20,000 taka and gold ornaments from Mofazzal
Hossain of the same village.201
199 BGB: Border Guard Bangladesh, previously known as BDR
200 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Panchagarh
90
209.On 6 November 2014 a 12-year old Bangladeshi named Liton was beaten
to death by BSF members at Joharpur border under the jurisdiction of the
Chapainababganj Sadar Upazila. Liton was the son of Anamul Huq, a
resident of Joharpur Belapara village under the jurisdiction of the
Narayanpur Union in Chapainababganj. Lt. Col. Abu Jafar Sheikh
Mohammad Bazlul Huq, captain of Chapainababganj BGB 9 Battalion,
informed Odhikar that on the morning of 6 November 2014, Liton and
another boy were cutting grass in the area adjacent to the border. At that
time, BSF members of Pirojpur Camp under the 20 BSF Battalion, chased
them and caught Liton. The BSF took him to the Indian side of the border
and released him after a severe beating. Liton died at 12:00 pm, after reentering Bangladesh.202
BANGLADESH
DEPRIVED OF GETTING ADEQUATE WATER
210.In 1982 India established a barrage across the River Teesta at Gajaldoba.
After that, India diverted water unilaterally to Mohananda River through a
diversion canal. The Indian Government is following a very negative
attitude in terms of releasing water to downstream Bangladesh. As a
result, Bangladeshs largest Teesta Barrage Project is about to stop. This is
the largest irrigation project in Bangladesh. The water flow has drastically
decreased since February 2014 and created a situation of water scarcity
in Bangladesh. The dry riverbed of Teesta has brought crisis to the lives of
Bangladeshi farmers, mainly in the northern areas. The farmers of
Nilphamari, Rangpur and Dinajpur are dependent on the Teesta Barrage
Project. Water experts state that this adversity has been created due to
refusal of Teesta river water sharing by India. Bangladesh has 54
undivided rivers with India. Among them, the Teesta River is 366
kilometers long. This river runs from a glacier in Sikkim in India and winds
through the Nilphamari District of Bangladesh. The Teesta River flows
along 117 kilometers in Bangladesh and 249 kilometers in Sikkim and
West Bengal in India.203 It should noted that India had struck first on
Bangladeshs river flow by establishing the Farakka Barrage on the River
Ganges in 1975 and a large part of its flow has been diverted to India's
Bhagirothi River.204 Odhikar urges the United Nations to help Bangladesh
receive adequate water from India in order to save the lives and livelihood
of the people of Bangladesh.
201 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Panchagarh
202 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Chapainababganj
203 The daily Manabzamin, 22/04/2014 and JaiJaiDin, 18/03/2014
204 The weekly Amader Budhbar, 12/02/2014
91
BANGLADESH-MYANMAR
RELATIONS
211.The Border Guard Police of Myanmar have recently been threatening to

violate the human rights of Bangladeshi citizens along the BangladeshMyanmar border. While three sides of Bangladesh are surrounded by
India, the South-East part of the country shares its border with Myanmar.
Human rights violations by Myanmar Border Guard Police

212.On 28 May 2014 at around 9:30 am, the Border Guard Police (BGP) of
Myanmar opened fire at members of the Bangladeshi Border Guard (BGB)
belonging to the newly established Painchhori BOP when a patrol team of
that Camp arrived at the Dochhori and Techhori connecting areas of a
canal at the Naikkhonchhori border under the jurisdiction of the
Bandarban District. At that time, BGBs Nayek Subeder, Mizanur Rahman,
was shot dead on the spot. The BGP of Myanmar entered into Bangladeshi
territory, violating the UN Convention and took the body of Mizanur
Rahman and his arms and ammunition. In response, the BGB took position
with white flags near Pillar No. 50 at the border in order to bring back the
body of Mizanur Rahman. On 30 May 2014 at around 3:00 pm, BGP sent
word that the body had to be handed over to BGB near Pillar No. 52. BGP
members of Myanmar opened fire again at the BGB members when they
marched towards No. 52 pillar.205
213.It should be noted that,fin late 1991, the then Myanmar Border Guards
Nasaka attacked Reju Fatrajhiri BDR206 Camp at Ghundhum border in
Naikkhongchhori and looted arms and ammunition after killing a BDR
member of Bangladesh. About 250,000 Rohingya refugees also took
shelter in Bangladesh in 1991 as they fled from ethnic cleansing in the
Rakhaine State of Myanmar.

206 BDR: Bangladesh Rifles was the previous name of Bangladesh border security force. Now it has
been re-named as Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after the BDR mutiny in February 2009.
92
CHAPTER IX : WORKERS RIGHTS

214.The Readymade Garment (RMG) Industry is one of the major contributors
to Bangladesh's economy. Garment factories contribute to 13% of the
GDP, add value to 78% of total exports and employ around 4 million
workers, mostly women, working on 5,400 apparel factories. 207 Moreover,
it has also created employment in related services. In the early 1980s
there were only 50 factories in Bangladesh that received investment in
the RMG sector. The USA is the largest importer of Bangladeshi RMG
products, followed by Germany, the UK, France, and other member states
of the European Union. In fact, Bangladesh is the 6 th largest supplier of
apparel in the US market. 208 Cheap but hard working honest labour,
cheaper gas and power supplies have helped Bangladesh become a
preferred RMG Zone in the world market. However, incidents of fires and
building collapses, such as the Tazreen Garments and Rana Plaza
disasters, have damaged the reputation of Bangladeshs garment to some
extent.
215.A risky working environment, the almost non-existence of fire exits,
shortage of fire extinguishers and other safety measures, a lack of
training and the use of sub-standard building material, bribery during plan
approval, the construction of illegal extensions and violations of building
codes all contribute to the recurrence of fire mishaps and building
collapses in the factories of Bangladesh. The industry has many
challenges to overcome, including the fact that too many owners and
managers of the factories fail to pay wages and bonuses on time, dismiss
workers without any valid reason, and lay off or close factories without
notice. These factors, coupled with unsafe structural conditions, result in
the industry being unstable, which may lead to a destruction of this vital
sector. The factories of the RMG industries must be developed in a
planned manner and the authorities must take appropriate measures so
that accidents do not take place. According to BGMEA, 211 garments were
close down for security purposes within the past one and half years.209
216.On 5 December 2013, the government declared a minimum monthly
wage of BDT 5,300 for garment workers. The new wage structure came
into effect on 1 January 2014. However, in regards to the implementation
of the new wage structure, it can vary from 87% (according to the
employer organisation, BGMEA) and 40% (according to local trade
207 The Daily Star, 24/10/2014; http://www.thedailystar.net/securing-positive-dynamics-in-rmgsector-47238
208http://www.scribd.com/doc/45953315/Major-Country-Wise-RMG-Export#scribd
93
unions). The workers of this sector are unhappy with their present salary.
217.Odhikar has observed that clashes take place between the ready-made
garment workers and factory owners, due to poor wages, wages or
bonuses not being paid on time, and demands for increased wages. The
tripartite agreement must be implemented in order to save this industry
and the livelihood of factory workers.
218.According to information gathered by Odhikar, from January to December
2014, one worker died due to a factory fire. However, 417 workers were
injured by the police during unrest, 141 workers were injured by the
garments authority, and 66 were injured due to fire.
Some incidents of workers unrest

219.On 4 January 2014, at least 20 persons were injured, including four with
gunshot wounds, in a clash between police and garment factory workers
over protests demanding increased wages in two RMG factories named
Section Seven Ltd and Section Seven Apparels Ltd in Chittagong Export
Processing Zone (EPZ). Workers alleged that wages were supposed to be
paid under the new salary structure from December 2013. The factory
authorities also obtained additional work from workers on the pretext of
increasing their wages. Despite this, wages were not increased and the
factory authorities could not provide a proper explanation for this. As a
result, angry workers gathered outside the factories. During this time, the
factory authority closed the main gates of the factories, which caused the
infuriated workers to vandalise the area.210
220.On 18 February 2014 workers of CPM Composite Knitwear Limited were
protesting for unpaid wages at the Zinzira area in Savar, Dhaka. An
altercation occurred with police when the factory workers vandalised the
factory and blocked the roads. At least 100 people were injured during the
clash, including 11 with gunshot wounds. The workers claimed that they
were yet to be paid three months salary. The management changed the
date for payment several times but did not pay them until the violence
took place. In addition, workers became furious when they heard about
the possible closure of the factory.211 Workers were granted a weekly
holiday on 6 March 2016. After the holiday, on the morning of 7 March
2014, workers came to the factory to join work, but found the main gate
locked. The security officers inside the gate told workers that the factory
was temporarily closed by order of the owners, as the building structure
was found to be vulnerable. This made the workers annoyed and the
security officers stopped workers while they were trying to enter the
211 The daily Bangladesh Protidin, 19/02/2014
94
factory by breaking the locks. Later, annoyed workers chanted slogans in

