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***
Showing posts with label HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT. Show all posts

Monday, December 18, 2023

Press Release: JMBF Publishes State of LGBTQI+ Rights in Bangladesh 2022: Reveals Alarming Levels of Violence

Paris, France; December 18, 2023: In a groundbreaking initiative, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has published the first-ever comprehensive State of LGBTQI+ Rights in Bangladesh for the year 2022, focusing on violence against LGBTQI+ people. The report, meticulously compiled by JusticeMakers Bangladesh (JMBD) and published by JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), sheds light on the harrowing struggles faced by the LGBTQI+ community in Bangladesh, offering a stark portrayal of pervasive discrimination and violence against sexual minority groups.

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder Secretary General of JMBD and Founder President of JMBF, expressed a profound mixture of concern and determination in the foreword, emphasizing the organization's solemn obligation to confront and rectify the injustices that plague the LGBTQI+ community in Bangladesh.

The report, emanating and published from Paris, France on December 18, 2023, through a press release underscores the gravity of the situation, being the first of its kind to meticulously document violations against the LGBTQI+ community in Bangladesh. Prior to this undertaking, no organization, whether within Bangladesh or on the global stage, has dared to provide such a comprehensive perspective on the struggles faced by the LGBTQI+ community in Bangladesh.

Advocate Shahanur Islam expresses a solemn commitment to addressing the injustices and emphasizes the collective responsibility of policymakers, legislators, civil society entities, and community leaders in effecting positive change.

প্রেস বিজ্ঞপ্তিঃ জেএমবিএফ এর বাংলাদেশে সমকামী ব্যক্তির অধিকার বিষয়ক বার্ষিক প্রতিবেদন ২০২২ প্রকাশ!

প্যারিস, ফ্রান্স; ১৮ ডিসেম্বর, ২০২৩: ফ্রান্স ভিত্তিক মানবাধিকার প্রতিষ্ঠান জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ইন ফ্রান্স (জেএমবিএফ) প্রথমবারের মতো বাংলাদেশে সমকামী ব্যক্তির প্রতি সহিংসতা, বৈষম্য ও অধিকার বিষয়ক বিস্তারিত প্রদিবেদন “বাংলাদেশে সমকামী অধিকার ২০২২” প্রকাশ করেছে।

বাংলাদেশের বিভিন্ন সংবাদ মাধ্যমে প্রকাশিত সমকামী ব্যক্তির প্রতি সহিংসতা, বৈষম্য ও অধিকার সংক্রান্ত খবর জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ (জেএমবিডি)কর্তৃক নিয়মিত সংকলন ও যাচায়পূর্বক প্রাপ্ত তথ্য জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ইন ফ্রান্স (জেএমবিএফ)১৮ ডিসেম্বর ২০২৩ এ প্রতিবেদন আকারে প্রকাশ করেছে।

বাংলাদেশে যৌন সংখ্যালঘু সমকামী গোষ্ঠীর বিরুদ্ধে চলমান ব্যাপক বৈষম্য ও সহিংসতার একটি স্পষ্ট চিত্র তুলে ধরাসহ প্রতিবেদনটিতে বাংলাদেশে সমকামী সম্প্রদায় প্রতিনিয়ত যে সকল কঠিন সংগ্রামের মাধ্যমে বেঁচে রয়েছে তাঁর উপর বিস্তারিত আলোকপাত করা করেছে।

জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ (জেএমবিডি)এর প্রতিষ্ঠাতা মহাসচিব এবং জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ইন ফ্রান্স (জেএমবিএফ)এর প্রতিষ্ঠাতা সভাপতি অ্যাডভোকেট শাহানুর ইসলাম প্রতিবেদনটি সম্পাদনা করেছেন। তিনি প্রতিবেদনের মুখবন্ধে বাংলাদেশে যৌন সংখ্যালঘু সমকামী সম্প্রদায় যেসব সহিংসতা, অবিচার, বৈষম্য, নির্যাতনের শিকার হয় তা নিরসনে তাঁর প্রতিষ্ঠিত মানবাধিকার সংগঠন জেএমবিডি এবং জেএমবিএফ আন্তরিকভাবে কাজ করবে বলে সংকল্প ব্যক্ত করেছেন।

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

JMBF Participates in UNESCO's 75th Anniversary Commemoration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) actively participated in the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the Permanent Representation of the European Union on December 11, 2023. The event served as a momentous occasion to reaffirm the global commitment to human rights and their crucial role in UNESCO's mission encompassing education, science, culture, and communication.

