Terrible Torture:Infringement of human rights

Utpal Dutta, Editorial Assistant, The New York Times, Bangladesh National Section : The headway of inhuman torture in Bangladesh over the period of the first six of 2018 is explored and studied by Human Rights Support Society in details. The consequences covering the type and features of inhuman torture by Law Enforcement Agency demonstrates a gloomy sight. The report features the frequency of incidences, torture, injury, and the occurrence of shot as well.
From January to June 2018, a total of 278 people were allegedly injured, nearly 57 shot and around 55 were victims of torture by the law enforcement agency.
International human rights organizations together with local media constantly report that security forces, especially RAB and police, inflict severe torture although the constitution Bangladesh prohibits torture at any level in custody or interrogation cell. Local and physical and psychological abuses after arrests and during interrogations persists by and large.
Beatings indiscriminately, pouring boil water, removing finger nails and administering electric shocks are some instances of ghastly way security forces execute as the tools of torturing violating existing all rules an regulations. The incidences are well observed by human rights organization that takes place in custody, interrogation cell and even under the bare sky to fight the mass demonstration.
Torture is universally condemned. Whatever its actual practice is, no country publicly supports torture or opposes its eradication.
Member of the law enforcement agencies are often accused of abusing their powers and defying human rights. Allegations of torture and extortion are also common against them. Because torture strikes the soul of civil rights and political freedom, one of the most fundamental aspects of human rights law is outlawing the torture universally.
Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR proclaims no one shall be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 14 (2) of the ICCPR provides that everyone charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to be treated as innocent until he is proved guilty according to law. CAT, the International Convention against Torture has also declared torture as the punishable offence. As a signatory to this convention, Bangladesh is expected to comply with the provisions that put an end to the infringement and restore human rights.
Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013 is the first attempt in Bangladesh to provide a legal definition of ‘torture’ and ‘custodial death’
As the first legislation Act, 2013 attempt to provide a specific legal definition of ‘torture.’ According to section 2 (6) ‘Torture’ means any physical or psychological torture that hurts. In addition the section includes that the extorting any information or confession from the person, punishing any suspected person, offender shall be defined as ‘Torture’ among other clauses.
‘Custodial Death’ means death of any person in the custody of any government official. In addition, death during an arrest by law enforcing agency shall be viewed as ‘Custodial Death’. This apart, illegal detention order or custodial deaths will also include death during interrogation, regardless of whether the person is a witness of the case or not.
This law reproduces the aims and aspirations of country’s founding fathers and mounting the constitution, as expects all quarters from the society.
The observation of SC was, “By this law, the safeguards of human dignity, personal liberty, undue harassment and torture of a detainee at the hands of law enforcement agency, deprivation of life and liberty, honour and dignity have been protected,”
With the law enacted more than three years ago, alleged torture by law enforcement agencies and custodial deaths didn’t stop. Records of Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a human rights body, show at least 147 people died in custody in the last two years.
ASK’s record organized with the source of newspaper reveals the number of custodial death was 69, where 42 were facing trial in 2015.
Since there has been little application of the law consequently might leads the Law Enforcement Agency to go infringe activities, reasons the human rights defenders.