front of the factories. On 8 March 20148 at around 9:30 am, hundreds of
workers of the Softex Garment factory gathered in front of the Kudrat Ali
Super Market and brought out a procession against the closing down of
the factory without any notice and to demand the payment of wages for
three months. Workers put barricades on the main road of Pallabi and
several public transport on Pallabi-Gulistan Road were vandalised. Hearing
of the unrest, workers of other garment factories joined them. At one
stage, police baton-charged the workers, fired blank shots and threw tear
gas shells at them. At least 10 workers were injured in this incident.212
221.On 5 May 2014 workers of Provatex Apparel Limited in Savar blocked the
Dhaka-Aricha Highway to demand overdue wages. Receiving this
information, industrial police attended the site and ordered the workers to
withdraw the blockade and leave. The workers declared that they would
not leave the highway without their wages. Police baton charged at them;
and at least 15 workers were injured.213
222.On 16 June 2014 at least 30 persons were injured during an altercation
between the owners of the Aron Star Sweater factory and factory workers
at Rupganj in Narayanganj. Workers alleged that they were protesting
inside the factory without joining work as the owners did not fulfil their 6point demand, including the payment of salaries and other benefits for
the month of May, regular overtime and bonuses. Workers also blocked
the Dhaka-Sylhet highway.214
223.On 13 September 2014 workers of DH Sweater Garments Ltd at Jamgara
in Ashulia in the jurisdiction of Dhaka staged demonstrations and stopped
theirceased work to demand an increase of the piece rate. During this
time, a gang of hired criminals, on behalf of the factory authority,
attacked them with sticks. In this incident, 10 workers were injured.215
224.After the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, the Bangladesh government and
Western retailers set up an inspection regime for more than 3,500
garment factories to ensure structural integrity and fire and electrical
safety. North American retailers, including Walmart and GAP, formed an
Alliance, which inspected about 587 factories.216 A compensation fund was
set up through the International Labour Organization (ILO) and was
designed to raise US $40 million. However 16 months later, just under US
$20 million of funds had been raised.217
225.The report of the retailers group stated that worker representative
215 The Daily Amader Shomoy, 14/09/2014
216 Newage, 24/07/2014
95
structures such as trade unions and worker participation committees

remained weak in the RMG sector and workers who attempted to exercise
their freedom of association rights had been intimidated, harassed and
even terminated. The government amended the labour laws to make it
easier for workers to form and join unions. However, workers continue to
face tremendous pressure and intimidation.218
226.Inadequate infrastructure, bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption are still
major hindrances in industrialisation and for the growth of industry. These
are also increasing entrepreneurs cost of doing business. They are also
losing price and delivery competitiveness to their business competitors.
The political stability of a country is key to the steady growth of an
industry. This is lacking in Bangladesh due to the absence of a democratic
atmosphere.219
217http://www.cleanclothes.org/news/press-releases/2014/10/09/rana-plaza-compensation-fund-paysfirst-installments-to-1-587-beneficiaries
218 The Newage, 24/07/2014

219 http://coreconceprt-apparelmerchandising.blogspot.com/2014/10/rmg-industry-of-bangladeshpast-present.html
96
Table: Statistics of violations in RMG factories (January

December 2014)
97
0
0
0
50
0
0
13
3
0
0
0
0
66
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
30
0
0
0
55
25
10
0
0
0
0
120
60
135
65
51
49
115
122
98
50
0
0
0
745
Worker terminated
Other
15
5
0
1
0
60
20
0
40
0
0
0
141
Victim from law

enforcement agency
Stampede
45
100
65
0
49
0
64
84
10
0
0
0
417
Total of people injured
Fire
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
By Garment
Authority
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
TOTAL
By police
Killed by fire
Ready-made Garment Factories: (January-December 2014)

Injured
During
demonstration
Total
victims
Month
of violations
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
0
0
5
20
0
0
0
12
0
0
152
0
0
0
0
184
80
135
65
51
61
115
123
251
54
0
0
0
935
CHAPTER X: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

227.Women of all ages face violence and discrimination in Bangladesh. Along
with the patriarchal attitude of society, the weak criminal justice system
creates severe hindrances for women to access justice. If politically and
financially powerful persons are involved in crimes related to violence
against women, police remain silent spectators and do not take action
against them due to their political affiliations, unless they have been told
to make an arrest to set an example. In the same manner, access to
justice by victims is rendered difficult when political people are involved
in committing crimes and violence.
228.There are allegations of severe corruption and politicisation in the lower
judiciary and police administration, leading to the non-implementation of
laws and the failure to address violence. Victims and their families are
regularly intimidated by perpetrators and live under constant fear of
being victimised again. Social awareness activities to curb violence
against women are ineffective as they are not regularly held.
DOWRY
AND RELATED VIOLENCE
229.The Dowry system is deeply rooted in society and its cruelty takes away
the lives of many brides. Dowry has become a serious social ailment, with
women in all sectors and their families being affected. Poor women have
been victims of physical assault and death by their husbands and in-laws
due to failure to provide a dowry.
230.Dowry-related violence is considered to be the root cause of domestic
violence. Women are treated as burdens in many poor, rural families and
urban slums and thus many parents try to marry off their daughters by
giving dowry. Poverty and lack of security contribute to a lack of female
education at the primary or secondary level. As a result, women are
unable to become self sufficient. Parents, however, save money for giving
dowry for their daughters marriages. However, the demand for dowry
does not end at the marriage ceremony. The demand for money and other
goods continues after marriage, with women being reduced to a mere tool
to procure material benefit for the husband for as long as possible.
231.In 1980, Bangladesh passed the Dowry Prohibition Act banning dowry. The
law contains provisions for imprisonment or a fine or both for taking
dowry. The Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000
(amended 2003), in particular Section 11 (a) (b) and (c), also contains
provisions for stringent punishments for dowry-related violence.
232.According to the Dowry Prohibition Act 1980, giving and taking dowry is a
punishable offence and according to the section 11 (a), (b) and (c) of the
98
Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000 (Amended in 2003)

the punishments to such crimes have been mentioned. Regardless of the
laws, dowry violence is a vicious cycle and the root cause for domestic
violence in the country.
233.In 2014, Odhikar recorded that 237 females were subjected to dowry
violence. Of these females, 233 were adult women and four were underaged brides.220 It has been alleged that among the 233 women victims,
120 were killed because of dowry, 103 were physically abused in various
ways for dowry-related demands and 10 women committed suicide due to
dowry-related violence. Among the four under-aged brides, three were
killed and one committed suicide because of dowry. During this time, one
female child was killed and one male child was injured as they were
victimised with their mothers. Furthermore, ten relatives of victims were
also physically abused for dowry.
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
4
Grand Total
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
Suicide
12
15
14
22
17
24
23
18
26
18
34
10
233
Physically
abused
0
1
2
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
2
0
10
Total Female
Victims
Killed
5
3
8
8
8
12
14
6
10
10
14
5
103
Subtotal
Suicide
7
11
4
14
8
12
8
11
15
7
18
5
120
Suicide
Physically
abused
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total
Killed
Month
Girl victims
(Underaged
brides)
Killed
Women
victims
(Brides)
Subtotal
Table 25: Dowry-related violence in 2014
7
11
4
14
8
13
8
11
15
7
18
7
123
5
3
8
8
8
12
14
6
10
10
14
5
103
0
1
2
0
1
0
2
1
1
1
2
0
11
12
15
14
22
17
25
24
18
26
18
34
12
237
220 The Child Marriage Prohibition Act specifically stipulates that a male has to be 21 years or over
and a female has to be 18 years or over in order to be eligible to marry.
99
234.On 3 March 2014 a pregnant housewife, Safia Begum (27 years old), was
strangled to death over dowry demands in Maghan village under the
jurisdiction of the Mohanganj Upazila in Netrokona District. Soon after the
marriage, Safia Begums husband Hanif started abusing her for dowry. On
3 March 2014, Safia was forced to bring 200 00 taka from her fathers
house. Hanif beat Safia when she refused to bring more money and
strangled her to death at midnight. An unnatural death case was filed with
Mohanganj Police Station in this regard.221
235.A housewife named Amena Begum (18 years old) was allegedly killed by
her in-laws over dowry demands in Tangail. On the afternoon of 1 July
2014, local people saw Amenas body floating in the river at Poshna
adjacent to her in-laws house and they informed the police. Police
recovered the body and sent it to the morgue for an autopsy. Blood was
coming out of the deceaseds nose and her throat was bruised. A murder
case was filed with Kalihati Police Station in this regard. Amena's family
alleged that Amenas husband, Harun, and his family members were
pressurising her for dowry soon after the marriage and for this Amena had
been physically and mentally abused.222
236.On 1 November 2014 a housewife named Mukta Khatun (18 years old)
was severely beaten by her husband, Farooq Hossain, and her in-laws
over dowry demands in Khukni Jugipara under the jurisdiction of the
Enayetpur Upazila in Sirajganj District. Mukta Khatun was admitted to
Sirajganj General Hospital in a critical condition. She succummbed to her
injuries on November 2 at 12:00 pm. Her family informed Odhikar that
Mukta married Farooq Hossain in August 2014. Muktas husband was
demanding gold ornaments and 100,000 taka and she was even sent to
her fathers house for more dowry.223
ACID ATTACKS
237.Despite the existence of the Acid Control Act, 2002 and Acid Crime Control
Act, 2002, girls and women are falling victim to acid violence due to the
non-implementation of the laws. Many men have also fallen victim to acid
attacks. Though it is a punishable offence to buy, sell or import acid
without a licence, due to a loose monitoring system, acid is readily
available and such violence can be perpetrated upon any person. A
majority of the acid attacks on women occur due to refusal of proposal of
love, marriage or sexual advances or over land disputes.
238.According to information gathered by Odhikar, between January
222 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Tangail
223 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Sirajganj
100
December 2014, it was reported that 66 persons became victims of acid

violence. Of these affected persons, 44 were women, seven were men, 10
were girls and five were boys.
Table: Statistics of Acid Violence in 2014

Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total
Sl.
No.
1
2
3
101
Female
Adult
Child
1
3
4
3
3
3
3
4
3
12
3
2
44
0
1
2
1
0
0
0
4
2
0
0
10
Male
Adult
Child
0
0
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
7
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
0
0
5
Grand
Total
1
3
6
7
6
4
5
4
8
16
4
2
66
Reasons for Acid Violence in 2014

Female
Male
Reasons for acid
Adul
Child Adult Child
violence
t
Dowry
2
0
0
0
Refusal of Proposal for/
marriage, Love, dating
4
4
1
0
or sex
Marital Problems/
11
1
1
0
Grand
Total
2
9
13
4
5
6
7
8
9
Family dispute
Stalking/sexual
harassment
Due to victim's decision
to divorce or seek
divorce or money
Conflict over land,
property or inheritance
Enmity
Unidentified reasons
Withdrawal of case
Total
10
11
5
10
1
44
0
4
0
10
2
1
0
7
3
2
0
5
10
17
1
66
239.On April 24, 2014 at night, a group of criminals wearing masks threw acid
on a woman named Laily Akhter (19) when she was returning home with
her cousin Chompa after recharging her mobile phone in Nolkata village
under Bhandaria Upazila in Pirozepur District. Parts of Laily Akhters back,
legs and left eye were burnt with acid. She was admitted to Barisal
Medical College Hospital. A case was filed with Bhandaria Police Station
accusing seven criminals. Police arrested one of the culprits named
Delwar Hossain.224
240.On July 14, 2014 a housewife named Minara Akhter Sathi was beaten and
burnt with acid by her husband, school teacher Rafiqul Islam over dowry
demands in Ratanpur village under Panchbibi Upazila in Joypurhat District.
Minara Akhter was admitted to Joypurhat District Hospital with severe acid
burns. Minara Akhter alleged that her mother gave three hundred
thousand taka to Rafiqul Islam at the time of marriage by selling a house.
Her husband often tortured her for two hundred thousand taka more.225
241.On October 7, 2014 at midnight, rivals threw acid at a sleeping husband
and wife in Kamarkhand under Sirajganj district. The victims are: Shah
Alam alias Rojgar (44), son of late Rahim Box of Modhya Bhodraghat
under Kamarkhand Upazila; and his wife Arjina Khatun (38). They were
admitted to the Surgery Ward of Sirajganj General Hospital in critical
condition. Shah Alams legs, back and a part of his mouth and Arjina
Khatuns legs, right hand and a part of her mouth were burnt. Shah Alam
informed Odhikar that at around 2:00 am, criminals threw acid at them
while they were sleeping. Residential Medical Officer of Sirajganj General
Hospital, Dr. Faridul Islam informed Odhikar that on October 8, 2014 at
225 The daily Jugantar, 16/07/2014
102
around 4:00 am, the husband and wife were admitted to the hospital. 50%
of Shah Alams body and 40% of Arjina Khatuns body were burnt. They
are being treated in the surgery ward. However, they will be sent to the
burn unit at Dhaka Medical College Hospital soon for better treatment.226
RAPE
242.It is alarming that there are significant numbers of female children who
are victims of rape and that child rape is on the rise. If an incident of rape
is revealed, in most probability, it will not be brought before the court and
local elites will try to resolve the matter through a biased village
arbitration that may punish the victim more. If the matter goes to the
court, the victim becomes victimised again as a majority of such cases are
not held in camera and the pattern of questions asked by the male Judges
during the court proceedings become humiliating.
243.In 2014, Odhikar recorded a total number of 666 females who were raped.
Among them, 244 were women, 393 were children below the age of 18
and the age of 29 females could not be determined. Of the women, 31
were killed after being raped, 118 were victims of gang rape, and seven
women committed suicide after being raped. Out of the 393 children, 34
children were killed after being raped, 92 were victims of gang rape and
five committed suicide after being raped. During this period, 71 women
and children faced the sexual violence related with attempted rape.
226 Report sent by human right defender associated with Odhikar from Sirajganj
103
Table: Statistics of Rape (January-December 2014)

Total number of victims
Total number of women
Total number of children
Unidentified age
Women
Children
Age unknown
Women
Children
Age unknown
Women
Children
Age unknown
Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
Septemb
er
October
Novembe
r
Decembe
r
Total
Committed
suicide
after being
raped
39
51
42
59
65
47
57
60
13
22
15
20
20
15
20
25
22
24
26
34
41
30
36
34
4
5
1
5
4
2
1
1
5
11
7
8
9
9
10
13
2
4
8
16
6
9
9
8
2
4
1
4
2
1
1
0
2
3
0
3
2
2
1
2
1
1
4
3
7
0
2
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
49
16
32
11
10
87
30
55
13
11
62
23
37
10
48
25
22
12
666
244
393
29
118
92
17
31
34
Killed after
being raped
Gang Rape
244.On 10 May 2014 a mentally disabled girl was gang raped by criminals in
Ratanpur village under the jurisdiction of the Sokhipur Upazila in the
Tangail District. It was learnt that four criminals of the Hatibandha village
raped the girl in a jungle while she was returning to Berabari village from
her maternal uncles house at Hatibandha. Later she was handed over to
four other criminals in the Ratanpur area who also gang raped her. The
victim was admitted to Tangail General Hospital. On 13 May 2014, her
uncle, as plaintiff, filed a case with the Sokhipur Police Station accusing
the eight criminals. Police arrested three accused persons, named
Ramprashad, Alam Mia and Polash.227
245.On the night of 1 September 2014, a female student of class VIII was
strangled to death after being raped in Sudin Village under the jurisdiction
104
of the Amoldighi Upazila in Bogra District. The family of the victim said
that she went to bed after completing her studies and dinner. At around
1:30 am, criminals entered her room and strangled her with her scarf
after violating her.228
246.On 10 October 2014 at 12:00 am, a housewife was raped by criminals in
the absence of her husband at Moukhali village in Chandkhali under the
jurisdiction of the Paikgachha Upazila in the Khulna District. Criminals also
tried to strangle her. Hearing her screams, neighbours rushed to the site
and the rapists fled. She was referred to the One Stop Crisis Centre in
Khulna Medical College Hospital in a critical condition. The Officer-inCharge of Paikgachha Police Station, Sikdar Akkas Ali, said that her fatherin-law, Selim Talukder, had been missing since the incident. As a result, he
is under suspicion.
STALKING (SEXUAL HARASSMENT)

247.A majority of the victims of stalking are young women at the school and
college level.
248.According to information gathered by Odhikar, a total of 272 girls and
women were victims of sexual harassment between January December
2014. Among them, two were killed, 35 were injured, eight were
abducted, 20 were assaulted, 14 committed suicide and 193 were
sexually harassed in various ways. During this period, five men were killed
and 35 were injured by the stalkers when they protested against such
acts. Further, three women were killed and 13 women were injured by the
stalkers when they protested against such acts.
249.On 15 April 2014, a 15-year old madrassa student, Jamena Akhter, was
sexually harassed by Pallabi Thana unit Jubo League General Secretary
Jewel Rana and his associates Rakib, Sahabuddin and Jewel at Pallabis
Bauniabad Colony in Dhaka. Jamena Akhter committed suicide on the
evening of the incident.229
250.A student of class IX, Umme Kulsum Ritu, was stalked by a local
debauched youth, Shimul Chandra Mandol, while on her way to and from
school in Khilgaon, Dhaka. Later Shimul started to stand in front of Ritus
home. On 6 September 2014, Shimul Chandra Mandol and his associates
came to Ritus home in the absence of her parents and behaved
indecently with Ritu. They also threatened her. After this incident, Ritu
locked herself in her room and ingested poison. She was taken to Dhaka
Medical College Hospital in a critical condition, where she died. 230 Shimul
Chandra Mondol is yet to be arrested.
105
251.On 4 September 2014 a group of stalkers stabbed to death a youth

named Basir Uddin for protesting against the stalking of his sister at
Uttarpara under the jurisdictionof the Debidwar Upazila in Comilla. It was
learnt that Basir Uddins younger sister was harassed on her way to and
from school by a group of men including Oliullah, Mahbub, Arif and
Sanaullah. Basir Uddin was stabbed as he had protested against this
crime.231
252.Odhikar campaigns continuously against all forms of violence and
harassment against women and female children. Due to the absence of
the rule of law, perpetrators in Bangladesh enjoy immunity. A weak
criminal justice system and high level of corruption and criminalisation
within the law enforcement agencies have further aggravated this
situation.
230 New Age, 08/09/2014