Focusing on UNESCO's Global Priorities—Africa and Gender Equality—the commemoration provided a platform for diverse perspectives, addressing the connections, challenges, and opportunities for impactful action in the realm of human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on December 10, 1948, continues to be hailed as "the common standard of achievement for all people and all nations."

Monday, December 11, 2023

JMBF Participates in the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In a world grappling with challenges to human rights, France hosted a pivotal conference at the iconic Palais de Chaillot in Paris on December 10, 2023, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The event, organized by the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Minister of Justice, aimed to rekindle dialogue, foster international cooperation, and reaffirm the timeless importance of the Declaration as a foundation for fundamental rights and liberties.

The conference, titled "75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Defending the Rights of Everyone, Everywhere," was concluded by a powerful speech from the President of the Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron. The gathering served as a platform to address contemporary challenges to human rights and underline the universal and indivisible nature of these rights.

The event comprised three insightful round table discussions, exploring crucial themes: supporting and protecting human rights defenders, the new frontiers for rights, and fighting impunity everywhere.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Shahanur Islam's Blog Post Spotlighted in UK Home Office Report on LGBTQ+ Rights in Bangladesh

Bangladeshi prominent human rights lawyer Shahanur Islam's blog post on LGBTQI+ rights in Bangladesh has been highlighted in the "Country Policy and Information Note: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Bangladesh," published by the UK Home Office's Visa and Immigration department on September 5, 2023. Shahanur's article, titled "How can society promote equality and respect for LGBTQI+ rights in Bangladesh?" was one of the most highlighted pieces in the report.

Additionally, JusticeMakers Bangladesh, a prominent nonprofit organization, founded by Shahanur Islam, dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights and social justice in Bangladesh, has received international recognition for its tireless efforts. In a recent report published by the Visa and Immigration department under the UK Home Office, JusticeMakers Bangladesh's activities and a notable blog post of Shahanur Islam have been prominently featured. 

Thursday, August 10, 2023

জেএমবিএফ’’র বাংলাদেশে আইনজীবীদের বিরুদ্ধে সহিংসতার বার্ষিক প্রতিবেদন প্রকাশ!

প্যারিস, ফ্রান্স-আগস্ট ১০,২০২৩: জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ইন ফ্রান্স (জেএমবিএফ)সম্প্রতি ২০২২ সালে বাংলাদেশে আইনজীবীদের বিরুদ্ধে সংঘটিত সহিংসতার বেদনাদায়ক প্রবণতা সংক্রান্ত বার্ষিক প্রতিবেদন প্রকাশ করেছে।

 উক্ত প্রতিবেদনে  ২০২২ সালের জানুয়ারি থেকে ডিসেম্বর মাস পর্যন্ত বাংলাদেশে আইনঅজীবীরা পেশাগত দায়িত্ব পালনে যে সকল সহিংসতা ও চ্যালেঞ্জের মুখোমুখি হয়েছে তাঁর একটি ভয়াবহ চিত্র তুলে ধরেছে এবং উক্ত উদ্বেগজনক পরিস্থিতি মোকাবেলায় জরুরি পদক্ষেপ গ্রহণের জন্য সংশ্লিষ্ট কর্তৃপক্ষের নিকট আহ্বান জানিয়েছে।

JMBF Publishes Comprehensive Annual Report on Violence Against Lawyers in Bangladesh for 2022

Paris, France, August 10, 2023:  A shocking and distressing trend of violence against lawyers in Bangladesh has been unveiled by the recently published comprehensive annual report by JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF). The report, covering the period from January to December 2022, paints a grim picture of the challenges faced by legal professionals in the country and calls for urgent action to address the alarming situation.

The report, published in Paris, France on August 10, 2023, is a groundbreaking endeavor that sheds light on the disconcerting incidents of violence targeting lawyers in Bangladesh. It is a meticulous documentation of incidents that includes physical attacks, assault, beatings, murder, rape, kidnappings, fabrication of cases, arrests, threats, intimidation, attempted murder, and judicial harassment.

