State Terrorism in Bangladesh
Publication time: Today at 07:46 Djokhar time
79 killed in custody in 3 months.A total of 1,26,968 people were arrested across the country during the period, a Human Rights Organisation reported, adding that 11 central jails and 55 district jails can accommodate 27,227 prisoners.
Seventy-nine people were killed by law enforcers across the country in three months from January 1 to March 31, according to a report released by Odhikar.
Of the 79 people, 46 were killed by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), 18 by the police, seven by the army, five by the army-led joint forces, two by navy and one by officers of the Department of Narcotics Control.
Of the people killed in custody, seven were reportedly activists of the BNP, four of the Awami League, seven of the underground Biplobi Communist Party, one of New Biplobi Communist Party, three of Purbo Banglar Communist Party, four were operatives of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Jana Juddho), four of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Red Flag), four of Sarbahara Party, three were of Sromojibi Mukti Andolan, two of Gana Muktifouz, three of ‘Gangchil Bahini', one of ‘Haji Bahini' and one of ‘Masim Bahini', the last three being bands of criminals.
One of the persons killed was a freedom fighter, two were farmers, one was a police informant, one was an indigenous leader, two were alleged muggers, 17 were alleged criminals, one an alleged gambler, one alleged drug peddler, one under trial prisoner at Dhaka Central Jail, one a prisoner at Faridpur jail, one was a suspected gunrunner, two were bus drivers and three were alleged robbers.
During the period, 27 persons died in jail custody and two RAB personnel were killed by criminals.
The report also said that six journalists were injured, eight arrested, nine assaulted, 32 threatened. Ten cases were filed against journalists and a journalist's house came under attack during the period.
A total of 144 cases of women repression were reported during the period. Of them 43 women were killed for dowry, 15 were tortured and 4 committed suicide. A total of 59 women were raped, the report said adding that 12 women were killed after rape.
During the period, 220 children became victims of human rights violations. Of them, 80 children were killed, 33 injured, nine were allegedly abducted, nine allegedly committed suicide, two were arrested, 26 went missing and 53 minor girls were raped-three of them killed after rape.
The Odhikar report noted that slum demolition and eviction drive left thousands of poor people homeless and expressed concern that no steps were taken for their rehabilitation.
Bangladesh Human Rights Commission, another human rights organisation, reported that in January-March period 64 people were killed by law enforcing agencies, 32 women were killed for dowry, 14 in mass beating, 14 women were killed after rape. Besides, one journalist and two maid servants were killed.
According to another human rights organisation, Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR) , 163 people were killed in social violence during the period. Indian border guards killed 12 Bangladeshis during the period, it said.
The BSEHR also reported five incidents of fatwa violence during the period.
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