106
CHAPTER XI: PERFORMANCE OF NATIONAL

INSTITUTIONS
THE JUDICIARY
253.A Judiciary fully independent of the Executive is the essence in a
democracy according to the doctrine of Separation of Power. The doctrine
has also been reflected in the Constitution of Bangladesh, which says,
The state shall ensure the separation of the Judiciary from the Executive
organ of the state.232Although successive political governments have
often highlighted the lofty ideals of an independent Judiciary, in reality
they did very little for an effective separation of the Judiciary from the
Executive. The Supreme Court, in a judgement delivered on December 2,
1999, detailed 12 directives on the Government on how the lower
Judiciary should be separated from the Executive and ordered placing the
lower Judiciary under the supervision of the Supreme Court. The
governments of alliances led by the Awami League and the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party dragged their feet on the implementation of the
directives for seven years or so, repeatedly obtaining an extension of the
deadline. Ironically, a military-backed caretaker regime implemented
some of the directives, resulting in amendments to the Code of Criminal
Procedure; and four sets of Rules on the service and salaries and financial
benefits of the lower court judges on November 1, 2007. While leaders of
different political parties claimed their respective contributions towards
making the Judiciary independent of Governmental interference, some
basic issues directly linked with the independence of the Judiciary have
never been addressed and have impacted on the independence of the
Judiciary. The Judiciary has increasingly been subjected to political
manipulation under successive governments to the extent that its
independence is found to be often compromised by controversial
appointments, promotions, removals, and conduct of judges. 233
254.It is indeed very unfortunate that even seven years after the lower
judiciary had been declared independent of the Executive; the Supreme
Court did not get full control over it. For instance, in the absence of a
separate Secretariat, ordered in the 12-point directives issued by the
highest court in a landmark judgement on December 2, 1999 in the
matter of Secretary, Ministry of Finance vs. Md. Masdar Hossain and
others, 52 DLR (AD) 82, 20 BLD (AD) 104; the transfer, promotion and
232 Article 22, the Constitution of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
233 http://www.ti-bangladesh.org/beta3/images/2014/fr_nis_NICSA_14_en.pdf A publication of TIB
titled National Integrity System Assessment Bangladesh Authors: Professors Salahuddin
Aminuzzaman and Sumaiya Khair, 14 May 2014
107
posting of judges are now being carried out by the Ministry of Law, Justice
and Parliamentary Affairs, of course, in consultation with the Supreme
Court. Moreover, according to Masdar Hossain, quoted in a New Age
report, there have so far been many cases in which the Law Ministry has
not complied with the recommendations made by the Supreme Court on
transfer, promotion and posting of judges.234
255.It is, however, shocking that the Law Ministry now questions the necessity
of the establishment of a separate Secretariat under the Supreme Court,
ordered and decided by the highest court 15 years ago. Acting Law
Secretary Abu Saleh Sheikh Md Zahirul Haque has said, as quoted in a
New Age report, that there is no necessity of establishing separate
Secretariat for the Supreme Court, since the Law Ministry is acting as the
Secretariat of the Supreme Court.235
256.The higher Judiciary is also suffering from indirect government
supervision, in particular through the appointment of Judges and state
Attorneys, who are often known for their political allegiances. While the
politicisation of these appointments has been pointed out for several
years, no government has enacted a law detailing the procedure,
qualifications and way of appointment of Judges of the higher Judiciary.
257.In a writ petition filed by Raghib Rauf Chowdhury (Writ Petition 4403 of
2010), Honourable Justice Md. Imman Ali issued a Rule Nisi asking the
Government to explain why guidelines should not be framed in respect of
the process of the selection of persons for being appointed as Judges of
the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and to publish the same in Bangladesh
Gazette Extraordinary in order to bring transparency and competitiveness
in such a process under the Constitution by causing a wider pool of
applicants to be considered through public notifications inviting
application as mandated by the settled principles of Separation and
Independence of Judiciary being the basic structure of the Constitution ...
Neither the petition has yet been disposed of nor guidelines have been
framed.
258.Although the government has never enacted a law on appointment of the
Supreme Court Judges, it has already restored the Parliaments power to
remove the Supreme Court Judges for of a misconduct or incapacity
through the 16th Amendment to the Constitution236, that too in defiance of
enormous criticism on part of conscious citizens in general, constitutional
234 No more delay in ensuring independent judiciary, New Age, November 2, 2014, p-8
235 Independent judiciary still a far cry, New Age, November 1, 2014, p-1
236 On September 17, 2014 the Parliament unanimously passed the much-talked "The Constitution
(Sixteenth Amendment) Bill, 2014" restoring the parliament's power to remove Supreme Court judges
for their 'misconduct or incapacity'.
108
experts in particular, and all opposition political parties. Moreover, no law

has yet been enacted detailing the procedure of an inquiry into allegation
of misconduct or incapacity of a Supreme Court judge for his/her removal
by the Parliament.
259.Odhikar recommends enactment of a law guiding the appointment of
Supreme Court Judges and another law detailing the procedure of inquiry
into allegation against Supreme Court Judges for removal, the
establishment of a separate Secretariat for the lower Judiciary under the
Supreme Court, the implementation of the 12-point directive of the
Supreme Court in its entirety and to ensure the effective and actual
separation of the Judiciary from the Executive.
BANGLADESH POLICE
260.The Police Force is a designated disciplined force of any sovereign country
which acts under the rule of law. In Bangladesh, we see quite opposite.
Bangladesh Police has a reputation of abusing its authority through
coercive and corrupt means. They have been used by all the regimes for
the latters political benefit and not to protect the interest of the ordinary
citizens. The force is responsible for generating victims of torture and
creating fabricated criminal charges against civilians and political
opponents for a very long time. To keep the police subservient to the
ruling elite, the government has kept the salary of the police force low. 237
This serves as an incentive for the police officers to demand and accept
bribes. Furthermore, corruption and nepotism during the recruitment
process, transfer and promotions are widespread.
261.Widespread torture of detainees is common in criminal investigations in
Bangladesh under all regimes, and has become an unmistakable feature
of the government's crackdown against independent and political voices.
Persons detained by police are routinely subjected to physical and
psychological abuse, often from the initial moments of their arrest. The
concerned authority often refuses to hold police and security forces
accountable for acts of torture, and even tacitly encourage torture though
its broadcasting of political prisoners' public "confessions" as tools of
political propaganda.238
237 This is also the observation of Transparency International Bangladesh and has been mentioned in
their reports on corruption in the law enforcing agencies in Bangladesh.
238 Social research on police remand and the desecration of human fundamental right of
Bangladesh. http://www.write3.com/details/5374
109
Political use of the Police Force

262.In the face of huge criticisms from home and abroad against extrajudicial
killings in the name of crossfire, gunfight or encounter and enforced
disappearance, the law enforcers have resorted to shooting people in
their legs to maim them. The trend, which came to light in 2011, is a
matter of grave concern. Moreover, the State Minister for Home Affairs
Asaduzzaman Khan made a statement that the incident of shooting Limon
Hossain, a college student, in his leg was a mere accident 239 which further
acknowledges the culture of impunity enjoyed by law enforcement
agencies. A tendency of taking the law into ones own hands is also being
observed among the members of law enforcement agencies. This
tendency continues due to the political use of the law enforcers and a
culture of prolonged impunity. Even the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)
has been used in foiling political programmes of the opposition, even
though its main task is to protect the border.
263.The police force has over the years drawn flak for its failure to protect the
citizens and for deviating from proper policing. Instead of upholding the
rule of law, the police have been indiscriminately used by governments
and major political forces for self serving interests. Consequently, the
police enjoy political patronage and impunity. This state of affairs has
impeded the independence of the police force, undermined accountability
structures and led to create a deficit in the public trust regarding their
ability and willingness to function in the public interest.240
Bribery and corruption within the police force

