Desk Report: At least 303 people were killed extra-judicially and 24 others faced enforced disappearance by the law enforcing agencies in the first six months of the year, according to a new study.
The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), a rights body, published the half-yearly report prepared based on information received through the HRSS’ district representatives.
Inputs of news reports on human rights violation and atrocities, published by twelve prominent national dailies are also included in the research findings unveiled recently.
A massive number of women and girls (397) were raped over the period when freedom of expression was denied and the constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of assembly and association witnessed a sharp decline.
Of the rape victims, 189 are adults and alarmingly, 208 were under 16, with 148 women being killed over family feud and 26 females due to dowry-related violence.
It has also been reported that a total of 197– 21 females and 36 children –were abducted by a non-state actor in different areas of the country. In addition, 83 people were killed after the abduction. Unexpectedly, at least 16 people were killed in political violence and around 22 people were killed through lynching.
Restrictions on political parties and civil societies, impunity to the abusive security forces, extrajudicial killing in the name of anti-drug war, enforced disappearance, abduction, violence against women, arbitrary arrest and assault on opposition political leaders and activists, coercion and extortion exposed a very gloomy scenario of the overall human rights situation in Bangladesh. The situation reached such an awful state that even the people feel insecure everywhere.
About 45 violent incidences were committed against the children, 21 lost their lives and 43 were critically injured. As a result of violent attacks, a total of 129 unarmed civilians were victimised, of whom, 71 were killed, 53 seriously injured, and roughly five people were shot and injured. The HRSS also identified a total of 20 incidents of attack on minority throughout the country.
On the border, Bangladeshi citizens have been the victims of suspected killings, subjected to torture, and other forms of inhumane and degrading treatments. At least 18 incidents have been reported so far, resulting to the death of three Bangladeshis. The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) arrested 22, and injured five.