Saturday, May 13, 2023

Shahanur Islam addresses European lawyers on current human rights situation in Bangladesh

ব্রাসেলস এ বাংলাদেশের মানবাধিকার পরিস্থিতি পর্যালোচনা সভায় প্রধান বক্তা হিসেবে শাহানূর ইসলামের অংশগ্রহণ!

On May 11 (Thursday), a discussion meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium with the participation of European human rights lawyers to review the current human rights situation in Bangladesh.

গত ১১ মে (বৃহস্পতিবার) বাংলাদেশের বর্তমান মানবাধিকার পরিস্থিতি পর্যালোচনায় ইউরোপীয় মানবাধিকার আইনজীবীদের অংশগ্রহনে এক আলোচনা সভা অনুষ্ঠিত হয়।

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

BIHR Celebrates Music Freedom Day 2020 in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights along with its partner organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh and Ekushe Parishad, Naogaon celebrates the Music Freedom Day 2020 at Naogaon today. The celebration of music freedom day is coordinated and supported by Freemuse. They music freedom day celebrates in Bangladesh first ever time.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

GHRD: Bangladesh Quarterly human rights report (April-June 2011)

In February and April of this year, over one hundred houses, one school and two Buddhist temples were burnt to ashes in two different attacks against indigenous minority communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh, leaving hundreds of indigenous men women and children homeless and many injured. 


GHRD’s local partner Adv. Shahanur Islam recently went to the region to investigate the attacks and talk to those affected. Our investigations found that some 638 Jumma were affected in the attacks. Many of those who lost their homes in the arson attacks continue to live in tents or temporary shelter.

All interviewees confirmed that on both occasions, security forces were present but failed to act to stop the violence, looking on as the destruction occurred. The government of Bangladesh has thus far failed to adequately investigate this - reflecting its lack of real commitment to bringing peace in the region and bringing into question the real intention of the government to implement the 1997 CHT Peace Accord.

The local authorities have also failed to investigate the attacks, despite identification of the main perpetrators of the violence. At the time of writing of this report no-one had yet been arrested in relation to these attacks.

Instead of promoting transparent investigations and reporting, the government proclaimed an ‘emergency’ prohibiting any access to the area following the attacks.  The government has also failed to promote transparency in the region following the attacks. During our team’s investigations, the local authorities expressed strong suspicion towards any international involvement in the region. Our observer Adv. Shahanur Islam was approached and questioned on multiple occasions by members of the Border Guards of Bangladesh and by the district special branch of police who requested information on the identity of the team, the organisation they worked for and purpose for their visit.

These attacks are clear examples of a government failure to uphold basic human rights and protect the Jumma. In addition, the implication of military forces in the attacks and the lack of impartial investigation prove that the government of Bangladesh is either unwilling or unable to protect its Jumma population and must be held accountable within the international forum. 

Fact finding
Massive communal attack on Jumma villages by Bengali settlers in presence of security forces at Longadu in Rangamati
17 February 2011, Longadu Upazila
On the morning of 17 February 2011 around 200-300 Bengali settlers from the Gulshakhali settler area under Longadu Upazila in Rangamati district began staged demonstrations, attacking and setting fire  to the Jumma villages of Gulshakhali and Rangi Para. The following information is based on GHRD’s case file (Case no. 03-HRCF-CHT-Longadu), prepared by our local observer.

Bengali settlers accused Jumma of being responsible for the death of Mr Saber Ali, a Bengali settler who went missing on February 15 and was discovered dead the following day. The settlers carried his dead body during the demonstrations, creating tension. During this procession, most of the Jumma fled in fear.

Following the procession, two Jumma students coming from Rangamati by boat were attacked and severely beaten by settlers when they attempted to disembark from the boat. They were later admitted to Rangamati general hospital.

Later in the day, Bengali settlers made an attack of the Jumma villages of Gulsakhali and Bagachatar, setting fire to Jumma houses one after the other. In the attack, at least 21 Jumma houses including one BRAC school were burnt to ashes and 6 houses were looted.

According to all 40 Jumma victims interviewed, the Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) did nothing to stop the Bengali settlers from setting fire on Jumma houses, despite being present at the time. Early in the day, Jumma leaders informed members of the BGB and the administration, asking for protection, but at this stage they did not come. Later in the evening around 5pm there were 12 members of the BGB from Rangipara Tematha camp present during the arson attacks, but stayed silent. During the later arson attacks in Stantinagaor village, 20-25 BGB members staying in a nearby temporary BGB camp at Shanti Nagar watched the attacks from inside the camp.