264.Police integrity is compromised by nepotism, political patronage and an
absence of sanctions for wrong doing. Much depends on political
consideration and personal gains. This leads to a loss of discipline,
arrogance and a culture of impunity among police officers. The police are
publicly known for their corrupt practices that range from accepting
money from traffic rule violators to helping criminals escape. The
reluctance on the part of the police to offer protection without bribes or
pressure from some higher authority, has virtually privatised state
security services in favour of the rich and influential. 241Experts claim that
239 Shooting of Limon: State Minister terms it an accident, The Daily Star, October 23, 2014.
240 http://www.ti-bangladesh.org/beta3/images/2014/fr_nis_NICSA_14_en.pdf; A publication of TIB
241http://www.ti-bangladesh.org/beta3/images/2014/fr_nis_NICSA_14_en.pdf; A publication of TIB

110
the chain of bribery and collusion between different levels of officers

exists within the police administration, with the benefits of corruption
being shared among different levels. Recruitment and postings are also
sources of corruption within the police force. Unfortunately, where a
complaint is filed against a police officer, in most cases there is no
investigation undertaken into it, as any prosecution of a public servant
needs government sanction.242 Even the National Human Rights
Commission Chairman, Mizanur Rahman, has mentioned that the law
enforcement agencies are the worst violators of human rights in the
country.243
265.In Bangladesh, the officers of law-enforcement agencies conceal their
illegal assets using the names of their wives, children, or in-laws; and thus
there is no effective mechanism or institution for holding policemen
accountable for their illegal wealth. The political regimes and the
institutions, such as the Anti-Corruption Commission, which is obliged to
curb corruption, constantly keep their eyes averted so that the rampant
corruption can serve their mutual purposes. Subsequently, the chain of
command is systematically replaced by a chain of corruption within the
law-enforcement agencies.244
THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

266.The National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh (NHRC) was
established in 2007 under the Human Rights Commission Ordinance and
reconstituted under the National Human Rights Commission Act 2009 on
June 22, 2010 after the Parliamentary elections. The Commission
comprises of a full-time Chairman, a full-time Member and five part time
Members. With power to investigate but no authority to sanction any
action, the NHRC has been established as an independent body 245 for
protecting, promoting and providing guarantee to human rights
properly.246
267.The process of selecting the NHRC Chairman and Members questions the
independence of the Commission, with six out of seven members of the
242 Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states that if any case is to be brought against a
public servant, it first needs government sanction.
243http://www.thedailystar.net/tags/; National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman

244 The State of Human Rights in Bangladesh, 2013 by AHRC.
http://1dgy051vgyxh41o8cj16kk7s19f2.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/AHRCSPR-008-2013-HRRpt-Bangladesh.pdf
245 NHRC Act 2009, Chapter II, section 3 (2),see http://www.nhrc.org.bd/PDF/NHRC%20Act

%202009_1_.pdf
246 NHRC Act 2009, Preamble
111
Selection Committee being government officials, a Member of Parliament

from the Treasury Bench and Ministers; resulting in a selection being
based on loyalty to the government.
268.The NHRC Act 2009 empowers the NHRC to investigate any complaint of
human rights violations and make recommendations to the government to
take action against the perpetrators. However, these recommendations
are not binding and therefore, mostly ignored. Besides these limited
powers, the NHRC failed to take effective measures against human rights
violations, whereas the Commission itself acknowledged that these
human rights violations are taking place in Bangladesh. NHRC Chairman
Mizanur Rahman, after attending a roundtable organised by ActionAid
Bangladesh at CIRDAP Auditorium on May 5, 2014, told reporters, the
recent killings and abductions are the testimony of a worsening human
rights situation in the country. He had also said, In 2013 the government
in its Universal Periodic Review report said that there were no enforced
disappearances and extrajudicial killings but now we feel insulted for the
ongoing incidents.247 The NHRC is, however, yet to take any remedial
action in these regards keeping the national human rights institution
practically ineffective.
269.The facts and statistics mentioned in this report provide a poignant
reminder of the abysmal human rights situation in Bangladesh. Incidents
of human rights violations reported by national and international human
rights watchdogs in 2014 were also not investigated by the NHRC. The
NHRC seems to forget the main purpose for which it was created.
270.The NHRC Act 2009 empowers the NHRC to recommend ratifications of
international human rights instruments, but the Commission has so far
made no effective recommendation. While Odhikar has been advocating
for the ratification of the OPCAT as a real opportunity to improve the
prevention of torture, it had no support from this institution.
271.Considering the human rights situation in Bangladesh in 2014, the
country needs a national institution empowered to protect those rights.
But such institution should follow the Paris Principles, adopted by the UN
General Assembly in March 4, 1994,248 according to which the national
human rights institutions have all necessary guarantees to ensure the
pluralist representation of the social forces of civilian society 249 and shall
Freely consider any questions falling within its competence, whether they
are submitted by the Government or taken up by it without referral to a
247http://newagebd.net/8843/human-rights-threatened-nhrc-chairman/#sthash.2nztprRQ.dpbs
248 http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/StatusOfNationalInstitutions.aspx
249 Article 1 of the Chapter titled as Composition and guarantees of independence and pluralism of
the Paris Principles, http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/48/a48r134.htm
112
higher authority, on the proposal of its members or of any petitioner 250.

The role and work of the NHRC of Bangladesh unfortunately fell far from
these expectations in 2014, being a powerless institution that does not
serve the interest of the people of Bangladesh.
THE INFORMATION COMMISSION

272.The Information Commission, since its establishment on July 1, 2009, has
so far made little progress in ensuring the peoples right to information
through the proper implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2009.
The 2009 Act envisages a three-member independent Information
Commission to oversee the information dissemination process. It is
evident that the Government intends to have control over the Commission
formation of a five-member Selection Panel designed to choose the
members of the Commission. The government has direct control over
three of the five members of the selection panel under the 2009 Act,
which says that the presence of three of the five members will make a
quorum and that the decisions will be made at the meeting/s of the
Selection Committee based on the opinion of the majority of the
members. There is, therefore, hardly any scope for independent people,
politically or intellectually, to be a member of the independent
Information Commission. Moreover, the 2009 Act stipulates that the
Commission will require the Governments approval for a set of Rules to
be framed by the Commission for its functioning.
273.The governments intention to keep the Commission a toothless body is
also evident in the very little jurisdiction that the 2009 Act has granted to
it, to punish errant authorities responsible for providing information to the
public. True, the Commission has been given the power to take action
against an authority or an official concerned, in case the latter are found
guilty, upon an investigation into the allegation of a citizen, of denying the
citizen any information without valid reason, or of providing the citizen
with inadequate or false or misleading information. But the kind of
punishment that the Commission could award an errant official is
absolutely insignificant: a fine of Tk 50 per day for a certain period, which
will not exceed Tk 5,000. Besides, the Commission would recommend to
the [higher] authorities concerned departmental action against the
errant authority or official, and could request the [higher] authorities
concerned to inform the Commission as to what action the former has
taken against the errant authority/official. Notably, the Law is completely
silent as to what would happen if the higher authorities refuse to honour
the Commissions recommendation for a departmental action against the
authority/official for violating the Right to Information Act and/or refuse to
250 Article a of the Chapter titled as Methods of operation,
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/48/a48r134.htm
113
entertain the Commissions request to inform the body about the actions
taken.
274.
Even after five years, the Commission has made little progress in
the proper implementation of the 2009 Act. Many organisations, both
government and non-government, are yet to appoint designated
officers for providing people with information. The Commission ordered
the appointment of Designated Officer/s and Appellate Officer/s in at
least five of the appeals, against the denial of information to people, it
disposed of in 2014, according to the decisions in the appeals posted
on the website of the Commission. 251 The designated officers are
transferred and their positions remain vacant, depriving people of their
right to information. On 2 October 2013, the High Court asked the
government authorities to explain why they refused to make it
mandatory that right to information officers are made permanent and
non-transferrable at all government and statutory offices. The Court
also issued a Rule asking the Attorney General, the Supreme Court
Registrar, the Judicial Service Commission, the Dhaka District and
Sessions Judge, the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, and the
Bangladesh Bar Council to explain why they refused to appoint
designated officers at their offices as mandated in the Right to
Information Act 2009. The bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and
Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the Order after
hearing a Writ Petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Abdul Halim, who
was denied information from the Supreme Court Registrar. He then
filed a complaint to the Information Commission but the Commission
did not take any action against the Registrar. He also prayed for
appointment of designated officers in six other judicial offices, which
do not have such officers although the RTI Act, 2009 mandates the
appointment of RTI officers within 60 days after its enactment. 252 No
further development about the writ petition has been reported.
275.The Information Commission in 2014 disposed of 139 appeals against
denial of information to people by different offices/officials, according to
information posted on the website of the Commission. Of the appeals, 78
ended with direction to the officers concerned to provide the information
sought and one of the 78 appeals ended with a fine imposed on an official
concerned. The Commission fined Bangladesh Inland Water Transport
Corporations Public Relations Officer Tk 2,000 for violating the
Commissions order to provide an applicant with information. The
Commission also reprimanded the Satkhira Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer
251http://www.infocom.gov.bd/
252
The daily New Age (online edition), 02/10/2013, http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?

