Update

***French President Hosts Reception for Human Rights Defenders at Élysée Palace***Human Rights Lawyer Shahanur Islam Joins Hands with ARDHIS for Bangladeshi LGBTQI Asylum Seekers in France***New Platform to Fight Discrimination Against LGBTQI+ Community in Bangladesh***Human Rights Advocates Meet with French Ambassador to the Council of Europe ***Bangladesh Needs to Make Further Progress Towards Gender Equality***JusticeMakers Bangladesh calls for justice and protection for religious minorities in Bangladesh***French Human Rights Ambassador Honours HR Defenders at Paris***JusticeMakers Bangladesh is deeply concerned over the harassment against student of Islamic University in Bangladesh***JusticeMakers Bangladesh urges to withdraw the ban of Prity's book "Jonmo O Jonir Itihas" immediately***JusticeMakers Bangladesh expresses deep concern, condemnation and protest over the vandalism 14 Hindu temples in Thakurgaon***JusticeMakers Bangladesh deeply concern over the threat of crossfire to the lawyer Aminul Gani Tito in Dhaka***JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concerns over the attacked on CEO of BELA***JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concerns over the disappearance of lawyer in Dhaka***JusticeMakers Bangladesh Urges Immidiate Release of Arrested Transgenders in Dhaka***JusticeMakers Bangladesh concerns over viciously attacked on lawyer Abdur Rashid Mollah at Dhaka***JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concerned over attacked on indigenous people at Bogura***JusticeMakers Bangladesh welcomes the decision of Metropolitan Magistrate to acquit four Transgenders in Dhaka***JusticeMakers Bangladesh Protests and concerns Over the Abduction and Torture of Two Trans-women in Meherpur***Shahanur Islam attended the 21st World Summit on Participatory Democracy at Grenoble, France***

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

URGENT APPEAL:Bangladesh: Ensure Protection and Compensation to Tortured Student Leader, Mr. Mahfuzul Haydar Chowdhury Rotan

URGENT APPEAL:Bangladesh: Ensure Protection and Compensation to Tortured Student Leader, Mr. Mahfuzul Haydar Chowdhury Rotan [UA-BA-13.08.2008]

Dear Friends,
Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) has received a fact-finding report from Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) regarding the arbitrary arrest, lengthy detention and brutal torture of Mr. Mahfuzul Haydar Chowdhury Rotan, general secretary of Bangladesh student league (BCL). Mr. Rotan has been kept in detention without specific allegations made against him for a period of more then one and a half years. Rotan, who was released recently from Mymensing Central jail, has testified of undergoing brutal torture and is receiving threats of re-arrest, or death by cross fire. GHRD is extremely concerned about the torture and circumstances of the arrest, the lack of due process and the future physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Rotan and his family. GHRD demands adequate compensation for the victim and his family, including the accurate punishment of those persons who were directly and indirectly involved with these severe human rights violations. The cause of detention must be disclosed by the authorities after an impartial investigation, and the report must be published immediately. Please read the fact finding report from BIHR and forward this appeal to the relevant authorities listed below

URGENT APPEAL:Bangladesh: Farmer tortured to death when protesting the torture of his son by the police at Cox´s Bazar District

URGENT APPEAL:Bangladesh: Farmer tortured to death when protesting the torture of his son by the police at Cox´s Bazar District; [UA-BA-18.06.2008]

Dear Friends,
Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) has received a fact finding report from the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and the Centre for Fact-Finding and Research (CHFR) regarding the brutal and fatal torture of farmer Sirajul Islam (52) of Chakaria Upazia in Cox’s Bazar District on the 14-15 May, 2008. Sirajul was tortured to death due to his attempt to hinder the police from torturing his son.

URGENT APPEAL: Bangladesh: Student Leader of Sunni Religion Brutally Tortured by Policemen

Appeal: Bangladesh: Student Leader of Sunni Religion Brutally Tortured by Policemen
Dear Friends,
Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) is deeply concerned about information received by the Bangladesh Institute for Human Rights (BIHR) regarding a student league leader that has been brutally tortured by Policemen on 9 November 2007 in Bangladesh. The victim is a 29 year old student in his seventh semester of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Queens in Dhaka. Early in the morning on 9 November 2007 he was tortured in his own home by the guards of the residence. The names of the 7 guards that were on duty that morning are known, together with the names of the 7 conspirators to the torture.

URGENT APPEAL: Bangladesh: College student (20) arrested and tortured by the police at Ramna, DMP, Dhaka, Bangladesh

URGENT APPEAL: Bangladesh: College student (20) arrested and tortured by the police at Ramna, DMP, Dhaka, Bangladesh [UA-BA-08.04.2008(a)]

Dear Friends,
Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) has received disturbing information regarding a male college student (20) who was arrested and tortured on 07 March 2008. The young student was taken to the police station in Dhaka and continuously tortured until the following day according to the Bangladesh Institute for Human Rights (BIHR) that investigated the matter. 

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

URGENT APPEAL:Concern about Arbitrary Detention,Review Lawfulness of Detention of Mr. Hasan Khan

24 February 2009 
 Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister 
Office of the Prime Minister 
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh 
Tejgaon, Dhaka 
BANGLADESH 

 Dear Prime Minister, 

  Concern about Arbitrary Detention, Review Lawfulness of Detention of Mr. Hasan Khan 

 The Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples (ACPP), a regional human rights organization based in Hong Kong, writes to express our concern over the personal security of Mr. Hasan Khan who was arrested o n 25 May 2008. We are concerned that the case of Mr. Khan may constitute arbitrary detention which is a breach of article 9 of the International Covenant on the Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). ACPP is informed from local human rights organization Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) that Mr. Hasan Khan, 32 years old, was abducted by 6 Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officers on the way home from Gazipur Court around 12:15pm, 25 May 2008.

Monday, February 23, 2009

FACT FINDING REPORT: An Immediate Released Prisoner Has Not Been Known for Nine Months Following the Detain by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-1

An Immediate Released Prisoner Has Not Been Known for Nine Months Following the Detain by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-1 in Dhaka. 

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights has been received a fact-finding report conducted by a high level fact-finding team of BIHR regarding to Mr. Hasan Khan, an immediate released prisoner has not been known for nine months following the detain by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-1, in Dhaka. His relatives have appealed to top officials, including the head of the government, since his disappearance and also filed a Writ Petition to the High Court Division of Supreme Court of Bangladesh and the Court issued the rule to the concern authority of the Government as well as directed to response the rule within three weeks but no appropriate action has been taken, even no investigation has been conducted

URGENT APPEAL: Whereabouts of an immediate released prisoner remain unrevealed after being arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion in Dhaka

BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME URGENT APPEAL CASE: BIHR-IUA-01-02-2009 

DATE: February 23, 2009 ====================================== 

BANGLADESH: Whereabouts of an immediate released prisoner remain unrevealed after being arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion in Dhaka 
ISSUES: Arbitrary arrest; involuntary disappearance and security ================================================== 

Dear Friends Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights has been received a fact-finding report conducted by a high level fact-finding team of BIHR regarding to Mr. Hasan Khan, an immediate released prisoner has not been known for nine months following the detain by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-1, in Dhaka. His relatives have appealed to top officials, including the head of the government, since his disappearance and also filed a Writ Petition to the High Court Division of Supreme Court of Bangladesh and the Court issued the rule to the concern authority of the Government as well as directed to response the rule within three weeks but no appropriate action has been taken, even no investigation has been conducted. BIHR urges your immediate intervention to save his life as well as knows whereabouts him.