A First Information Report has been lodged with the Longadu police station by one of the Jumma victims, however, he has been receiving constant threats and intimidation to withdraw the complaint, including statements that “If you do not withdraw the case, we will take that step which we need to withdraw” and “If you do not withdraw the case you will fall in danger”.


Massive Communal Arson Attack upon Indigenous Jumma Peoples by Bengali Settlers in Ramgarh & Manikchari, Khagrachhari district
17 April 2011, Khagrachhari district

On Sunday 17 April 2011, exactly two months after Bengali settlers attacked the Jumma villages in the Rangamati district of the CHT; Bengali settlers in the presence of government security forces again attacked five indigenous Jumma villages in Khagrachari district of the CHT, but this time on a larger scale. The following information is based on GHRD’s case file (Case no. 04-HRCF-CHT-Khagrachari), prepared by our local observer. 

According to our local observer, a total of 521 Jumma were affected by the attacks and 87 houses belonging including two Buddhist temples were completely burnt to ashes. At least 16 Jumma including four women were injured and one is still missing. At the date of this report, a small amount of relief had been provided to the victims but it is inadequate, all the victims continue to live under the open sky in the jungle or in traditional tents.

The attacks followed the death of three Bengali settlers that occurred during a land dispute when Bengali settlers tried to take adverse possession of some disputed Jumma land.  Bengali settlers brought out a procession at Manikchari bazaar shouting slogans against the Jumma people along with the dead body of a Bengali settler. Interviewed victims stated that the local administration did not oppose the Bengali settlers while they were bringing out the procession with the dead body.

Immediately after the procession, Bengali settlers set fire to Jumma houses in the Mahamani areas of Manikchari upazila headquarters.

During the attacks around 20-25 army men were standing in the vicinity while the houses and shops of the Jumma people were looted, vandalised and set ablaze. Though military forces were patrolling throughout the areas, they did not oppose Bengali settlers from setting fire to Jumma houses. The army kept patrolling along the road side while on the other, Bengali settlers started entering Jumma villages and setting fire to Jumma houses.

In Jalia para area, Bengali settlers attacked Jumma passengers getting them down from public buses including Shanti Paribahan who were coming from Chittagong and Feni to Khagrachari. At least 16 Jumma were wounded in this attack. Two of them were admitted in serous condition to the local hospital. According to eye witnesses Bengali settlers were stopping every vehicle and looking for ethnic minority people in jalia para area, getting the ethnic minority people out of the vehicle and then beating them with batons, kicking and slapping them - most of the victims injured their legs, hands, and head and had bruises all over their bodies.

Transparency and accountability:
Instead of promoting transparent investigations and reporting, the government proclaimed an ‘emergency’ prohibiting any access to the area following the attacks. 

During our team’s investigations, the local authorities expressed strong suspicion towards any international involvement in the region. Our observer Adv. Shahanur Islam was approached and questioned on multiple occasions by members of the Border Guards of Bangladesh and by the district special branch of police who requested information on the identity of the team, the organisation they worked for and purpose for their visit.


House of Lords conference on the implementation of the 1997 CHT Peace Accord in London, July 4 2011
GHRD representatives attended and spoke at a recent conference at the House of Lords in London. The conference focused on the human rights violations that are continuing in the CHT region and on the implementation of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.

GHRD Human Rights Officer Julia de Blaauw spoke of GHRD’s recent fact finding in the CHT region and about the recent arson attacks that took place in February and April of 2011 in Rangamati and Khagrachari districts. Lord Eric Avebury, Co-Chair of the CHT Commission, chaired the conference which was jointly hosted with the Jumma Peoples Network of the UK (JPNUK). The High Commissioner for Bangladesh was present, along with academics, members of the Jumma Peoples network and representatives from Survival International and Amnesty International.

The High Commissioner for Bangladesh maintained that a military presence is required in the CHT region and that there ‘are no indigenous’ people in Bangladesh. In conversation following the conference, GHRD representatives requested information on the government’s activities and investigations into the arson attacks of February and April but received no information on this. The representative maintains that the government is ‘investigating’, however, no information has been forthcoming.