date=2013-10-02&nid=67700#.UsFaxfsq7IV
114
for not providing an applicant with information.253

276.Odhikar recommends the establishment of the peoples right to
information by establishing an effective and truly independent Information
Commission.
THE ELECTION COMMISSION

277.On January 5, 2014, the 10th Parliamentary Elections were held
unilaterally, without the participation of the opposition political parties,
due to which the people became deprived from casting their votes. The
opposition political parties were demanding elections under a neutral
caretaker government; a provision which the government removed from
the Constitution by introducing the controversial 15 th amendment to the
Constitution.
278.The Election Commission is a constitutional body. The Constitution of the
Peoples Republic of Bangladesh specifically lays out its composition and
functions. According to Article 118(1) of the Constitution, the Election
Commission consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and not more than
four Election Commissioners and the appointment of the Chief Election
Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall, subject to the
provisions of any law made in that behalf, be made by the President. In
the 1972 Constitution, there was no mention of the maximum number of
Election Commissioners. The number of Election Commissioners along
with the Chief Election Commissioner was fixed to a maximum of five by
the 15th Amendment to the Constitution.
279.However, the neutrality of the Election Commission has become
hampered due to the arbitrary appointment of the Chief Election
Commissioner and other Election Commissioners with partisan image,
recruitment of local level election officials with partisan background,
politicization and planned placement of officials of the administration
before elections.254 All these are reflected in the results of elections in
favour of the ruling party. A number of irregularities and corruption within
the EC has also been observed in respect to promotion and transfer of the
officials at both the EC Secretariat and at the field offices and financial
irregularities and lack of transparency in a number of cases.255
280.The unilateral announcement of the 10 th Parliamentary Elections Schedule
253
http://www.infocom.gov.bd/
254 The Daily Star, 09/02/2012, http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?

nid=221691
255 http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/the-choice-between-the-unpalatable-and-disastrous/
115
by the Election Commission on November 25,

violence across the country. The schedule was
Election Commissioner, Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed,
nation without having any compromise between
Opposition.
2013 triggered political

announced by the Chief
through a speech to the
the Government and the
281.Odhikar believes that the country is being placed in an extremely

vulnerable position by abolishing the process of free, fair and inclusive
elections under a neutral government system. As a result, the
controversial 10th National Parliamentary elections were held on January 5,
2014 and extensive irregularities and violence occurred in Upazila
Parishad Elections. There seems to be a serious lack of professionalism in
terms of delivering the function of the Election Commission. Poor
understanding of the electoral laws; non-implementation of the laws; nonperformance of their regular duties; lack of accountability and the
absence of stock-taking indicate the present leadership of the Election
Commission is completely unable to conduct any elections in future.
282.A serious lack of professionalism in terms of delivering the functions of
the Election Commission has been manifested during the elections held
under the present Commission. A poor understanding of electoral laws,
non-implementation of the laws, non-performance of regular jobs, lack of
accountability and absence of stock-taking indicate that the
Commissioners as well as other officials of this institution are failing
miserably.256 There is no government policy on strengthening the EC in
terms of using the experience of field level officials through their proper
placement. No successive governments have ever shown interest in
strengthening the EC in terms of legal reforms, through enacting enabling
laws for the EC administration. No government has really wanted to
create an empowered, independent Election Commission.257
283.Odhikar believes that ensuring transparent, credible, free and fair
elections is the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission.
The Election Commission has to conduct elections in a free, fair and
impartial manner, without being biased towards the ruling party. This is
the mandatory duty of the EC. The Election Commission has failed to hold
a free, fair and impartial election. Odhikar believes that it is very
important to form a strong and effective Election Commission in
Bangladesh; which would hold free and fair elections under a neutral
government. The provision of elections under a Caretaker government
has been repealed through the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution,
which has caused a serious political crisis. The amount of violence and
256 Bangladesh Election Commission, A Diagnostic Study by TIB, http://www.tibangladesh.org/research/ES_ElectionCommission.pdf
257 Ibid
116
illegal activities perpetrated during the 10 th Parliamentary Elections and

Upazila Elections establish that Bangladesh still needs a neutral
government and a strong independent Election Commission to hold free,
fair, inclusive and credible polls.
ANTI CORRUPTION COMMISSION
AND ITS ACCOUNTABILITY
284.The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) was established under the Anti
Corruption Commission Act, 2004 in order to prevent corruption in the
country and to investigate other specific crimes, including forgery and
money laundering. Section 2 of the Act says, This Commission will be
independent and impartial. However, the ACC is functioning as per
instructions of the ruling party, which has been reflected in several of its
activities over the years. ACC had initiated investigations into acts of
corruption by the former Ministers, Members of Parliament, influential
politicians and bureaucrats. However, most of those graft suspects have
been given a clean chit by the ACC. The ACC has given impunity to all
the accused in 5,349 registered cases, including cases registered by the
then Bureau of Anti Corruption, which was abolished and merged into the
ACC in 2004, in the last three years and eight months period.
285.Between January and August 2014, about 1,600 politicians, backed by the
ruling party Awami League, and high-level government officers were given
clean chits. Among them, the ACC had given impunity to former
Communication Minister, Syed Abul Hossain for the Padma Bridge scam
and former Health Minister AFM Ruhul Huq for possessing illegal wealth.
Furthermore, clean chits were given to the Deputy Leader of the
Parliament, Sajeda Chowdhury; former Health Affairs Adviser to the Prime
Minister Syed Modasser Ali; the Disaster Management and Relief Minister
Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya; the Health Minister, Mohammad
Nasim; and former Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Philippines, Mazeda
Rafiqun Nesa. On 30 November 2014, the ACC submitted a charge sheet
in a corruption case relating to recruitment in the Bangladesh Railway
which excluded the suspended Director General of the Eastern Railway, G
M Yusuf Ali Mridha, from the list of accused. On 29 July 2014, the ACC also
dropped Mridha from the charge sheet in a corruption case for the
recruitment of Record Keeper and Grade-2 Goods Assistant. It is to be
noted that on 9 April 2012, Yusuf Ali Mridha was arrested with a sack full
of money amounting to seven million Taka on his way to the house of the
then Railway Minister Suranjit Sengupta.258
286.It is to be noted as well that the Commission also relieved some senior
Awami League leaders and people associated with the ruling party of graft
charges in 2013. Those ruling party men include former parliamentarian
117
HBM Iqbal and former Chief Whip and Awami League leader Abul Hasnat
Abdullah. In June 2013, the ACC relieved former Minister Mohiuddin Khan
Alamgir of an allegation of corruption. In the meanwhile, the ACC
continues legal proceedings in the cases filed against top leaders of the
BNP.259
287.About 50 officials of the Anti Corruption Commission have been accused
of taking bribes from graft suspects for setting them free. There were
allegations that ACC officials demanded bribes from the accused
threatening to file cases, investigate and press charges against them.
Most of the victims did not dare to complain to the ACC, but made
allegations to intelligence agencies.260
288.On 10 August 2013, the law enforcers picked up Odhikars Secretary
Adilur Rahman Khan without any warrant and later showed him arrested
under the Information Communication Technology Act for publishing a fact
finding report on extrajudicial killing, centring on a rally of Hefazate Islam
on 5-6 May 2013. Soon after this incident, the Anti Corruption Commission
started investigations into the financial transactions of Odhikar; which
escalated in January 2014 after Adilur Rahman Khan was released on bail.
The ACC is putting pressure on the 20-year old human rights organisation,
Odhikar, since August 2013 in the name of investigation.
THE PARLIAMENT
289.The present Parliament was established by the controversial 10 th
Parliamentary Elections held on 5 January 2014. Most of the political
parties, which are registered with the Election Commission, practically all
opposition political parties including the main opposition, the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP)-led Alliance, boycotted the elections. The
Opposition alliance called on all for boycotting and resisting these
elections. As a result of this boycott, 153 candidates from the ruling
Awami League and its alliance were elected uncontested, out of the 300
parliamentary constituencies even before the polling was held. Of these
constituencies, Awami League got 127 seats, Jatiya Party (Ershad) 20,
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal three, Workers Party of Bangladesh two, and
Jatiya Party (Monju) got one seat. Later polling took place in the remaining
147 constituencies on 5 January 2014. A total of 40,802,739 voters out of
the 91,948,861 voters could not cast their vote, as the candidates for the
153 constituencies, to which they belonged, were declared elected
unopposed.261
290.The ruling Awami League reassumed power through this controversial
118
elections and its former political ally Jatiya Party became the Opposition in
Parliament but also accepted ministries in the government, creating an
unprecedented vulnerable situation for democracy, due to absence of an
effective Opposition in the Parliament.
291.Odhikar believes that the Parliament should be made the centre of all
activities through conducting a free, fair and inclusive election under the
supervision of the United Nations. The political crisis which has been
created through flawed and farcical elections on 5 January 2014 must be
resolved immediately.
CHAPTER XII: RECOMMENDATIONS