Read GHRD’s statement here
NGO and media reports
The UN Tenth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues  16-27 may

The implementation of the 1997 CHT Peace Accord and current issues in the CHT region were discussed during the recent UN session on Indigenous Issues in May.  During the forum, Lars–Anders Bauer, Co-chair of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission and member of the UN permanent forum on indigenous issues, presented his report on the implementation of the 1997 Peace Accord. The main finding of the report was that the Peace Accord remains largely unimplemented and that the government has done next to nothing to implement.

Mr Bauer highlighted the fact that the report had been submitted to the Bangladeshi government and received no response. Mr Bauer called for the government to:
  • draw up a timeline for implementation of the accord
  • demilitarize the region
  • return all daily operations to a civilian administration rather than military
  • settle land disputes in the region
  • request assistance from international organizations to help implement the Accord.

The government of Bangladesh replied by saying that the Jumma are tribal, ethnic minority groups and as such cannot be considered as indigenous. Government representatives further stated that Bangladesh does not have an indigenous population within its borders, therefore, there is no issue and the UN forum has no authority to report on these issues. The government considered that the report is ‘cherry picked’ and paints a ‘darker picture’ of the government.
GHRD rejects these statements and maintains that the Jumma are indigenous. Furthermore, the lack of preservation of Jumma identity and culture and the denial of indigenous rights is further degrading their quality of life and they continue to experience human rights violations on a regular basis. 
Recommendations
The February and April arson attacks amount to a government failure to uphold basic human rights and protect the Jumma. The implication of military forces in the attacks and the lack of impartial investigation prove that the government of Bangladesh is either unwilling or unable to protect its Jumma population and must be held accountable within the international forum. 

Implementation of the 1997 Peace Accord was a major election promise of the ruling government, the Awami League. To date, the government has failed to honour this commitment and land grabbing and disputes over land continue to be the main reason for attacks by Bengali settlers against the Jumma in the CHT.

GHRD’s view remains that the government of Bangladesh must take responsibility for the human rights violations in the region and must fully honour its stated commitment to the 1997 Peace Accord by: impartially investigating the human rights violations that have occurred and the role of the military in these violations, bringing those responsible to justice and demilitarizing the region.

GHRD therefore urges the government of Bangladesh to:
·         Thoroughly and impartially investigate the February and April attacks; identify the main perpetrators and those responsible to justice. Ensure exemplary punishment of the perpetrators who were directly or indirectly involved in this violation of human rights.
·         Investigate the involvement of the security forces and Border Guards of Bangladesh in these attacks and punish those responsible.
·         Issue instructions to military, para-military, police and para-police personnel posted in the CHT to protect all communities without discrimination and to provide communities that have a recent history of such attacks or vulnerability special protection.
·         Take all measures to fulfil Awami League election promises by fully implementing the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord and providing a forum for solving land disputes.
·         Recognise minority Jumma as indigenous in Constitution and sign the UN Declaration on Indigenous peoples rights

Monday, April 11, 2011

BANGLADESH: Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) Quarterly Human Rights Report (January – March 2011)




 




In 2011, according to our mandate GHRD will report on human rights issues in Bangladesh on a quarterly basis and will focus on issues of abuse against minorities, particularly those in the Chittagong Hill Tract region, and extra judicial punishments resulting from village arbitration. These reports are the result of fact finding missions conducted by local partner organisations and news monitoring conducted at GHRD headquarters in The Hague.
 
Introduction
In the first quarter of 2011, attacks against human rights defenders dominated reporting from international organisations and the safety of human rights defenders in Bangladesh was of increased concern. Amongst them, our own observer, Shahanur Islam, executive director of the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights, also came under attack early in the year. Freedom of the press was another concern, Odhikar reported that during the quarter 20 journalists were injured, 20 threatened, 10 assaulted and 3 cases were filed against journalists during the course of their work.
Attacks against minority Jumma communities in Chittagong were also highlighted in the international media due to the February 17th attacks when Bengali settlers set fire to Jumma villages, leaving Jumma communities without homes.

GHRD’s 2010 year report on human rights in Bangladesh gained wide scale media attention in Bangladesh and abroad following a press conference to announce the release of the report on the 28th of February, organised in association with the Bangladesh Institute for Human Rights. The report will form a platform for future lobbying and discussion on human rights issues against women and minorities.

During the quarter, (minority) women were raped and subjected to inhumane extra-judicial punishments in village arbitrations, stalking, attacks and sexual assault.*(1) In particular, Serafina Mardi, a 14 year old minority girl set fire to herself and died from her wounds after being gang raped and then subjected in village arbitrations to marry one of her rapists. Hena Ahkter, a Bangladeshi girl was also publicly whipped to death for an alleged affair with a married man as a result of village arbitration. Her family claims she was in fact raped, however these allegations have not been investigated. In many of the cases investigated, the perpetrators of such crimes benefit from impunity and go unpunished. Dealing with such crimes requires better training of police, better legal protection for victims and witnesses of sexual assault, and better rehabilitation and counseling for victims.

Ingrained attitudes in society and traditional customs reinforce these attitudes towards women and this is illustrated by the protests and riots following government announcements of its approval of the National Women Development Policy on international women’s day, the 8th of March. Islamic groups organized protest rallies to demand that the policy be cancelled out of concern that it would interfere with Sharia law. Such attitudes only hinder positive development and it is important that the government does not give in to such extremist demands and follows through on their commitment to ensuring and upholding equal rights for women.
*(1) Odhikar reported 29 cases of acid violence, 104 cases of dowry related violence, 127 cases of rape and 203 cases of sexual harassment/ stalking during the quarter.


 

Fact finding


Human Rights Defender, Shahanur Islam attacked
Thakurgaon district, 9 January 2011

Mr Shahanur Islam, executive director of the Bangladesh Institute for Human Rights, lawyer and GHRD local partner, was subject to physical assault and verbal threats during the course of his work in January this year. During an investigation on the 9th of January, 2011 Mr. Islam and two fact-finding officers were physically attacked, threatened and had their belongings looted in Thakurgaon district. The attackers threatened Mr Islam and his associates with a pistol and forced them to pose with money while the perpetrators took photos of them. The perpetrators warned the fact-finding team not to inform the police about this incident or they would publish the photos and kill them.

To date, one of the perpetrators has been arrested, although the other ten perpetrators continue to benefit from police impunity. When Mr Islam recently went to the region to identify his attackers, the co-accused said that the attack was perpetrated at the request of the secretary of Jubo League (the youth wing of the ruling party, Awami League). He also mentioned that members of the student league and local union parishad unit involved in the incident.
Arson attack on Jumma minority community
Chittagong Hill Tracts, 17 February 2011
On 17 February 2011, Bengali settlers from the Gulshakhali settler area, Longadu Upazila, Rangamati district in the Chittagong Hill Tracts attacked and set fire to the Jumma villages of Gulshakhali and Rangi Para areas. Around 23 Jumma homes were burnt to ashes.

The event occurred shortly after the death of a Bengali settler who went to collect firewood in the forest on Tuesday and did not return. His body was found in Rangipara on Wednesday. The Bengali settlers then carried his dead body during the demonstrations, accusing the Jumma of being responsible for his death. They mounted an arson attack burning around 23 Jumma houses and one school to ashes and injuring two Jumma students.


 
According to PCJSS, Jumma villagers gathered themselves and tried to defend the remaining houses and face off the Bengali settlers. Jumma leaders also informed the local administration including police. However, according to local organisations, both the police and the Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) stood by as onlookers while the Bengali settlers set fire to the Jumma houses and failed to act to stop the attacks. It is also alleged by PCJSS that the attack was mounted under the leadership of the Bagachatar union council chairman Wazed Ali and Gulishakhali union council chairman Abdur Rahim, who is also general secretary of Langadu upazila Awami League.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission has added its condemnation of this event and has written to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about the issue and the lack of action on the part of the Border Guards of Bangladesh. According to the CHT Commission, a day after this incident there were allegations that members of the army were raiding homes of the Jummas and beating up villagers in Kudukchari of Rangamati, following protests made by the Jummas against the attacks in Langadu.

Case update on torture of Shila Mullick

In our October 2010 report, GHRD reported on a case of police negligence and torture against a Bangladeshi NGO worker, Shila Mullick. Ms. Mullick went to the Madaripur police station to file a case of police negligence regarding the attempted murder of her husband. The then superintendent of police attempted to persuade her to remove her case through means of torture, hitting her with a cane and dragging her by her hair.