292.A political crisis has been created due to the forcible assumption of power
through conducting connived and controversial elections on 5 January
2014. The political crisis has already become the cause of severe human
rights violations. There is no alternative other than holding a free, fair,
inclusive and credible election immediately by ensuring the participation
of all political parties, under a neutral government or under the
supervision of the United Nations, in order to resolve this. All parties must
come to a consensus to curtail violence and confrontational politics and
stop the culture of blame games when violence occurs; and ensure
punishment of the perpetrators, as provided under the law.
293.The Government must stop the practice of denial of civil and political
rights of the people and cease all forms of repression, particularly on the
opposition political parties and non-party dissenting voices. The
Government must also respect the freedoms of assembly and association.
Denial of the right of assembly and the rightful expression of grievances,
paves the way for political violence. The Government must also stop the
indiscriminate imposition of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure.
294.Freedom of opinion and expression must be ensured as guaranteed under
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights and other UN treaties. The Government should
stop applying repressive laws. Furthermore, such laws, including the
Special Powers Act 1974, the Information and Communication Technology
Act 2006 (Amended in 2009 and 2013) and the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009
(amended in 2012 and 2013) should immediately be repealed.
119
295.The Government must take legal action against its party activists, who are
involved in criminal activities and corruption. This is the main reason for
criminalisation of politics that is already out of control. The law
enforcement agencies need to play a non-partisan, proactive and
independent role to stop political violence and to take legal measures
against perpetrators and carry out their duties in an accountable and
unbiased manner. The opposition political parties should also follow
peaceful democratic means; and develop trust and confidence in people
articulating democratic demands.
296.The Government must bring all involved in the acts of enforced
disappearance, extrajudicial killings, death in custody, torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment before justice, through proper and
independent investigation. The Government has failed to keep its
commitment to stop extra judicial killings; made at the UN Human Rights
Council during the second cycle of the UPR session in April 2013. The
International community must ensure that the principle of the right to life
is upheld. The Government should take effective measures to find out
and/or return the victims of enforced disappearance. Odhikar and FIDH
demand that the Bangladesh Government thoroughly investigate each
reported incidence of disappearance effectively; and put in place a
directive that security forces must operate within the internationally
accepted norms and laws. Agencies and individuals who commit such
crimes must be identified, investigated and prosecuted. Odhikar and FIDH
also urge the government to accede to the International Convention for
the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which was
adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 December 2006.
297.There must be an immediate end to torture and killing in the custody of
law enforcement agencies, and torture in any form. Incidents of torture
and ill-treatment by law enforcement agencies must be investigated and
the perpetrators be brought to justice under the Torture and Custodial
Death (Prevention) Act, 2013. The Bangladesh Government should ensure
accountability of law enforcement agencies and take action to put an end
to the cycle of impunity. In order to truly control and prevent custodial
torture, the Government must ratify the Optional Protocol to the UN
Convention against Torture, Other Cruel and Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment.
298.The Bangladesh Government must stop repressing media and should
withdraw the ban from the daily Amar Desh, Diganta TV, Islamic TV and
Channel-1 TV. Incidents of attacks on journalists must properly be
investigated and perpetrators of such acts must be brought to justice.
Mahmudur Rahman, Acting Editor of the daily Amar Desh must be
released unconditionally.
120
299.The Government should withdraw the proposed Bill initiated by the NGO
Affairs Bureau, which is intended to extend further control over NGOs, as
it violates freedoms of expression and association.
300.The Bangladesh Government should protest against the ongoing human
rights violations on Bangladeshi citizens by the Border Security Force
(BSF) of India; and investigate all incidents and demand from the Indian
Government adequate compensation for the families of the victims and
punishment of the perpetrators. Odhikar and FIDH also call upon the UN
bodies to investigate such violations of international law and human
rights. The Bangladesh Government should also ensure the safety and
security of the Bangladeshi citizens residing at the border areas.
301.Workers must have the right to organise into trade unions in order to
enter into collective bargaining for wages, benefits, health and medical
facilities and housing arrangements. A welfare programme for garment
workers will have to be supervised and established by the government.
The Government must resolve infrastructural problems in Ready-made
Garment factories, ensure security and health and safety measures for
the workers in the workplace. Wages and bonus should be adequate and
given to garment factory workers on time. Repression must be stopped by
the factory authorities and industrial police.
302.The Labour Law must be amended immediately as per ILO standards. The
Government should take all necessary measures to protect the rights of
the religious and ethnic minority communities and also ensure their
security.
303.Acts of violence against women must stop. The Bangladesh Government
must ensure the implementation of laws appropriately to stop violence
against women and the offenders must be brought to justice under the
purview of the law to ensure that justice is served. The Government
should also develop a mass awareness programmes in order to eliminate
violence against women.
304.The case filed against Odhikars Secretary and its Director under the
Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006 (Amended in 2009)
must be withdrawn. All repressive measure and harassment against
human rights defenders associated with Odhikar should be stopped. The
government must release the funds of Odhikar immediately, to enable it
to continue its human rights activities.
121
ANNEX 1: HIGHLIGHTED STATISTICS BY GRAPH

FROM 2009-2014
122
123
124
125
126
127
ANNEX 2: COMPARABLE STATISTICS OF HUMAN

RIGHTS VIOLATIONS FROM 2009 - 2014
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013**
2014***
Table: Comparable Statistics between 2009- 2014*

Total
Crossfire
129
101
65
53
65
119
532
Torture to death
21
22
17
11
11
89
Shot to death
Beaten to death
Strangled to
death
Total
4
0
2
2
1
1
8
2
245
7
38
4
298
16
154
127
84
70
329
172
936
18
31
26
53
39
170
98
74
31
38
29
35
305
77
72
62
100
79
68
458
25
43
23
74
127
99
391
50
60
105
63
59
54
391
Killed
13
Injured
84
118
139
161
146
92
740
Threatened
73
49
53
63
33
19
290
Assaulted
45
43
43
50
37
24
242
Arrested
15
Killed
251
15559
135
1153
2
169
1716
1
506
2417
6
190
Injured
220
1399
9
1471
9185
6
319
379
516
822
436
237
2709
559
711
805
814
666
4011
273
672
479
333
272
2029
Acid Violence
456
No
informati
on
101
137
101
105
53
66
563
Section 144
28
114
103
105
54
408
Public lynching
127
174
161
132
125
116
835
Killed
33
115
1145
Injured
1301
2389
917
2773
5566
745
1305
1369
1
Type of Human Rights

Violations
Extrajudici
al killings
Enforced Disappearances
Bangladeshis
Human
Killed
rights
Bangladeshis
violations
Injured
by Indian
Bangladeshis
BSF
Abducted
Death in Jail
Attack on
journalists
Political
violence
Dowry related violence against

women
Rape
Sexual harassment /Stalking of
women
RMG
Workers
*Odhikar's documentation.
128
9429
**Note: In 2013, among the 329 extra-judicially killed by law enforcement agencies, 174 were extrajudicially killed in relation to political violence which is also included in the statistical part of 'political
violence'.
***Note: In 2014, among the 172 extra-judicially killed by law enforcement agencies, 21 were extrajudicially killed in relation to political violence which is also included in the statistical part of 'political
violence'.
ANNEX 3: TABLE OF UN TREATIES AND

CONVENTIONS SIGNED/RATIFIED/ACCEDED BY
BANGLADESH
SL
NO.
CONVENTION
ILO Convention - Forced Labour

Convention, 1930 (No.29)
Ratified in June
1972
ILO Convention - Freedom of

Association and Protection of
the Right to Organise
Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
ILO Convention - Right to
Organise and Collective
Bargaining Convention, 1949
(No. 98)
ILO Convention Abolition of
Forced Labour Convention, 1957
(No. 105)
ILO Convention Discrimination
(Employment and Occupation)
Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
ILO Convention Labour
Inspection Convention, 1947
(No. 81)
ILO Convention Tripartite
Consultation (International
Labour Standards) Convention,
1976 (No. 144)
Ratified in June
1972
DATE OF
RATIFICATION
Ratified in June
1972
Ratified in June
1972
Ratified in June
1972
Ratified in June
1972
Ratified in April
1979
International Convention on the

Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination (ICERD) 1966
Acceded in 1979
Convention on the Elimination of

All Forms of Discrimination
against Women 1979
Acceded in 1984
129
RESERVATIONS/
DECLARATIONS
Declaration
The Government of the
People's Republic of
Bangladesh does not

consider as binding upon
itself the provisions of
article 2, and 16 (1) (c) as
they conflict with Sharia
law based on Holy Quran
and Sunna.
10
International Convention on the