 



Urgent appeals and announcements
Ensure the protection of human rights defender Mr. Shahanur Islam [UA-BA-18-01-2011] 
Arson attack on Jumma minority community in Rangamati, Chittagong Hill Tracts [UA-BA-22-02-2011] 
Urgent Announcement: Cyber attack against Bangladeshi human rights defender Jahangir Alam Akash [03-02-2011] 
Call for an end to the harassment of Odhikar secretary and staff by national security agencies [UA-BA-24-03-2011] 
 
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NGO reports


 


  1. The occurrence of extra-judicial killings committed by enforcement agencies, particularly the Royal Action Battalion, despite government declarations of “zero-tolerance” for such killings.

  2. Torture and unexplained deaths in custody.

  3. The death penalty and arbitrary imposition of the penalty due to a lack of transparency and wide scale corruption among the judiciary.

  4. Lack of government tolerance for a free media.

  5. Violence against women and a lack of adequate investigation and prosecution by the authorities for sexual crimes.


Odhikar quarterly report January – March 2011
In its quarterly human rights monitoring report, Odhikar highlighted the following human rights issues:


  1. Extra judicial killings - “reported statistics show that every 3 days, 1 person is killed extra judicially”

  2. Instances of border killings and political violence, Odhikar also reported that 22 people were killed and 1191 injured during political violence in the month of January 2011 alone. Over half of those injured occurred during the Pourashava (municipality) elections. In Jhenaidah district shops owned by religious minority communities were affected and many have shut down as a result.

  3. Politically motivated withdrawals from prosecution of cases involving ruling party leaders and activities. According to Odhikar, on January 11, 2011 a total of 1479 cases were proposed for withdrawal at a meeting of the ‘national committee on reviewing cases for withdrawal’. It has been reported that around 6750 cases were withdrawn under political consideration in the last two years since the Awami League assumed power.

  4. RAB disappearances

  5. Arson attack against Jumma community in Rangamati district, CHT

  6. Widespread violence against women and instances of village arbitration including: sexual harassment, stalking, dowry-related violence, rape and acid attacks



Click here to access the Odhikar mid-term assessment report 
Click here to access the Odhikar quarterly report 
 
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Media Reports

Serafina Mardi ,14 year old ethnic minority girl set fire to herself and died after gang rape (BBC, Daily Star, New Age)


 






Call for an end to the harassment of Odhikar secretary and staff by government intelligence agencies

National security agents have been following and harassing Odhikar’s Secretary Mr Adilur Rahman Khan, his family and other Odhikar staff members since October 2010. According to Odhikar, members of government intelligence agencies have been monitoring Odhikar and its secretary, Advocate Adilur Rahman Khan since March 14, 2011, following Odhikar’s 3rd Annual Human Rights Defenders Conference on the 12th and 13th of March. Government intelligence agencies have been following Mr Khan to his home and harassing his family members and employees, enquiring about his movements and schedule. National intelligence agents have also been requesting documentation on Odhikar which has already been submitted to the NGO Affairs Bureau.

Under the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Rules 1978, any NGO receiving funding from abroad must register with the NGO bureau and apply for registration. This registration must be approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs and can be cancelled at any time. These requirements restrict civil society activities in Bangladesh make it easy for the government to influence NGO conduct and even shut them down, in instances where an NGO criticises the government. This practice is not transparent and is a form of intimidation which attempts to influence every level of an NGO’s activities.

On the 24th of March 2011 GHRD sent out an urgent announcement, lending its voice to the condemnations against this harassment from other international human rights organisations. GHRD is alarmed by this increased surveillance and intimidation of Odhikar staff and it is clear that these tactics are designed to slow down Odhikar’s human rights activities. GHRD condemns these acts and demands that the intimidation of Mr Khan, his family and the staff at Odhikar ceases immediately.
 
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Legal developments


Ethnic groups and minorities not recognised in 2011 government population and household census

The government population and household census conducted in mid-March failed to recognise over 40 distinct ethnic groups in Bangladesh, many of which reside in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. The census provided for 27 distinct ethnic categories. Examples of such groups that are not categorised in the census questionnaire are the Mahatos, Baraiks, Mahalis, Ahamias, Rajbangshis, Rais and many others. Without conducting a census, these groups go uncounted but are estimated to account for around 1 million of the population. Mizanur Rahman, the Human Rights Commission chairman has publically stated that failing to recognize ethnic and minority communities such as Dalits, Harikans, and transsexuals constitutes a human rights violation.

This lack of recognition has sparked discussion on the lack of recognition of ethnic minorities in the Constitution of Bangladesh and on 19 March 2011 indigenous peoples of Bangladesh organised human chain across the country demanding constitutional recognition as indigenous peoples. Chairman of the parliamentary caucus on indigenous affairs, Rashed Khan Menon stated that problems in the Chittagong Hill Tracts cannot be fixed without such constitutional recognition of ethnic minorities.

National Women Development Policy

The government has approved the National Women Development Policy (NWDP) 2011, which aims to provide women with opportunities in employment and business and provision of equal shares in property. Traditionally, under Bangladeshi law women are discriminated against in terms of inheritance - the NWDP would change this and every child would be entitled to inherit the same amount.

The government intends to enact news laws to give effect to the policy. However, when asked whether the policy would contradict with the Muslim family law, Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, the state minister for women and children affairs said the NWDP is not a law and does not affect the inheritance laws. This statement seems to be contradictory to the spirit of the policy.


 
Protests against the National Women’s Development Policy during the general strike called by Islamic Law Implementation Committee on 4th April, 2011.
Source: New Age newspaper
The NWDP is a revival of an earlier 1997 policy, in fulfilment of an election pledge by the Awami league. Similar announcements have been made in the past in 2004 and 2008 but the government has not followed through on these announcements. In particular, the government made announcements of a Women’s Development Policy in 2008, which were met with protests from Islamic lobbyists. The government made no move to pursue the policy until its recent announcement in 2011.

GHRD urges the government of Bangladesh not to give in to extremist demands and follows through on their commitment to ensuring and upholding equal rights for women. It is also important that the government take specific measures in law and policy to ensure equal opportunity for women. It remains to be seen whether the government fully intends to follow through on the policy and GHRD will continue to monitor the progress of the NWDP in the future.
High Court decreed the stalking of women a sexual offence (Daily Star)

In March 2011 the High Court declared stalking of girls and women illegal, and directed the government to consider the offence as sexual harassment. The ruling follows a rise in incidences of stalking and suicides as a result. The court asked the government to properly define ‘sexual harassment’ and to make stalking an offence in the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The court also asked the government to provide protection for victims and witnesses and to address the mental trauma experienced by victims. However, GHRD notes that High Court rulings in the past have tended to be disregarded.
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Recommendations

In light of the cases investigated and researched by GHRD in consultation with its local Bangladesh partners in the period January- March 2011, GHRD makes the following recommendations:


  1. End all intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders and journalists and prosecute all those responsible for attacks, intimidation and harassment against human rights defenders. Take all measures necessary to protect them during the course of their work.

  2. Make the law and process for NGO registration transparent – Any government decision to withdraw an NGO’s registration must be informed, justified and transparent.

  3. Police authorities must adequately investigate all criminal cases that are filed with them and all those responsible must be arrested and prosecuted. In cases where extra-judicial punishments have been carried out, the authorities must fully prosecute those who order and carry out these inhumane rulings. Cases of sexual assault and rape must be fully investigated, even in cases where the victim or their family have been pressured into settling their cases outside of the legal process.

  4. The government of Bangladesh must follow through on its Women’s Day promises and put the approved National Women’s Development Policy into effect, not only through legislation but through active social programmes and policies that enable women to have equal opportunities. The government must not give in to extremist demands to withdraw the policy and must maintain its commitment to equal opportunity for women.

  5. The Bangladeshi government must provide adequate legal processes to deal with cases of rape and sexual assault that are presented to the authorities and also provide rehabilitation and support for female victims of rape who have experienced gross trauma.

  6. Recognise ethnic and minority communities in the Constitution of Bangladesh and reflect this in government data collection, particularly the population and household census. This is a first step towards protecting minorities throughout the country.

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Local Observers and Partners
GHRD Dhaka conducts fact finding investigations and provides legal assistance to minority victims of human rights violations in Bangladesh. In addition GHRD Dhaka, collaborates with Parittran (Dalit Rights), Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights, Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims and Bangladesh Minority Watch.
GHRD Dhaka, Observer Advocate Rabindra Ghosh 3/2 Purana Paltan – Purana Paltan P.S, Dhaka-1000 Phone nr : + 0711172468

Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW) 12, K.M. Das Lane- Tikatully- Bholagiri Trust- Sutrapur PS, Dhaka.Telephone: 0088-01711172468, bdmw.org.


 
 
 
 
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