Suppression and Punishment of
the Crime of Apartheid 1973
Acceded in 1985
11
Convention on the Rights of the

Child 1989
Signed and
ratified 1990
12
ILO Convention Equal

Remuneration Convention, 1951
(No. 100)
Ratified in
January 1998
13
Convention against Torture and

Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or
Punishment 1984
Acceded in 1998
Convention on Consent to
Marriage, Minimum Age for
Marriage and Registration of
Marriages 1964
Acceded in 1998
14
Article 14, paragraph 1

Article 21 applies subject to
the existing laws and
practices in Bangladesh
Declaration
Bangladesh will apply
article 14 para 1 in
consonance with the
existing laws and
legislation in the country.
Reservations
Article 1: Consent to
marriage
Article 2: Minimum age for
marriage
15
130
International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights1966
Acceded in 1998
Declarations:"Article 1: It is
the understanding of the
Government of the People's
Republic of Bangladesh
that the words "the right of
self-determination of
Peoples" appearing in this
article apply in the
historical context of
colonial rule,
administration, foreign
domination, occupation
and similar situations.
Articles 2 and 3: The
Republic of Bangladesh will
implement articles 2 and 3
in so far as they relate to
equality between man and
woman, in accordance with
the relevant provisions of
its Constitution and in
particular, in respect to
certain aspects of
economic rights viz. law of
inheritance.
Articles 7 and 8:The
Republic of Bangladesh will
apply articles 7 and 8
under the conditions and in
conformity with the
procedures established in
the Constitution and the
relevant legislation of
Bangladesh.
Articles 10 and 13: While
the Government of the
Bangladesh accepts the
provisions embodied in
articles 10 and 13 of the
Covenant in principle, it will
implement the said
provisions in a progressive
manner, in keeping with
the existing economic
conditions and the
development plans of the
country."
16
131
Convention on the Prevention

and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide 1949
Acceded in 1998
Declaration
Article IX: For the
submission of any dispute
in terms of this article to
the jurisdiction of the
International Court of
Justice, the consent of all

parties to the dispute will
be required in each case.
17
Convention on the Political

Rights of Women, 1953
Acceded in 1998
Reservations
Article 3: Consonance with
Constitution
Article 9: Consent of
disputing parties
18
19
Optional Protocol to the

Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination
against Women 1999
Signed and
Ratified in 2000
International Covenant on Civil

and Political Rights
Acceded in 2000
Declaration
Bangladesh declares in
accordance with Article 10
(1) thereof, that it would
not undertake the
obligations arising out of
Articles 8 and 9 of the said
Optional Protocol.
Declarations:
Article 10:So far as the
first part of paragraph 3 of
Article 10 relating to
reformation and social
rehabilitation of prisoners
is concerned, Bangladesh
does not have any facility
to this effect on account of
financial constraints and
for lack of proper logistics
support. The last part of
this paragraph relating to
segregation of juvenile
offenders from adults is a
legal obligation under
Bangladesh law and is
followed accordingly.
Article 11: Article 11
providing that no one shall
be imprisoned merely on
the ground of inability to
fulfil a contractual
obligation, is generally in
conformity with the
132
Constitutional and legal

provisions in Bangladesh,
except in some very
exceptional circumstances,
where the law provides for
civil imprisonment in case
of wilful default in
complying with a decree.
The Government of
Peoples Republic of
Bangladesh will apply this
article in accordance with
its existing municipal law.
Article 14: So far as the
provision of legal
assistance in paragraph
3(d) of Article 14 is
concerned, a person
charged with criminal
offences is statutorily
entitled to legal assistance
if he does not have the
means to procure such
assistance.
Peoples Republic of
Bangladesh,
notwithstanding its
acceptance of the principle
of compensation for
miscarriage of justice, as
stipulated in Article 14,
paragraph 6, is not in a
position to guarantee a
comprehensive
implementation of this
provision for the time
being. However, the
aggrieved has the right to
realise compensation for
miscarriage of justice by
separate proceedings and
in some cases, the court
suo moto grants
compensation to victims of
miscarriage of justice.
Bangladesh, however,
intends to ensure full
implementation of this
133
provision in the near

future.
Reservation:
Article 14:The
Government of the Peoples
reserve apply paragraph 3
(d) of Article 14 in view of
the fact, that, while the
existing laws of Bangladesh
provide that, in the
ordinary course a person,
shall be entitled to be tried
in his presence, it also
provides for a trial to be
held in his absence if he is
a fugitive offender, or is a
person, who being required
to appear before a court,
fails to present himself or
to explain the reasons for
non-appearance to the
satisfaction of the court.
20

Child on the sale of children,
child prostitution and child
pornography 2000
Signed and
ratified in 2000
21

Child on the involvement of
children in armed conflict 2000
Signed and
ratified in 2000
Declaration
Declaration:
In accordance with Article
3 (2) of [the Optional
Protocol], the Government
of the Peoples Republic of
Bangladesh declares that
the minimum age at which
it permits voluntary
recruitment into its
national Armed Forces is
sixteen years for noncommissioned soldiers and
seventeen years for
commissioned officers, with
134
informed consent of
parents or legal guardian,
without any exception. The
further provides hereunder
a description of the
safeguards it has adopted
to ensure that such
recruitment is not forced or
coerced: The process of
recruitment in the national
Armed Forces is initiated
through advertisement in
the national press and the
media for officers and other
ranks without exception.
The first induction of new
recruits is conducted
invariably in a public place
such as a national park,
school ground or a similar
place. Public participation
is welcomed in such
programmes. Before a
recruit presents himself he
has to submit a written
declaration from his
parents or legal guardians
consenting to his
recruitment. If the parent
or legal guardian is
illiterate the declaration is
verified and counter signed
by the Chairman of the
Union Parishad. The recruit
is required to present birth
certificate, matriculation
certificate and full school
records. All recruits
whether officers or other
ranks have to undergo
rigorous medical
examination including
checks for puberty. A
recruit found to be prepubescent is automatically
rejected. Officers and
other ranks without
exception are required to
undergo two years of
compulsory training. This
ensures that they are not
135
assigned to combat units

before the age of 18. All
officers and other ranks are
carefully screened before
being assigned to combat
units. These tests include
tests of psychological
maturity including an
understanding of the
elements of international
law of armed conflict
inculcated at all levels. The
Re Bangladesh declares
that stringent checks in
accordance with the
obligations assumed under
the Optional Protocol will
continue to be applied
without exception.
22
ILO Convention No. 182 on the

worst forms of Child Labour
1999
Ratified in 2001
23
The Convention against

Corruption 2005
Ratified in 2007
24
Convention on the Rights of

Persons with Disabilities 2006
Signed and
ratified in 2007
25
Rome Statute of the

International Criminal Court
Signed in 1997
and ratified in
2010
26
UN Convention on the Protection

of the Rights of All Migrant
Workers and Members of their
Families
Signed in
October 1998
and ratified in
August 2011
136
Reservation to Art. 66

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HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

The attitude of the government towards freedom of association, assembly

Violence against religious minority communities....................................43

Violence against the Dalit community....................................................48

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

The fourth phase of elections.................................................................61

Incidents of border violence recorded by Odhikar..................................88

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

CHAPTER X: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.........................................................................97

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

3. The Constitution itself is not a guarantee to ensure human rights unless

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

victims of human rights violations by the State. However, by their very

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

CHAPTER I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

A caretaker government is a type of government that rules temporarily. The Caretaker

2 The daily Manab Kantha, 08/01/2014 and Bangladesh Election Commission,

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearance

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

17 were later shown arrested in cases after a long time of disappearance

26. Public lynching is an area that remained unaddressed by the human

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

legally came into effect on January 1, 2014. However, concerning the

Situation of Minority Communities

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

Violence Against Women

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

CHAPTER II: INCREASED RISKS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

SUPPRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS: CASE

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

The NGO Affairs Bureau: used as a tool of harassment

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

authorise the disbursement of the last phase of funds to Odhikar until

Anti-Corruption Commission: bias investigations

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

harassment escalated in January 2014 after Adilur Rahman Khan was

Human rights defenders harassed by DB police

44. Odhikar commemorated the International Day of the Disappeared on

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of Odhikar interrogated

Attempt to kidnap Mohammad Nur Khan of ASK

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

The Cabinet approves the draft Foreign

Man arrested for speaking at Odhikars meeting

50. On 10 March 2014 Odhikar organised a meeting on the ratification of

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

confiscated by police without reason on 6 March 2014, Ezaz was asked to

| ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2014

CHAPTER III: CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

OF THOUGHT, SPEECH AND EXPRESSION

51. Article 39(1) of the Constitution of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh

Violations to freedom of expression and media